Autumn Punch

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons whole cloves
1/2 of a vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 64-ounce bottle apple-cranberry juice
4 medium purple &/or green plums, pitted & sliced
1 750-milliliter bottle Gewurztraminer or other fruity white wine*
Ice cubes

Directions:

Place cloves & vanilla bean in center of a double-thick 6-inch square of 100-percent-cotton cheesecloth. Bring corners of cloth together, tie closed with clean string.
Pour apple-cranberry juice into a large container or pitcher. Add plums and spice bag. Cover & chill for 4 to 24 hours.
Remove and discard cheesecloth bag.
Stir in Gewurztraminer.
Serve beverage & plum slices over ice.
(Or omit the ice & heat the juice mixture & wine in a 4-quart Dutch oven until hot. Serve in heatproof mugs.)
Makes 10 to 12 servings.

(*For non-alcoholic version, substitute 2 12-ounce cans chilled ginger ale for Gewurztraminer & serve over ice.)

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