2007-01-31

Helen Hosmer's Wassail Recipe

I stumbled across this recipe today and wanted to ensure it didn't get lost as it was passed down through my music fraternity over the years. I was quite honored to sing at this amazing educator's bedside a week before her passing.

was·sail n. 1: an early English toast to someone's health. 2: a hot drink that is made with wine, beer, or cider, spices, sugar, and usually baked apples and is traditionally served in a large bowl especially at Christmastime. 3: riotous drinking:revelry.

Wassail Recipe of Helen M. Hosmer


Ingredients and Directions

To each gallon of cider add:
  • 3 tsp. Allspice
  • 1 tsp. ground cloves
  • ½ tsp. Nutmeg
  • 4 sticks of cinnamon
  • 8 oranges, juice of (or 2 cans frozen concentrate)
  • 4 lemons, juice of (or 1 can frozen lemonade)
  • Up to 2 cups sugar
Let mixture slowly come to a boil and serve hot.
Recipe meant to be improvised.