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What do you folks serve for a warm holiday drink? I think I'd like to serve guests something different this year.
Any suggestions?

alcoholic or non alcoholic?

Martha

Linderhof - I was thinking non alcohlic. There's always egg nog, but is there anything different?

I make mulled cider every year. Recipe came with my old crockpot:

Hot Mulled Cider
Makes about 2 quarts
1/2 c. brown sugar (I use about 1/3 c.)
2 quarts cider
1 tsp. whole allspice
1 1/2 tsp. whole cloves
2 pieces stick cinnamon
1 orange, sliced (leave rind on)

Put all ingredients in crock pot. If desired, tie whole spices in cheesecloth or put in tea strainer. If spices are added loose, strain before serving. Cover and set on Low for 2 to 8 hours.

Thanks Crafty - That looks great. I'll bet it smells and tastes great, too. No crock pot here, but I'm guessing I can assemble it and just let it simmer away.

This is a favorite of ours -- Cranberry Tea

Martha


1 quart cranberry juice
4 cups hot water
1 can (5 ounce) orange juice, diluted as on can
1 small can lemonade, diluted as on can
3 tablespoons instant tea, or 3 tea bags boiled in the water above
1 package (7.8 ounce) red hots
Directions
Heat in crock pot until red hots (cinnamon candies) melt.

And you can use a pot on the top of the stove.

I make this often for Christmas entertaining.

Linderhof - Thank you. DH has beeen drinking tea lately, and this will be a nice change for him.

Well, I read this thread earlier and decided to post back when I had time. In the meantime Crafty posted the main ingredient that I had in mind but with a few additions that I had never even thought about adding!

Bottom line, high quality warm Apple Cider is a great non-alcoholic drink to serve during the cold winter nights. I use a crock-pot for extended-time parties but you could also use
a stove-top kettle or, even, gasp, nice coffee mugs in the microwave depending on the number of persons!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Idaho Resident,

Wassail, spiced cider, mulled wine and Tom & Jerry's (I make them without alcohol)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lurah,

Tom & Jerry's here. With or without vanilla flavored Rum.
And of course hot cocoa. (Small splash of peppermint schnaps sometimes added)

Thanks for the responses, all. I hadn't thought of Tom & Jerry's, but the recipes I've found are a little rich for us. I did find a Cranberry Wassail by Oceanspray that sounds good. Ingredients are:

Cranberry juice
apple juice
cinnamon sticks
ground nutmeg
whole cloves
orange slices

I make a spiced cider similar to the recipe posted . It starts with cider or apple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice and lemon juice. Each fruit juice is decreased by half from the previous one -- 2 qts apple then 1 qt cranberry etc. Sugar, cinnamon, whole cloves, and whole allspice. I use a 30 cup percolator for making and serving. Yummy and smells like autumn too! Good hot or cold. Remove the spices when it smells fragrant enough.

Thank you, Fab - Love the easy way to remember juice quantities.