AUTUMNAL EVENING COCK-A-TAIL

Once autumn hits, and the apples picking comes in, those delicious, juicy apples from the hundreds of trees to the market , I start thinking about making cider. There’s something so gratifyingly simple about this good, old-fashioned cider. And to say I love cider would be a understatement. I stop at the farmers market to get it once a week, and go through two to three quarts a week. Historically, cider was very important to early Americans. One in every 10-farms in New England operated its own cider mill by the time of the American Revolution. And, President John Adams drank cider every morning because he believed it promoted wellness. Maybe so - Adams lived to 90, making him one of the top longest living US presidents. Often in the autumn in the evening I like to make a Mulled cider of my own recipe, with these ingredients.

I use half quart of cider, a teaspoon each of clove, and ground Valencia orange rind. And two cinnamon sticks

A tablespoon of allspice and a tablespoon of fresh ground nutmeg. I then toss it in a pan loose with the apple cider.

After it comes to a boil, I let it simmer for around half an hour on a low heat. 

Once simmered, I used my gravy measuring separator that has a strainer on top to catch the spices.

Once that's done, back into the pan and then I add in some ginger liqueur. In my opinion, no household should go without a bottle of Domaine de Canton, a French ginger liqueur. It's around $40 a bottle, but so worth it. It has multiple cock-a-tail uses, great on the rocks as a night cap, and is excellent over vanilla ice cream. Stick with me kids, I'm full of cock-a-tail tricks. Anywho, I use a cup of the liqueur to the cider.  

And voila'…...hot mulled cider!!!!! Nothing more fall tasting on a crisp night. I have one or 6 after my walks with Buster in the evening, and when it's boiling and simmering, it scents the whole house which smells so wonderful!

And I sleep like a baby.

Cheers lambchops🍸