Although the weather has been lovely here in California, I have a feeling it's the usual pre-spring tease. Unfortunately in San Francisco, even if it's a beautiful day, at some fateful point in the afternoon the fog comes rolling in over the bay. On days when I arrive home freezing from the unexpectedly cold winds, I am always in the mood for a hot drink that warms me to the bones. A great alternative to tea is hot apple cider. A steaming cup is full of antioxidants and the fragrant spices will give your house a cozy smell. Use the best apple juice or apple cider you can find when you make this perfect cool afternoon treat. For the recipe, read more

Hot Apple Cider
From Bella
1/2 gallon apple juice or apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
2 whole cloves
2 allspice berries or whole nutmeg
1/2 orange peel, cut into strips
1/2 lemon peel, cut into strips

1. Pour apple juice/cider into a large stainless steel pot (crock pots or slow cookers are best but not necessary).
2. Place spices and peels into a cheesecloth. Drop cheesecloth into apple juice/cider.
3. In a regular pot: heat to just short of a boil. In a crock pot: Heat for 2 hours.
4. Remove cheesecloth.
5. Once you are done, you can keep the stove-top on warm and have people ladle the apple cider straight from the pot.

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