While tweeting and carrying on, mostly about Wassail last night, I had a request to share this recipe.

As I mentioned this is a Martha Stewart recipe which means it is complicated but so very good. And by complicated I mean that there are a lot of *possibly unecessary* steps to make a simple drink, also her recipes always call for ingredients that I not only do not have on hand but cannot find at a regular grocery store or  in the case of Calvados, most liquor stores. I went to three Los Angeles liquor stores to find Calvados...was still worth it. I finally gave in and ordered some maple sugar which I am expecting will arrive any minute now.  In place of the maple sugar I have been using brown sugar. I’ll let you know the difference when I get the maple sugar. I’m curious to see how different the flavoring might be? Last night I also improvised with some Asian pear instead of apple, also yum. And Sean prefers it with more spice so instead of just allspice and clove I’ve been using a pre-mixed collection of 'mulling spices' from Williams Sonoma.

• Sprinkle 1/4-inch-thick apple slices with maple sugar, and roast at 400º for 15 min. for garnish if desired
• Combine 4 allspice berries and 2 whole cloves in a cheesecloth sachet {since I don’t have cheesecloth sachets on hand I’ve been using a tea strainer from my teapot or you could use those loose leaf tea balls or this mulling spice ball I just found at Williams Sonoma}
• Heat 1 cup fresh cider and spice sachet over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes {Trader Joe’s cider is delicious!}
• Remove from heat; cover and let steep for 30 minutes
• Stir in 2 tablespoons maple sugar, and heat over medium heat until it dissolves
• Reduce heat to low and add 2 12 oz. bottles of ale, preferably Newcastle Brown Ale and heat for 8 minutes
• Add 1/2 cup Calvados, and heat for 3 minutes more. Remove sachet {just realized I’ve been taking the spices out after the cider sits for 30 minutes *whoops* keeping it in would probably make it spicier!}
• Divide among 4 to 6 heatproof glasses, or just 2 really big pint glasses! Garnish with roasted apple slices if using. Serves 4 to 6

Cheers! which according to this recipe is the translation for Wassail! in Middle English. Go figure.

Thanks to everyone who attended the shop update and snatched up some goodies. As promised, they have all shipped out to you! There are still a few treats left, as well as a new shipment of night lights and growth charts that just came in yesterday. Since I’m traveling this year, December 15 is the last day to get your order in before the holidays.

If you try the Wassail, let me know how it goes!