Activity:
Wassail Recipe
This wassail recipe gets your child to concoct a sweet and tangy spiced cider. Wassail is the act of toasting to a bountiful harvest with a hot, spiced punch that is often associated with Christmas. It is particularly popular in Germanic countries and is a contraction of a Middle English phrase that means “good health.” Many recipes include ale and/or port but this non-alcoholic recipe is sure to please everyone. Your child will enjoy concocting this sweet, tangy, spiced cider while testing his knowledge of measurements. Celebrate the season with this wassail recipe and a few Christmas carols!
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What You Need:
- 1 quart apple cider
- 2 cups pineapple-orange juice
- Coffee filter
- String
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp. whole cloves
- 1 tbsp. allspice berries
- 1 slice fresh ginger root
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Measuring cup
- Tablespoon
What You Do:
- Have your child measure the apple cider and pineapple-orange juice and put them into a large pot. Ask him questions such as: How many cups are in a pint? How many pints are in a quart? How many cups are in a quart?
- Into a coffee filter, add the cinnamon, cloves, allspice and ginger and tie it with a string. Put the spice blend into the cider and juice mixture. Ask your child to think of another way he could have measured 1 tablespoon of cloves and allspice. Hint: How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
- Have your child add a pinch of nutmeg then bring the liquid to a boil.
- Then, he should reduce the heat and simmer for approximately one hour before serving.
