This is the part of Dickens' A Christmas Carol after Scrooge's conversion when he's trying to make amends. He tells his employee Bob Cratchit what he's planned and says,
...we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob!A perfect way to work out relationship problems, make restitution for past mistakes, and start a better way forward with someone, I think. Yes! Invite them to share a seasonal hot beverage.
Smoking Bishop is described by Wikipedia as "a type of mulled wine, punch or wassail". The Husband is a teetotaler, so we drink mulled cider instead. Here's our recipe:
Mulled Cider
1 gallon apple cider
4 cinnamon sticks
1 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
1 teaspoon whole cloves
Slices of an orange, as many as will attractively fit
Slices of a lemon, as many as will attractively fit
In a large pot, heat the cider with cinnamon sticks, allspice, cloves, orange slices, and lemon slices just to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 30-45 minutes.
We leave it on the stove, leave the spices and fruit in it, and ladle directly from the pot. We are a very informal family though, and you can strain it into a punch bowl and add fresh fruit -as we have done in the past- for a prettier service for a party. Serve with a cinnamon stick in each cup for extra flair.
Please join the T(ea) Tuesday festivities over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog.
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Thanks for the recipe. I'll bet you could toss a couple of tea bags in there too. I'm thinking "Constant Comment" which already tastes a bit like mulled cider to me. Nice to have something you can serve to people of all ages and the kitchen must smell wonderful.
ReplyDeleteDarla
Darla
We've never added tea, as we have tea (I love Constant Comment!) so often, but it might work well. It is nice to have one drink everyone can share. You're right about the smell -the whole house smells good :)
DeleteMulled cider and Dickens' Christmas Carol certainly put one in holiday mode...
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing!
and Happy T Day
oxo
Must smell and taste delicious..thank you for the recipe!
ReplyDeleteHappy T-DAY!
xxx
Susi
I have been looking for a recipe of mulled something-alcohol-free (my husband is also not a drinker of alcohol), and this sounds so good - I never would have thought of oranges and lemons - except I have to exchange the cider for something that is sulphite free (that´s my own requirement). Some kind of saft, perhaps, I think as a Swede, but perhaps you have some better suggestion?
ReplyDeleteApple cider is a seasonal "thing" here and when I can't get it I use apple juice. I know there are sulfite-free apple juices... I guess you could make your own from the fresh apples, but I've never done that. They're required to put sulfites on labels here, and it's not listed on the Indian Summer brand of cider we use.
DeleteThanks for the suggestion. We have requirements of declaration here too, but it´s hardly always done. Sometimes they just write "wine" or "vinegar" and you just have to know. I shall try to find something apple-y.
DeleteThanks for sharing this recipe. I bet it makes your kitchen smell wonderful as it is heating! Our gatherings are informal, too, and leaving this on the stove would be perfect for us!
ReplyDeleteyour recipe sounds delicious....think I will get some cider in. I bought some gluhwein from Aldi which was nice
ReplyDeleteSounds good, and something warm for the winter days.....and nights!
ReplyDeleteHappy T-dY
That dos sound delicious and Christmasy!
ReplyDeleteHappy T-Day! :)
Yum, smoking bishop sounds good, even if it has a funny name. :)
ReplyDeleteYour recipe sounds delish! I'm with you on the informality, but dress it up for company. Happy T Day (just in time) :o))
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so good!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy T Day!
I love hot cider this time of year- nice engraving too. God bless us every one!!
ReplyDeleteI like that recipe and have fixed it before in my crock pot. Like you, I often don't strain it, but I do serve it with a fresh cinnamon stick. This is a wonderful recipe and I had forgotten all about it. I may have to fix this at Christmas this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this mulled cider recipe and bringing back thoughts of days gone by. It was a wonderful way to enjoy T this Tuesday.
this is a wonderful recipe! I used to make one that had a lot of sugar and this one sounds better for you...love hot drinks in winter! happy T day!
ReplyDeleteOh Thanks ever so much for the recipe!!! We are having a Christmas gathering on Saturday and this will be great for the teetotalers ♥ Merry Christmas!
ReplyDelete