Homemade Apple Cider

I love the fall. I love the changing of the colors in the leaves and the way the air smells. Waking up to an overcast sky with a hoodie on and then it turning into a semi warm but still autumn chill day. I love drinking apple cider and wearing sweat pants while snuggling with my love on the couch. And I love that all of our shows come back on with new seasons! How could you not love this season. 

I was debating in what order I was going to write the blog, chicken pot pies first or cider first! But cider won out on the start of the week play. It is so simple to make and so yummy. I can't wait for the Halloween party, you know it's going to be the beverage of choice :)

Here's the recipe for homemade apple cider:

10 each      apples (I use gala because they're sweeter)
1/2 cup       sugar (you can use brown or white, i prefer brown)
4 Tbs          Allspice
4 each        Cinnamon sticks
15-20         Star Anise (optional)

Quarter your apples up, don't worry about coring them or peeling them, just cut them in quarters and place them in a pot. It's got to be big enough that after you put the apples in it that you can fill it to the top of the apples with water. In a cheesecloth make a sachet of the cinnamon sticks and allspice (include star anise if you choose to do so). Add the 1/2 cup of sugar and sachet to the apples and water and bring to a boil. 

Boil for 1 hour and then turn it down to a simmer. Let simmer for about 2 hours (it should start to smell very aromatic) and then shut off the heat. Let it cool down for about an hour. Mash everything together and then strain. Once it's strained take the mashed apples and put them in a doubled up cheesecloth and drain over your put of already strained juice. If you don't want any pulp in it you can rinse the cheesecloth out afterwards and strain it again over the cheesecloth. 

Your apple cider WILL BE CLOUDY and mucky looking. That's what happens when you have unfiltered unprocessed cider. Don't think your failed. It it smells good and tastes good that I'm going to go with it is probably good. 

Enjoy your evening with the family and you Apple Cider :))