Grace Abounding

Last night during Bible study, we celebrated Christmas by enjoying a warm Guatemalan holiday fruit drink known as “caliente.” My family always has a pot of this delicious drink brewing on the stove over the holidays, causing a holiday fragrance to waft through the house.

Several of you have been asking me to share this never-before-seen recipe. After much contemplation, I’ve decided to disclose how you too can make this delicious Christmas brew. Micah Brandenburg, Dan Rundle, and Micah McCormick–you must promise me you will not try to gain fame by claiming this family recipe as your own.

(1) Place the following ingredients into a large pot:

- 1 fresh pineapple peeled and sliced into bite-sized cubes (put the large slices of skin into pot for flavor)
- 2 apples (sweet, such as Gala) sliced into bite-sized cubes with skin on (put cores into pot for sweetness)
- 2 oranges peeled and sliced into bite-sized cubes (place large chunks of peel into pot for flavor)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 small jar of maraschino cherries (pour in 1/2 of the cherry juice but reserve the cherries)
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups of sugar (to taste)
- Add 8 to 10 cups water.
- Stir ingredients well.

(2) Bring the ingredients to a boil and keep it boiling until fruit is cooked (30 minutes to 1 hour).

(3) Serve a mix of the liquid and sliced fruit into previously-warmed mugs, placing a maraschino cherry gently on top of each drink.

(4) Enjoy in the company of friends and family as you contemplate the coming of Christ.

I’ve seen derivations of this which include soaked raisins, dried apples, and cloves. Perhaps one day I’ll try to add them and see how it tastes. Thanks, Dad and Mom, for the Guatemalan heritage and the “Caliente” recipe!