Gluten Free Garden

It is unseasonably cold in Iowa this month and I am feeling it!  I managed to pick up one of the many bugs going around and am home sick with a cold and sore throat.  Fortunately, I have a go-to recipe for mulled apple cider that I think is the perfect warm up beverage.

I made a huge batch of this on Saturday and took it to my friends who were dancing at the World Food Festival downtown.  Considering the temperature was hovering between 35-45 degrees, the hot cider was a huge hit!

Mulled Apple Cider

• 1 gallon apple cider

• 1 tablespoon mulling spices
• 1 orange rind, sliced
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground

Bring one gallon of apple cider to a boil in a large pot.  Add mulling spices, orange rind and ground cinnamon.  If you don’t have mulling spices you can always use a combination of cinnamon sticks, allspice, whole cloves and nutmeg.

When cider reaches a boil, reduce heat to simmer.  This can sit on the stove top all day at  a simmer and it will fill your home with a wonderful fall fragrance!  Serve in a mug with a cinnamon stick, or a dash of cinnamon.