Recipe: Berry Hot Cider, Raspberry Cordial and Cranberry Tea

I found 2 recipes on the internet & thought I would include a tried & true Cranberry Tea (It took me 2 years to get it!!)

BERRY HOT CIDER
1-32 oz bottle apple juice
2-48 oz bottles raspberry-cranberry drink
1-10 oz pkg frozen raspberries, thawed
1 Tablespoon whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks

They used a large electric coffee maker to make it easy, but you could use a large pot, then strain w/cheesecloth. Combine apple juice & raspberry-cranberry drink in coffee maker. Place raspberries, cloves & cinnamon sticks in percolator basket. Perk through cycle; remove basket before serving. Makes 21 3/4 cup servings.

RASPBERRY CORDIAL
2 pkgs frozen unsweetened raspberries
1 1/4 cup sugar
4 cups boiling water
3 lemons

Put the unthawed raspberries into the saucepan & add the sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring once in a while, for 20-25 min, until sugar dissolves.

With a potato masher, mash the raspberries & syrup thoroughly. Pour the mixture through a strainer, making sure that you extract all the juice. Discard pulp.

Squeeze 2 of the lemons & strain the juice. Add to the raspberry jjice. Boil the 4 cups of water & add to the juice. Let cool and then chill it in the refrigerator. Serve with a thin slice of lemon on top, in each glass. Or, give in a decrative decanter.

My favorite is...
CRANBERRY TEA

In a large pot, cook till boiling 1 pound cranberries, 3 stricks of cinnamon, 12 whole cloves & 3 1/2 qts of water. It'll cook about 25 minutes.

Then, strain with cheesecloth (in a colander for support) to remove the cranberries, cinnamon & cloves. Add 2 cups granulated sugar, 1 cup orange juice, 4 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Store in refrigerator. Heat prior to serving. Makes about 25 punch-size cups.