Easy Christmas Sangria

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine
• 1-1/2 cups orange juice
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup Brandy
  
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 2 nectarines or peaches pitted and cut into wedges
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lime, sliced
• 3 cups Seltzer or Club Soda
• Ice cubes
  

Mixing Instructions:

1. In a 3 or 4 quart pitcher, combine wine, orange juice, Brandy, and sugar.
2. Stir until sugar dissolves.
3. Stir in fruit and cucumber.
4. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 3 hours or overnight.

To serve, stir Seltzer or Club soda into pitcher. Fill glasses with ice and pour Sangria overtop.

Easy Christmas Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Peppermint hot chocolate, or sometimes called Candy Cane Cocoa, is an easy and yummy drink that is perfect for the Christmas holiday. It can also be made into easy gifts from the kitchen by adding the ingredients together in layer in a decorative bag or jar and adding a bow or ribbon. Make sure to include a recipe card so the recipient knows how to cook the cocoa.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 cups milk (or 1-1/3 cup powdered milk)
  
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 peppermint sticks, crushed (1/4 cup)
• 4 whole peppermint sticks

Cooking Instructions:

1. Place the cocoa in a medium saucepan.
2. Gradually whisk in milk until cocoa has dissolved.
3. Add chocolate chips and crushed peppermint. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until chocolate and peppermint have melted, approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
4. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat.
5. Add a pinch of salt.
6. Pour into mugs.
7. Add a peppermint stick to each mug and use as a yummy stirrer.

Makes 4 servings.

Variation:

Add a "dollop" of whipped topping to your cocoa in the mug and then sprinkle approximately 1 tablespoon of finely crushed peppermint stick candy on top instead of using the candy cane as a stirrer.

Easy Christmas Wassail (Mulled Cider)

Wassail, often called mulled or spiced cider, is a hot, spiced punch often associated with Christmastime and an early English toast to someone's health. This recipe is for non-alcoholic Wassail.

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon apple cider
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 1 teaspoons allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks

Cooking Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a large saucepan.
2. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.
3. Drain before serving and discard the solid spices.
4. Continue simmering and serve as needed using a label ladle if you have it.
   
5. Serve with orange sliced left floating on top.
   

Easy Christmas Fruitful Punch Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cranberry/raspberry juice drink, chilled
• 2 cups red wine
• 1 cup Vodka
• 1/2 cup tangerine/grapefruit juice drink, chilled
• 1/4 cup spice rum
• 1/2 cup grapes, sliced in half
• 1/4 fresh cranberries
• 1 lemon, cut in slices
  
• 1 lime, cut in slices
  
• 1 orange, cut in slices
  
• 1 apple, cut in slices
  
• 1 cup sparkling water or club soda

Mixing Instructions:

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large punch bowl.
2. Add fruit.
3. Add sparkling water just before serving.

Makes approximately ten 5-ounce servings.