Wassail and Blessings

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours...so much to be grateful for and the many blessings that have and continue to bestowed upon us.

We started our morning with a "turkey trot" and a glorious sunny walk with the dogs.  When we came back home, I had a nice hot batch of Wassail waiting for us, complete with my homemade Juicy Apple Popovers.

My husband has been fighting a terrible cold all week and I knew a batch of his favorite Wassail would do the trick to help him feel better.

We hope this holiday finds you, your friends and families well and full of blessings!

Hot Wassail

1 gallon apple cider
4 cups orange juice
5 cinnamon sticks
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbl. whole cloves
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 lemon, sliced into rounds

Bourbon (optional)

Place all ingredients in slow cooker (except Bourbon) and mix well.

Turn the slow cooker on high heat and cook for 3-4 hours (or on low for 6-8 hours).

Ladle in a mug and serve hot.  (Optional to add a wee taste of Bourbon to your mug of wassail, should you choose).

One Year Ago:  Apple Pie Martini
Two Years Ago: Juicy Apple Popovers

Apple Pie Martini and Nana's Sippy Cup

Well all our family arrived safely Sunday night for the Thanksgiving week and we have been getting everyone settled in.

I have to say it has been very surreal buying pack'n play portable cribs, diapers, baby wipes, high chairs and sippy cups again.  It's been 15 years since I have shopped any of those aisles, and took me a bit to get my bearings and try to remember everything that little ones need.

Rock'n her cowgirl boots for the afternoon.

Yesterday my daughters and I had girl time with our daughter-in-law and oldest granddaughter.  We battled the chilly fall air and hit downtown Main Street.  We started with pottery painting at Crackpots where she made a Christmas gift for her dad and finished up with some amazing cupcakes and more girl time at Happy Cakes...perfect end to our afternoon.

Pretty little painter.

Upon our return home, we were all thirsty from our cupcake adventure.  Babies had their sippy cups of juice and Nana Suzie, broke out her own "sippy cup".

Apple Pie Martini

1 part Vodka
2 parts Ginger Ale
2 parts Apple Cider

Pour all ingredients over ice in a martini shaker.  Shake well and serve in a chilled martini glass.

One Year Ago: Whipped Feta Crostini