Winter Fruit Punch

When pears, apples, and cranberries are abundant and well-priced, or you have a bunch of summer fruits in the freezer, this is a great punch to enjoy mixed with sparkling cider, soda water, as a mixer, or on its own over ice.  Feel free to try different fruits - you can even try throwing in some dried, sulfur-free apricots or apples.

Ingredients:

2 cups of fresh cranberries

1/2 cup of fresh or frozen raspberries

1/2 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries

2 gala, braeburn, pink lady, or other firm, sweet apples, quartered and cored

2 anjou or bartlett pears, quartered and cored

2 strips of orange zest 

1 1/2 quarts filtered water

1/3 cup maple syrup or raw honey

Instructions:

1.  Put the fruits, zest, and water in a large pot and bring to a boil.  Then lower the heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes.

2.  Stir in the maple syrup or honey.  Turn off the heat and strain the punch into a heat safe jug or pitcher (discard the fruit).  Chill for at least an hour before serving.