Recipe of the Month -Hot Mulled Cider

INGREDIENTS:

- 1/2 gallon of fresh, unfiltered apple cider

- 1 orange

- 15 cloves

- 4 3-inch sticks of cinnamon

- 15 allspice berries

- 1 teaspoon of nutmeg

- 7 pods of cardamon

- 1/4 cup brown sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Put cider into a 3qt saucepan, cover, turn the heat on medium-high. While

cider is heating up, take a vegetable peeler and peel away a couple thick strips of peel from the orange. Press about half of the cloves into the peeled part of the orange. Place orange, orange peel strips, the remaining cloves, and the rest of the ingredients into the sauce pan with the cider.

Keep covered and heat the mulled cider mixture to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes on low heat. Strain the hot mulled cider away from the orange, cloves, and other spices. Serve hot. Add a cinnamon stick to each cup if desired.

* You can add a touch of bourbon, brandy, or rum!