Happy New Year!
We’re back from the holidaze break, just in time to add some warmth to your chilly January mornings…
in the form of a tasty cup of wassail.
A warm punch, perfect for the cold, dark days of winter, brewed with rum, ale, clove studded oranges, and just a bit of sugar and ground ginger. What’s not to love? Careful, though, this punch has a punch to it!
INGREDIENTS
•3 or 4 small oranges
•Whole cloves
•3 (12 oz) bottles ale
•3 cups dark rum*
•2/3 cup sugar
•1/8 tsp powdered ginger
*I used a blend of 1-1/2 cup white rum and 1-1/2 cup Blackheart spiced rum.
Heat your oven to 350º.
Stud the oranges with cloves every 1/2 inch or so, the place in a single layer in a shallow pan and bake for 30 minutes.
Combine the ale, rum, sugar, and powdered ginger together in a large pan over medium heat.
Bring just to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved, then remove from the heat.
Add the hot baked oranges to a bowl and pour the warm ale mixture over.
Serve hot.
Note: I do this in a small metal casserole, then keep it on a very low flame on the back of the stove, or on an electric warming tray to keep it nice and warm for when folk need a refill. I have known folk to arrange their chair of choice at gatherings so they can be conveniently close to the wassail bowl.
Good Wassail to you!