wassail

Ingredients

* 1 1/2 cups white sugar
* 8 whole cloves
* 3 cups water
* 3 cinnamon sticks
* 1 1/2 cups orange juice
* 1 cup lemon juice
* 1 gallon apple juice

Directions

1. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, cloves, water, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, and continue to boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and allow to cool for 1 hour.
2. Stir in the orange juice, lemon juice, and apple juice. Return to the heat, and boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove cloves and cinnamon sticks before serving.

Magic Reindeer Food

Sprinkle some of this outside on Christmas Eve and watch your children's faces when they see just crumbs left in the morning.

Yield: 25 cups

Ingredients

• 2 (24-ounce) packages vanilla candy coating
• 3 cups mini pretzels
• 1 (12-ounce) can cocktail peanuts
• 1 (14.25-ounce) package frosted toasted oat O-shaped cereal
• 1 (12-ounce) package crisp rice cereal squares
• 1 (16-ounce) package holiday candy-coated chocolate pieces
• Red and green sugars

Preparation

Place candy coating in a glass container; microwave at HIGH 2 1/2 minutes or until melted, stirring once.

Combine pretzels and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl; add melted candy coating, tossing to coat. Stir in chocolate pieces.

Spread mixture onto wax paper; sprinkle with sugars. Let stand 30 minutes. Break into pieces.

Southern Living, DECEMBER 1999