Hot Mulled Cider

Hot mulled cider is a Christmas tradition at our house.

We also had it on Thanksgiving with pumpkin pie and 

ginger cookies.  I've made this recipe for years.  It's great!

It's steeps with spices like cinnamon, allspice and cloves

and is sweetened with brown sugar and the juice of an orange.

I put the spices in a tea ball and hang it on the edge of the pot.

A big curl of orange peel adds flavor, too!

Just bring to a boil, then turn the fire down to low

and simmer for 20 minutes.

I always garnish it with star fruit, just for fun.

Sometimes I add a cup of wine to the recipe, 

but it's wonderful just like it is, too!

Hot Mulled Cider

For each quart of cider, add...

1/2 c brown sugar

1 large curl of orange peel

1/2 c orange juice

1/4 t whole cloves

2 whole allspice

3 inches of cinnamon stick

1 T lemon juice

a dash of nutmeg

1 c wine, optional

Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.

If a foam develops on the top, I spoon it off.

Remove peel and spice ball.

Garnish pot or each cup with star fruit slices.

Enjoy!

One of my favorite traditions between Christmas and New Years

is to serve this with homemade caramel corn while watching

the old Christmas movies.  Wonderful.  :)

It's on my To Do list for this week!

I already have a head start on the movies, watching

A Christmas Carol ~ both the Alastair Sim

 and the George C Scott versions,

It's A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street

and White Christmas!  :)

♥