Spiced, and Spiked, Cider: because it's important to stay warm

With halloween approaching, and thanksgiving on the horizon, my thoughts are spinning towards leaf piles, pumpkin patches, and the inevitable first morning when I can see my breath. As much as I dread the bitter cold of winter months, there is a lot to look forward to, and there ARE ways to mitigate the chill. One of my favorite, is Spiked Cider.


YOU'LL NEED:
Apple cider
cloves
cinnamon
anise
dark rum


A tea-strainer really simplifies this recipe. Three cinnamon stick, broken into smaller pieces, a teaspoon of cloves, and 1-2 anise stars should be plenty. Slowly heat 4-6 cups of apple cider in a sauce pan, with the tea bag full of spices. Once boiling, turn off the heat and let it steep for a few minutes. Mix between half a cup, or a cup of dark rum into each glass and fill them the rest of the way up with the spiced cider. Make sure not to burn your tunge, but you've got to enjoy this one warm, that's the whole point!

*recipe modified from www.thekitchn.com