Monday, December 8, 2014

Oranges Roasting on an Open Fire

Has your kitty or pup won a bandana or catnip toy yet?
Congratulations to our winners from last Monday: servedogmom, liznoveggiegirl, Libby Dodd, and Deb! Please email your mailing addresses to Krista at kristadavis dot com.

What? You didn't win? Leave a comment here today to try again!

This is the season of Tiny Tim and quaint olde English customs. When I was writing THE DIVA WRAPS IT UP, I was looking for a punch recipe that would be wonderful for the holidays and stumbled upon English Bishop. But most of the recipes for it begin like this – roast two oranges over the fire. Isn't that charming? Can't you just envision people cooking over the fire? In reality, it probably wasn't all that lovely to have to cook over a fire, but I think it does say something about the age of English Bishop.

In some ways this doesn't feel like much of a recipe. And I have to say that the photos are pretty boring because, well, it looks like orange tea. But when you need a recipe for a party, if you're like me, you can waste hours looking for just the right thing – and then still worry about whether it will be any good, so I decided to post it today.

A lot of us have fires going right now, so roast your oranges over the fire if you like. Turns out they roast every bit as well (maybe better!) in the oven. And let me just add here that if you're selling your house, forget baking chocolate chip cookies for the right aromatic ambiance.
Pop a couple of oranges in the oven to roast. You won't believe how wonderful they smell!

I have to say that this updated recipe was a huge hit with my friends and family. It's my new go-to drink for holiday guests. Alas, it's not for kids, but the adults will love it, whether it's for a neighborhood party or just family on Christmas Eve. And it's actually very easy to make.

I assume you could make a virgin version without rum or Grand Marnier but I haven't tried. Grand Marnier is pretty sweet, so it may need some sugar. Taste it to see!


English Bishop
(modern version)

2 oranges
2 cups apple juice or apple cider
2 cups cranberry juice (if using Ocean Spray use original version)
1 cup rum
1/4 to 1/2 cup Grand Marnier
pinch of cloves (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350. Place the oranges in a pan and roast 20-30 minutes. Combine all the other ingredients in a pot. Slice the roasted oranges and add them to the liquid. Heat but do not boil. Serve with a slice of orange in each cup or mug.

If making a larger quantity for a party punch, you may wish to float clove-studded oranges in it.

Don't worry about the little "burned" spot.





Don't forget to leave a comment to enter to win a THE GHOST AND MRS. MEWER bandana or a catnip toy! Be sure to tell me which one your fur baby would prefer.

31 comments:

  1. Krista, orange is one of my favorite flavors, so I can't wait to try this yummy concoction. I'm anxious to read The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer!

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  2. My feline furbabies love all gifts they get! Thank you for this giveaway! The recipe sounds delicious. areewekidding@yahoo.com

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  3. Sounds like just the thing for a nippy winter's evening! It's a good thing the oven version works, since my chimney gave up the ghost a couple of decades ago (and it was a coal-burning fireplace anyway).

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  4. I'm looking forward to reading "The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer"...loved "Murder She Barked". My kitties and I have had no luck winning catnip toys, so let's switch to a bandana, for the dog, Buddy. :)

    patucker54 at aol dot com

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  5. I've never roasted oranges but I made baked apples yesterday and the house smelled really good.

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  6. When I was very very young we had a wood cookstove and my mother always put the orange rinds on the back of the stove to make the kitchen smell good in the winter. I think that was the only thing we missed when we got an electric stove.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  7. What a delightful and perfect treat. Your book sounds so special. I would love a bandana for Guido. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Oh, yum! These cups remind me of some glass ones my mother used to have. Alas, they are no longer. She used them for her bridge group. :) Wish I'd snagged them when I could have.

    Daryl / Avery

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  9. Love orange flavor. And your books sound great!
    littleone AT shaw DOT ca

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  10. Roasted oranges, never would have thought of that. Have to try it, if just for the aroma. When I read Heidi for the first time I desperately wanted to melt cheese over the fire like she did. Mom said no but grandma came to the rescue!

    I think Pep the Pug would love a bandana.
    Sallycootie@gmail.com

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  11. My boys would prefer the catnip toys (even though I have one that thinks that he is a dog from time to time). The punch sounds wonderful! I am a huge fan of wassail and this is very similar.

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  12. That taste of the drink isn't something that would appeal to me. I have very boring taste buds. But just the thought of the smell of it filling me house, well, that made my stomach growl. And I love the toys! Adorable.

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  13. A cat toy please, Sebadtian and i love your stories.

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  14. Thank you.
    Catnip toy for my cutie cat, chicle. :)

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  15. The scent is ideal. Thanks for this lovely post and Elie would look dashing with a bandana. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  16. This will make the house smell wonderful and put a smile on our faces, both before and after drinking!

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  17. I have always love fresh squeezed orange juice. But after being diagnosed with diabetes, it was totally removed from my life. The thought of the smell from roasting seems nice.

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  18. Kitty toys are great. My two would love to bat these around. newbride@comcast.net

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  19. Beautiful punch for the holiday season. And I can't wait to try the roasting oranges idea for making the kitchen and house smell amazing. Thanks for sharing and have a great week!

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  20. I could use a catnip toy for my kitty, Pumpkin Baby, maybe they would help to keep her out of the Christmas tree. Sigh...my poor tree is a mess because some one has decided she likes to nest half way up the inside of the tree and bat the ornaments down. If I didn't love her so much,

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  21. Nice Punch for the holidays Krista, thanks for sharing.

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  22. My kitties would love a catnip toy! And the punch sounds yummy!

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  23. Oh yum, I will definitly being trying it. I will be making it "virgin" but with all the wonderful fruit flavors I can bet it doesn't need sugar. And, making it with out the alcohol, I may try serving it warm. Thanks for the great idea. And, thank you for the great books, I love both series!

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  24. Never give up on a good win I would love to won

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  25. This is exciting, getting the chance to win a book from you at this time of the season.
    also, that punch sounds wonderful. I already like Grande Marnier, many, many moons ago in my younger days that was half of the makings for the Rusty Nail I enjoyed so much.

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  26. i would like the cat toy. it is so cute

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  27. My kitties would love a toy. Thank you
    Candace7399@aol.com

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  28. Wow a use for orange flavored sugar booze. Well done! Catnip toy for a little furry friend sounds nice.

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  29. Well Done! Catnip toy for Molly sounds nice

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  31. The drink sounds perfect for family get-together! I dont usually like rum, but bet the other flavors will mask the taste. cant wait to try orange roasting. no fireplace so give it a go in the oven. Would love the bandana. Thank you! Can't wait to read the book. Actually, it's in my TBR pile & I'm trying to hold out until holiday week!

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