MULLED CIDER DAY (Plus recipe)

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  September 30th is MULLED CIDER DAY!! Last night we went to a farm near us and they had fresh pressed apple cider for sale.  We ended up coming home with 2 gallons, and I discovered that today was mulled cider day!! Perfect coincidence!  I love mulled cider(We call it wassail) in the fall. If we go out anywhere and they have hot cider or wassail, I am all over it.  One of my favorite things.  This apple farm we used to to to had SLUSHIE cider!! It was amazing. 

WHAT IS MULLED CIDER?

 Mulled cider is a traditional hot drink made from apple cider and flavored with spices like citrus, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Traditionally the cider used is a "hard cider", meaning there is alcohol involved, but you can use regular apple cider for a chilly weather drink that everyone can enjoy.

Mulled Cider comes from the pagan tradition of Wassailing. Traditional wassail was made from mulled ale, curdled cream, roasted apples, cloves, ginger and nutmeg and sugar. It was typically served in giant silver or pewter bowls. The term wassailing usually refers to the pageantry of carrying in the giant bowl with pomp and circumstance and splendor. A song was sung and then everyone partook of the wassail bounty.

Today Wassail generally refers to a hot apple cider stewed with various spices and fruits.  

Does anything smell better than a pot of wassail on the stove?  The whole house smells like autumn and thanksgiving and Christmas all rolled into one.  Cold fingers being warmed by the mug of spiced cider, a fire crackling away in the fireplace, maybe friends are over for a bonfire.  Hot Mulled Cider/wassail is the perfect treat.

Best part...if you make too much you can store it and reheat the next day!

This recipe uses 1/2 gallon of apple cider, so recipe yields about 8 cups

YOU WILL NEED:

1/2 gallon Apple Cider

1/2 lemon, sliced with peels.

1  small orange  sliced, with peels. 

10 whole cloves

3 star anise

3 cinnamon sticks

1/4 cup fresh cranberries

1 nutmeg pod, lightly zest the surface to scratch it up a bit

2 TBSP brown sugar

you will also need a mesh strainer.

in a large pot, combine the apple cider and brown sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved.  Bring to boil over medium high heat.  As it starts to come to a boil add the remaining ingredients and reduce heat to medium and let boil for 5 minutes.  Reduce heat to low and let simmer..the longer the better.

when ready to serve, pour cider through mesh strainer and into mugs. You can garnish with a cinnamon stick or a citrus slice if desired.

**You can try various spices for your own version.  Some people use ginger and allspice berries, some people only use orange, some people omit the cranberry. Some people love cinnamon and clove.  It is up to you how spicy and how detailed you want your cider to be.

** Dont feel like going through all that work?? There are premade mixture!! You just add it to your cider or hot water. stir and boil!! Or you can get premade spice blends with real bits of dried fruit and spice pods etc.

**Like the smell but not the taste?? Get a wassail/hot mulled cider candle!!

** Plus you need cute apple mugs to drink it from

National Punch Day- With Recipes!

 ahhhh punch.  Growing up Latter Day Saint (Mormon), I can claim with certainty, that no one has had more punch than I have.  Every function.  Every party. Every reception.  Punch.  And now there is a holiday to celebrate it!!   Mormons are notorious for their punch. Legit.

PINEAPPLE ORANGE PUNCH

• 2 CUPS PINEAPPLE JUICE
• 2 CUPS ORANGE JUICE
• 3 TBSP KEY LIME JUICE

refrigerate to chill.  Before serving add

• 2 cups lemon lime soda
• fresh orange, lime and pineapple slices.

PINK SHERBET MORMON PUNCH (This makes a HUGE amount)

I dont recommend making this too far in advance. You want the liquids to still be cold but not flat from sitting out.

• 2 liter sprite
• 2 liter club soda or sparkling water
• (ONE)12oz  can fruit punch, mostly thawed
• (TWO) 12oz cans  frozen lemonade, mostly thawed
• Frozen raspberries or strawberries
• strawberry or raspberry sherbet

Prescoop sherbet into about 12-15 balls and keep in freezer (You will add this right before serving)

In your punch bowl combine your mostly thawed frozen cans with your 2 liter of sprite.

Stir. Add up to half of the club soda or sparkling water and taste to see how sweet it is.  If it is too sweet, add more water. Remember you will be adding sherbet to this mix, so you dont want to too terribly sweet.

You can add frozen strawberries or raspberries as well at this point.  Right before serving, add your scoops of sherbet. 

NOTE: This can be made with orange juice and orange sherbet, lemonade and lime sherbet,  rainbow sherbet. The combinations are endless!

EASY PEASY SPARKLING PUNCH

• 2 Liter bottle FRESCA soda.  If you dont have fresca, you can substitute Sierra Mist and add a little pink grapefruit juice for bitterness
• 1 can frozen white grape juice concentrate
• orange slices and raspberries for garnish

Combine and serve. VOILA. A perfect and delicious bright and cheeerful punch!!

Need some more ideas for easy punch recipes?  Over at Taste of Home they have a post with a collection of 35 different punch ideas!

Enjoy!!

Recipe 7: ORANGE JULIUS (Beverage/smoothie)

SOURCE:  I was about 7 years old and we went up to Michigan to visit family.  We stopped by an old friend of my mom and dads. He made us this drink and gave my mom the recipe.  I made it CONSTANTLY for years.  I havent made it in awhile, but now that I am putting this as a recipe, I think i may break out  my blender and have myself a refreshing Orange Julius.

This is NOT the same Orange Julius that they sell in the mall.  This is WAY better than their watered down version.

THE RECIPE: 

6oz Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate (it is about 1/2 a tube)
1 cup milk
1 cup cold water
1/3 cup white sugar (you can use up to 1/2 a cup if you prefer it sweeter)
1  tsp vanilla  (if using imitation vanilla, add an extra 1/2 tsp)
1 cup ice (about 10 cubes)

Add all ingredients and 1/2 the ice.  Blend for one minute.
Add remaining ice and blend for abother minute.

this makes enough for 4 people (1/2 cup servings)


If you do not have frozen OJ, you can use 12 oz regular orange juice and omit the water and add an extra cup of ice.