I'm living in Taiwan, where exotic fruits are a part of my daily meals. However, I noticed that as the weather cools down, I tend to gravitate toward a particular type of imported fruit -- apples from my former home states of Oregon and New York, as well as from Washington state. Perhaps it's nostalgia and perhaps it's biological, but something in me simply craves the flavor of apples in autumn.
Apple pie can be delicious (if you master making a great pie crust, of course!) and fresh apples make a healthy and tasty snack on their own. But as far as I'm concerned there's one way to enjoy fall apples that tops all others -- mulled apple cider.
Whether you juice the apples yourself or buy a pre-made cider for mulling, apple cider makes a wonderful carrier for warming spices like allspice and ginger. Mulling your own apple cider fills the air with the scents of these spices, especially if you use a Crock Pot to slowly simmer your cider for hours. Plus, the end product is far more delicious than store-bought mulled cider (which is often made with sub-par apple cider and with cheap spice extracts and flavors instead of real spices).
If you're new to mulling cider, learn to make your own spiced apple cider at home with this collection of apple cider recipes. And if you're experienced in making cider, feel free to share any tips or tricks for mulling apple cider with other readers in the comments below!
Photo (c) Marko Goodwin
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