I've always been a fan of the holiday drink called Wassail, which is made with a hot mulled cider base, and Russian Tea or Spiced tea with a tea base. They are similar in taste and are great on a cold winter's day. However, the drink Wassil has rich English history, hence, the Christmas carol, "Here come a-wassailing!! Wassailing is an English yuletide drinking tradition where people go door-to-door to spread holiday cheer and good wishes in the new year.
Edenton is North Carolina's second oldest town, founded in 1722. It has a fabulous recipe for Wassail. It will be a delight for your holidays, too.
Cupola House Wassail Recipe
1-gallon apple cider
2 (12-ounce) cans of frozen lemonade
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1/3 teaspoon ground allspice
4 sticks cinnamon
5 dried apple rings
1/2 orange, thinly sliced
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
1 quart of white wine
Mix the first five ingredients in a large pot. Heat to boiling and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Place fruit in the bottom of the punch bowl. Add wine. Pour cider mixture over fruit and wine. Serve.
I've had the pleasure of working with Visit Edenton this December, promoting it as a #CountonMeNC travel-friendly destination in 2021. As North Carolina's first colonial capital, this charming town has been making holiday wassail for over 250 years. The Cupola House, one of the oldest British buildings in the United States, is known for its gardens and wassail. Cupola House Wassail is always served along with delightful cookies when the home is open yearly to the public for the Edenton's Candlelight Tour.
The Georgian-style home was built-in 1758 for Frances Corbin, an agent for Lord Granville, one of the original eight proprietors given land by the British crown in the Carolinas. By 1918, the home was in disarray, and a group of Edenton volunteers, banned together under The Cupola House Association, purchased the home to preserve it.
Before becoming the museum it is today, the house was the Chowan County library for forty-five years. In 1971, the house was designated as a Registered Historic National Landmark.
Edenton's Cupola House has seen many ships come and go in the Albemarle Sounds. The house is available for tour on one of the town's historic walking tours. In addition, the gardens are open to the public daily.
The Cupola House Wassail Recipe is printed in Recipes From St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Edenton, NC. I found a cookbook published in 1995 in my mother-in-law's storage unit. I brought it back to life in 2002 and have enjoyed many recipes from this collection. It's probably one of my favorite North Carolina cookbooks.
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