Hot Spiced Cheer

If you don't have cheesecloth, remove tea leaves from an ordinary tea bag, fill the empty bag with cloves and ginger, and tie it securely with the tea bag string: let the cinnamon sticks float separately while simmering. Serve in decorative punch bowl alongside a small pitcher of rum marked with a label or card. You may want to have an extra sachet and more of the cider mixture handy in case you have thirsty guests.

Yield: 22 cups (serving size: 1 cup)

Ingredients

• 10  whole cloves
• 4  (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
• 4  pieces crystallized ginger, chopped
• 1  gallon apple cider
• 4  cups  pineapple juice
• 2  cups  orange juice
• 1/4  cup  fresh lemon juice
• 1/3  cup  sugar
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• White rum (optional)

Preparation

Place first 3 ingredients on a double layer of cheesecloth. Gather edges of cheesecloth together; tie securely.

Combine cheesecloth bag, cider, and next 5 ingredients (cider through salt) in a large stockpot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Discard cheesecloth bag. Serve with rum, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

133 (1% from fat)

Fat:

0.2g (sat 0.0g,mono 0.0g,poly 0.1g)

Protein:

0.4g

Carbohydrate:

33g

Fiber:

0.5g

Cholesterol:

0.0mg

Iron:

0.8mg

Sodium:

33mg

Calcium:

23mg