Tuesday, November 30, 2010

comfort in a cup


there are quite a few things that bring me undeniable comfort. heavy quilts on a flannel bed. early morning bible reading on the front porch swing, coffee cup in hand. a clear lane when i'm merging onto the highway. the shape of calling home.

around lunchtime yesterday, a cold hit me. i was just sitting there, typing away in my office, when all of a sudden all the symptoms hit at once--headache, runny nose, sinus pressure, and the likes. and i like to think i'm a strong woman. i can juggle work, school, laundry, and being a wife. but when i get sick, even with a teensy cold, it completely shakes up my world and i have a hard time functioning. so i needed some comfort.

this time, i headed straight to my favorite crockpot wonder--wassail.

this hot, spiced punch is the perfect cure for all types of ailments. made with apple cider, pineapple juice, honey, cloves and cinnamon, it is chock-full of healthy, soothing ingredients that can't help but bring you churn your body into a state of healing. i happened to have a batch from last week, so i poured it into my favorite mug, heated it up in the microwave, sunk into the couch and waited for it to work its wonders.

and it did. i woke up this mornig completely healed of my cold. the wassail, combined with medicine, a long bath, and a night of sleeping on the heating pad did the trick. it also didn't hurt that i spent the evening deep in conversation with one of my best high school friends who came over for supper. that kind of friendship heals the soul.

yesterday, i told you about making cheesecake in the crockpot. today, behold my all-time favorite wassail recipe you can make in that little ceramic wonder:

ingredients:
--2 quarts apple cider
--1 cup pineapple juice
--1/2 cup honey
--3 cinnamon sticks
--2 whole cloves
--1 whole orange, cut into rings


directions:
use a 4-6 quart crockpot. makes 9 cups of juice.

put all of the ingredients into the crockpot. wash the orange and cut it into slices. float on top of the liquid.
cook on high for two hours, or low for four. serve with a ladle.

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i hope your tuesday is filled with sunshine, warm mugs, and whatever brings you true comfort, because life is short but sweet for certain.

23 comments:

MADMommy said...

Yummy I'll have to try that one. Hope youre feeling better.

Peaches said...

Mmm that wassail recipe sounds awesome. and I know exactly what you mean when you say, "that kind of friendship that heals souls." It's the perfect way to explain it.

Anonymous said...

ahh!!!! i love love wassail. my mom introduced me to it, and now everytime i have it i think of her. it's perfect, because i live so far from them now i need a good reminder around the holidays. i hadn't even thought of making it in my crockpot yet.

you always have the greatest ideas, miss :)

Jude said...

Oh no, hope you feel better! Thanks so much for sharing this, despite everything. I love the recipe and it reminds me of a comforting mulled wine recipe someone used for Thanksgiving.

This is like the ultimate comfort food - I love it! :)

Unknown said...

Ooooh that sounds yummy! Feel better! It seems like everyone is sick right now :(

Southhamsdarling said...

Hope you're feeling better now! That recipe sounds wonderful, and I shall certainly be trying it out. I am blogging to you from England, and I don't really know what a crockpot is. Would it work just the same in an ordinary saucepan, do you think?? "Friendship that heals the soul" - I love that! You are wise beyond your years!

Blondie's Journal said...

Oh...how delicious this sounds, perfect for even just a cold, blustery day like today! I hope you feel better!

XO,
Jane

anne said...

dang! i wish i'd of had that recipe last week when i was sick...it sounds delish! hope you stay well.

ps-i really enjoyed your previous post :D

grace said...

yum! i want that. you're making me want a crock.

Laura said...

Ohh that sounds good... I have a pretty sick house at the moment, so could do with making this up by the bucket load! Lx

Jillian said...

this sounds super comforting. i'll have to try this if/when i get sick.

lindsay said...

so happy your cold left you quickly...mine has been hanging by a thread since saturday :( i need to make this amazing comfort in a cup it sounds like!
not to mention anything with apple cider and cloves (also pineapple for that matter)makes me giddy!

thank you as always for sharing such wonderful things with us.

Amber said...

a clear lane when i'm merging onto the highway makes me happy too, traffic freaks me out when i am driving which is why i dont drive much

Tanya (a Taste of T) said...

Sounds like a miracle cure. I love quilts on flannel beds too!

Kaity Teer said...

Is it horrible that I part of me wants to feel sick, so I can try this wassail miracle cure?

elisabeth said...

i'm so glad you feel better :)

hilary@oldhousetruelove said...

thanks for stopping by today! I am happy to find you via Maureen! You do have a way with words... for sure! Your newest fan! ;)

hilary@oldhousetruelove said...

by the way... I love your header!

vintch said...

@thisisme: a crockpot is a fabulous ceramic dish that sits inside of a metal cooking utensil. you can get big or little ones, and the good thing about using them is that the meals you make in a crockpot typically take about 7-8 hours to cook, so you can turn it on in the morning, and when you get home from work, you have dinner ready!

the wassail will definitely work on the stovetop. Just monitor it, as the time will probably be reduced. You just want to make sure the oranges have time to permeate the cider, and the cinnamon and cloves are infused into the mixture. Enjoy!

Amy said...

I wish I would have read this earlier dear because that wassial just sounds too yummy! Oh and I hope your Tuesday was filled with warm, yumminess as well!

Ashley Archibald said...

sounds delish! feel better!

Kelsey Cunningham said...

That sounds delicious, I could definitely go for a mug full right now. It seems like this is the time of year for those stinkin little colds to show up. I'm glad you are feeling better!!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the tip! I have felt bad for a few days now.. I can't wait to try it.

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