Party Fruit Punch Time!

New Year's Eve and the best place to be on a busy night is home by the fire with friends and family. No need to deal with the drunken drivers and rowdy crowds. A nice way to welcome in the New Year and remember the milestones of 2013 is conversation over a tangy drink.

Party Fruit Punch
1 quart apple cider
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves
A tiny pinch of allspice

Simmer all the ingredients together until hot and fragrant. Busy day? Put them all in a crock pot four hours ahead of your party. The nice thing about this recipe is that you can add a nip or two of your favorite 'stronger' beverage and turn it into an adult drink.

Hot Spicy Cider
1 gallon apple cider (apple juice is okay, too)
6 cinnamon sticks
Generous pinch of whole allspice
10 whole cloves
Three strips of Lemon zest
Three strips of Orange zest
1/2 cup brown sugar (granulated sugar is fine, too)

Place the whole spices in a tied piece of cheesecloth. This makes it easier to retrieve them before serving. Add the rest of the ingredients to a large pot and simmer for approximately 30 minutes.