Recipe/Ingredients list

Winter in the Woodlands Wassail

• 3 cups apple cider (not the alcoholic kind)

• 1/2 lemon, sliced into thin rounds

• 1-2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated or minced

• (optional) your favorite spices, to taste

• to serve: 2 oz bourbon

In  a small saucepan, warm the cider, lemon slices, cinnamon, ginger, and  spices on the stove over low heat for at least 1 hour, or until you're  satisfied with the taste. Ladle 8 oz of cider into a mug (reserve the  remaining cider for later) and top with 2 oz bourbon per serving. Stir  with cinnamon stick and use as garnish. Enjoy hot.

Variations:

* For a non-alcoholic version, simply leave out the liquor.

* Try substituting other juice, or wine, or even beer for apple cider!

* Use your favorite citrus, or whatever is available locally, instead of lemons.

*  Top off with rum, brandy, port, or sherry instead of bourbon. Fortified  wine instead of hard liquor will make a less-alcoholic drink.

If you don't have time to heat your wassail in advance, try our party-time version:

All Party/No Prep Winter in the Woodlands Wassail

• 1 mug of apple cider (leave room for alcohol)

• 2 oz Fireball or other cinnamon whiskey

• (optional) Apple slice, lemon slice, or cinnamon stick for garnish

Heat apple cider in microwave for 2 minutes or until steamy-hot

Pour Fireball over the top and stir gently to mix. Garnish if you feel like it. Serve!