You may be familiar with the song, “Here We Come A-Wassailing,” but you may not know that Wassailing is a tradition that dates back to Medieval England. The word is derived from the Old English, was hael,which means, “be healthy.” Lords would shout these words out to an assembled crowd during the New Year, wishing them good health.
Chef David Stotz (read more about him in our recent article, "Welcome to Sunday Dinner") has two favorite historic recipes that are a perfect pairing for the holiday season.
Wassail
Ingredients
6 Pints Beer or Ale
¼ lb Sugar
8 oz Sherry or Brandy
Fresh Nutmeg
Ginger
Directions
Mix 1 pint of beer with the sugar, sherry, ginger and spice. Stir in the remaining beer and leave to stand for 2 to 3 hours. You may top this with whipped cream. Decorate with cloved fruits.
Cranberry Christmas Cake
Recipe: Barefoot in the Kitchen – Cranberry Christmas Cake
David’s Notes:
Add a pinch of salt and lemon zest to the recipe. When you mix the eggs with the sugar, keep a timer—it’s essential to beat them together for at least 5 minutes. Although the recipe says to bake for 40-50 minutes, in David’s experience it takes a full hour. PS
