Spicy AppleCider

Hello and Happy Monday!!

Well this Saturday, I was home all day and I was wondering what I should bake up, but for some reason I wasn’t in the mood for something that took alot of work, so I rummaged through my cupboards and fridge and I found a bunch of apples and suddenly I realized, oh hot apple cider sounds good!  I was working hard on house work and I thought I would reward myself with a sweet apple treat!

This was really easy to make, chop apples, throw in some spices and oranges and it will do the rest of the work.

After 3 hours of cooking, let me tell you my house smelled so good.  Little Jenny thought I had a candle burning, she was pleasantly surprised when I gave her a glass of fresh apple cider.

After 3 hours of cooking it was time to strain the apple mixture into a another pan,  I used cheese cloth to get every last drop!

After all that hard work, not, I rewarded myself with this!

Spicy AppleCider – Adapted from  Gimme Some Oven  http://gimmesomeoven.com/homemade-apple-cider/

Ingredients:

• 12 or so small-to-medium-sized apples, assorted types (I Macintosh and Granny Smith Apples))
• 1 orange
• 1/2-1 cup brown sugar
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 whole nutmeg
• 1 Tbsp. whole cloves
• 1 tsp. whole allspice
• water to cover

Method:

Wash apples and the orange, and then roughly cut into quarters.   (Don’t worry about removing peels, seeds, or stems.)  Place in a large stock pot.

Add sugar (I start with 1/2 cup, you can always add more later), cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves and allspice.  Then cover with water, filling the pot until it is nearly full.  (I left about 2 inches of space at the top of my pot.)  Bring to a boil and boil uncovered for at least an hour, stirring occasionally.  Then cover and reduce to a simmer, and allow juice to simmer for at least another two hours.

Periodically during the three hours, use a potato masher (or I used tongs, or you could just use the side of a spoon) to begin mash the apple and orange slices once they are soft.   Feel free to also add more sugar or spices to taste.

When cider is ready allow to cool then strain apple pieces and whole spices into a clean pitcher or pot. If you feel like it you can strain everything through a cheesecloth and twist and squeeze to get every last drop.

Serve hot, and garnish with a cinnamon stick, fresh orange slice, or dried apples if you’d like. Store in the fridge and reheat as desired.

I couldn’t figure out the calories on this one, sorry!  I don’t know what it would be once I strained all the apples ect..

Enjoy!!

You have to make this if your going to be home for a while.   It was so simple and it tastes really good, way better then store bought!  This would also make a great punch at your Holiday parties.  Put the Cider in a punch bowl, add some orange slices, cinnamon sticks and cranberries.

Last Weeks Workout Round-up:

Sunday – Nothing

Monday – Jackie Warners 30 Minute Time Saver Workout

Tuesday – 40 Minutes of Jump Roping, 1.43 Mile Walk and Ab Workout

Wednesday – 1.23 Mile Walk, 30 Minutes Jump Roping, 20 Minute Upper Body Workout

Thursday – 30 Minute Jump Roping, 40 Minutes Kickboxing

Friday – Nothing

Saturday – 1 Mile Walk

Calories burned 2159, Yah I beat my goal of 1700

Weight, I gained 2lbs, I don’t know how, but I did.

Thats it for me!!  What exercises do you do?  What ones do you feel gives you the best results?  I would really love your input!  Thanks!!!