Cider Wassail

1-1/2 cups orange juice

3/4 cup pineapple juice

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. lemon juice

2 cinnamon sticks (3 inches)

Dash ground cinnamon

Dash ground cloves

In a large saucepan, combine all of the ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Discard cinnamon sticks. Serve hot in mugs.

You’re probably in the middle of cooking for your family and friends for Thanksgiving.  I’m right in the middle of taking our youngest son to 27 performances of “A Christmas Carol” at the KC Repertory Theater from Thanksgiving until the end of the year (if anyone is coming down for it, please let me know as Topher is in half of the performances — but it’s performed over 40 times this season!). To be fair, Charles Dickens doesn’t write about wassail in this famous work but, seeing all the costumes and the set, it really makes me think of England — which makes me think of wassail. Plus, this cider wassail makes your house smell so delightful as it is mulling.

I do hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Although this holiday tends to be all about the food, it really should be about how thankful we are to live in a country with religious freedom. As Tiny Tim says, “God bless us everyone…”