Monday, December 1, 2008

Hot spiced apple cider




6 cups apple cider
1/4 cup real maple syrup
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice berries
1 orange peel, cut into strips
1 lemon peel, cut into strips

If you don't have all the fancy ingredients to start out with it seems like a pricey little drink but think of it this way-- it'll be really inexpensive next time you make it!
1. Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
2. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. (or if you don't have a cheesecloth I used some tea bags I found at the health food store. The bags I found are sold in packs of 100 empty tea bags. I had to use a few to fit all the ingredients.) Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.
3. Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.
4. Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into mugs




This was so good and stronger than I thought it was going to be so be sure to not cook it too long. The way it made my house smell was almost better than drinking it!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had no idea that you could buy empty tea bags. Is that easier than using cheesecloth? Thanks for the tip and the yummy looking recipe. We are going to try this one this afternoon!

Anonymous said...

MC-I don't hink the tea bags work better I just didn't have cheesecloth so I found those.
ps, who are you??

Anonymous said...

My name is Jaymie. I found your blog a while back. I love new recipes so it has been great! I hope you don't mind my commenting every now and again. Thanks for sharing your talents!

Anonymous said...

I think it's great that you comment! I just thought you might have been one of the cousins.

Marsha said...

Maybe it will get cold enough here that I can make something like that...! Looks great!