Friday Recipe - Hot Apple Cider

This is perfect for a cold night! My neighbor made this for a party she had last year and it is SO good. I have been using her recipe ever since!

Hot Apple Cider
INGREDIENTS:
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

Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.

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. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.

Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.

Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.

**NOTE: If you don't have cheesecloth, you can also put spices directly in pan. After the cider is very warm you will need to strain off the spices before serving.**

We mix this up and then put it in a Crock-pot to keep it warm. It also makes the house smell so yummy!