As we ease into the holidays, here’s an odd recipe that a family friend gave us a couple of decades ago and that my family has been drinking all winter long ever since. Most people who’ve tried it at my house over the years aren’t into it, if for no reason than its unappetizing greenish-brown color. But in the Stahl family, it’s a full member of the hot beverage rotation, taking pride of place right up there with tea and coffee. TEAWARMER Boil six cups of water, then pour it over six teabags in a crock pot turned to high. Let steep for five to seven minutes, then remove the teabags and add 1 and 1/2 cups of orange juice, 1 and 1/2 cups of pineapple juice, a tablespoon of honey, and a sliced orange. Cover, then let it cook up in the crock pot for about an hour. At that point, turn the crock pot to low and serve the teawarmer. You should take out the orange slices, or they’ll make it bitter after a while.  It’s best when made in a 1970s crock pot. Happy holidays, folks.

As we ease into the holidays, here’s an odd recipe that a family friend gave us a couple of decades ago and that my family has been drinking all winter long ever since. Most people who’ve tried it at my house over the years aren’t into it, if for no reason than its unappetizing greenish-brown color. But in the Stahl family, it’s a full member of the hot beverage rotation, taking pride of place right up there with tea and coffee.

TEAWARMER

Boil six cups of water, then pour it over six teabags in a crock pot turned to high. Let steep for five to seven minutes, then remove the teabags and add 1 and 1/2 cups of orange juice, 1 and 1/2 cups of pineapple juice, a tablespoon of honey, and a sliced orange. Cover, then let it cook up in the crock pot for about an hour. At that point, turn the crock pot to low and serve the teawarmer. You should take out the orange slices, or they’ll make it bitter after a while. 

It’s best when made in a 1970s crock pot. Happy holidays, folks.