Wassail (hot spiced cider)

• 1 gallon apple juice or cider
• 1 pint (2 cups) cranberry juice, maybe a little more
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• Juice of 1/2 large orange, or 1 smallish orange
• 2 T cinnamon, or handful of cinnamon sticks
• 1 dozen whole cloves
• 2 t mace
• 2 T brown sugar
• 1/4 to 1/2 t anise seed (to taste, but be conservative)

Combine everything in a large pot, slow cooker, crock pot, or the like, and bring to a simmer. Do not boil. Simmer for 30-60 minutes to let the spices blend and permeate everything. It can simmer indefinitely longer; keep a pot hot all evening for refills if you like. Refrigerates and re-heats fine.

Allspice might be a good addition to this too, though I haven't tried it (yet). If serving in a punch bowl for guests, an apple studded with cloves makes a good garnish to float in the bowl with it.