Christmas is a Christian celebration of the birth of the Christ child. Its history dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the Yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals (parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians.
Wassail
Ingredients:
1 qt Apple cider
4 Cinnamon sticks
1 Whole nutmeg
1/2 c Honey
1/4 c Lemon juice
1 tsp Lemon peel, grated
3 Oranges
3 tsp Cloves, whole
Instructions:
Poke 1 tsp cloves into each orange for Floating Cloved Oranges.
Add cider, seasonings, and Floating Cloved Oranges to crockpot
Heat at least 1/2 hour, and the longer, the better.
Cut oranges into 1/2" slices.
Stick 5 cloves around slice at equal intervals and cut out wedges between cloves. The result looks kind of like a star.
Eggnog
Ingredients:
6 Large eggs
3/4 c Sugar
1 1/2 c Brandy
1/2 c Rum
4 c Milk
4 c Cream
1/2 c Icing sugar
Nutmeg to sprinkle
Instructions:
Beat the yolks gradually, adding the sugar while beating until they are pale and golden.
Slowly beat in the brandy and rum, then beat in the milk and half the cream.
Just before serving, whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the eggnog mixture.
Whip the remaining cream and icing sugar until thick.
Top each glass of eggnog with whipped cream and a shake of nutmeg.
