Mulled Cider / Wassail / Crockpot Punch

Ok, well, this is just something I cooked up myself, just a bit of a tip of the hat to the people who have put recipes for Crockpot Punch on the web; 

    2 ltr Ginger beer, home made (or 2 ltr Ginger Ale bought)

    2 cans of pure Apple juice, not concentrate (usually 1.04 to 1.2 Ltr ea)

    1 stick of cinnamon, not ground or broken up

    1 Tbsp or more to your taste, of crushed cloves

    1/2 a nutmeg seed (just be careful cutting it) 

     an Apple and an Orange (any kind will do) sliced for decoration mainly, though the apple does cook and is edible ;-) and that is it, put it on high to boil up, then turn down to warm to maintain heat; easy to refill when it gets low and it does feel good when the temps are chilly and the snow is blowing ;-)  

     one other point I should make, this does NOT need sugar; using a hydrometer, there is enough sugar to ferment to 5-6 % alc./vol, so it is quite sweet enough as it is; and that fermenting it has crossed my mind, obviously LOL

      BTW the stronger the ginger beer, the more bite it will have, I used a mild batch, and it turned out quite acceptable, suitable for children and for adults with acid reflex, who may find the stronger taste and fire of a full ginger beer too much, 

This is a bit off the wall ;-) but I just took the apple pieces from the batch I made last night, and put them in a cereal bowl, covered with a cup of quick cook rolled oats, and a couple of scoops of punch then stirred up;  put in the Microwave for 1 min 40 seconds; with a bit of eggnog instead of milk, and a cup of punch on the side, a Christmas brekkie treat  ;-) 

BTW regarding Eggnog, there are more uses for it than straight drinking; if you think of replacing it where you would ordinarily use milk, either in drinks, breakfasts, cooking, it adds a special flavour to the seasonal fare;