Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Favorite Fall Recipes, Part 1 - Spiced Cider (and a Giveaway!)

Each year on October 31st, our church hosts a Chili Cook-off as an alternative event for people to attend who do not celebrate Halloween. This avoids having to answer the door to trick-or-treaters, or hiding out at home with the lights off. 

When we first began this tradition 11 years ago, only two chilis were entered. By now, we have to limit entries to the first 20 chilis, and the competition is pretty stiff. Since my husband as the pastor is an all-time judge (the other four are randomly drawn), I never enter a chili myself, but every year I do provide the three main sides. Funny side note: my husband's mom was in town for our cook-off this year, so she took his place as a judge.

 Here's a picture of the judges' table because I didn't have one of the spiced cider - though you can see me in the background pouring another gallon of it into the dispenser.

This year, I made 15 gallons of spiced cider, 3 gallons of bean dip, and 180 corn muffins. All three ran out halfway through the evening, so I'll have to up my game next year. Like every year, I got asked for the recipes of these foods, and I promised to share them on my blog. So I bring you this mini-series of my favorite fall recipes. 

Spiced Cider:

8 cups apple juice (organic, unfiltered gives the best flavor)
2 cups water
3 Tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate  
6 Tbsp sugar (Demerara or Turbinado is best, otherwise use brown sugar)

In a large pot, combine all ingredients, stir to dissolve sugar, and heat over medium heat just until very hot but not boiling. Immediately strain the mulling spices out and serve hot or cold.

Caution: If the mulling spices are left in longer than it takes to heat the spiced cider, they will make it turn bitter.


Mulling spices:

You can buy it ready, or make your own by combining 

4 parts dried orange peel
4 parts cinnamon chips
1 part whole allspice, and 
1 part whole cloves


Since I know that the biggest hurdle to making this spiced cider is finding the mulling spices, and since I made 2 1/2 lbs of it for the cook-off and have some left over, and since this blog post really needs another photo (ahem), I am hosting a little giveaway of packets of mulling spices. Leave a comment below and be entered into a random drawing of FIVE readers that I will mail one of these single-serve packets to (free, of course). US only, ends this Sunday night.



Happy Fall, y'all!


(P.S. You can print this recipe by clicking the green button below.)

42 comments:

  1. Mmm, you can save your money Mrs. Anderson and just bring mine to church ��.

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  2. Thank you for sharing your recipe! My children look forward to my spiced apple cider each year, but your recipe seems more tasty than mine. I will have to give it a try.

    On another note....my husband has given me a trip to Phoenix for my birthday. So, my younger daughter and I will be visting your church in December. We met in Boston and your husband baptized our girl. I still remember how sweet it was to hold wee Chloe for a bit. I do hope she is recovering well from her procedure.

    May God continue to bless you and your family.

    Cheryl

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  3. This sounds very good, thanks for giving out the recipe for this and for a chance at having the mulling spices ready at hand. Heidi Cummings

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  4. Feeling disappointed that I didn't try the spiced cider! The corn muffins and honey butter were delicious though. ;)

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  5. Sis Zsuzsanna, Thank you so much for sharing your recipes. I enjoy reading your blog and following on Facebook. It's very sweet of you to offer your spices, and I would love to be entered in the give away.
    Thank you for taking time out of your busy day.
    Blessings,
    Emily

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  6. That's sweet of you to share your recipe and your spices. Thank you for all you do as a pastors wife.

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  7. I agree. I'll help save you money on shipping! Haha! Just bring it to church for me :) Your spiced cider is a favorite of my husbands. I found a recipe that I have been using each Thanksgiving to improvise and is pretty close.
    At the chili cookoff my husband said that it was like liquid apple pie.. and he LOVES apple pie!

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  8. Thanx Mrs. Anderson. I have been looking forward to implementing a regular/possible "family favorite" around the holidays;& I think the spiced Cider is a great start!

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  9. Thank you for sharing!! My church has a thanksgiving pot luck coming up and I'm a young mom so I'd love to "wow" the older moms with this recipe! ;)

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  10. I'm personally not a fan of Cider but if I win one of those bags and of course make it 😉 then we'll see if you got yourself a convert to liking Cider after all. Thank you for taking your time to share

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  11. I've never made cider before! Looks pretty easy and might try to make some this year! Thank you for the recipe!

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  12. Looks wonderful! Our church's chili cook off is this Saturday-we put a jar in front of each crock pot and every attendee gets 3 votes to cast. My husband has something up his sleeve this year and has asked to make our entry for this one.

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  13. Thanks for sharing! I use and love most of your recipes!!!

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  14. Thank you for sharing.

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  15. It's so warm here still in the south, but I feel like making this might bring on the cooler weather!

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    Replies
    1. Becky,

      your package was returned as "insufficient address". I had your street number as 1515, and the apt. number as 1278. Is there any other information necessary, or did the post office mess up. Please let me know so I can resend the package.

      Delete
  16. I could almost smell the cider filling the room while I was reading the recipe.

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  17. Wow that sounds so yummy!!! I've never made apple cider before but would love to give a try!😄

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  18. Thank you for the recipe Mrs. Anderson. Can't wait to try it

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  19. How awesome! Such a great idea. I look forward to trying the recipe.

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  20. Yum... I used to make mulled wine as a family tradition until I converted and quit alcohol. I never thought of making spiced cider as a winter alternative. Thanks for the recipe!

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  21. sounds delicious - thanks for the giveaway

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  22. I've been telling my husband how good spiced cider makes the house smell!! Thanks for the recipe can't Wait to try it!

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  23. I hope I win a spice bag!!!!!! Yum I was just thinking how I need to learn to make it! -Chloe

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  24. Me please please please ��
    Thanks for posting I always enjoy reading your blog.

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  25. Lord willing my family and I will be moving from New Jersey to Arizona in May 2017 and I will be able to try your spiced cider at next years Chili Cook-Off!

    Alyssa Ford

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  26. I enjoy following your blog and the youtube sermons helped me get saved last year March 30, 2015. I hope I win some spices! I'm a new wife and mom to 8 month old and would really love to make this recipe this year for Christmas or Thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing it! I think when I post this it might be under my husband's name and I can't figure out how to correct it. (not too tech savvy)

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  27. Sounds so yummy. Please enter me! Thanks.

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  28. We love cider and would be excited to try a spiced version. Thanks!

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  29. That cider was pretty tasty :) it was a fun night, especially scattergories-I think that was the name. I hope we will be having another game night in the near future :)

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  30. I would love to make the cider and be entered into the giveaway. :). Thank you so much for sharing. God Bless!

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  31. Can't wait to try the cider. Enter me in for the spices. Thanks

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  32. I love mulled cider! What a great recipe!

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  33. I would love to be entered as well! Can't post a comment other than this way, so I will just give you my email address? Rudlandadventure@yahoo.com
    Thanks - Leah

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  34. How yummy! I would love to win and try this recipe

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  35. The winners have been drawn and announced!

    http://stevenandersonfamily.blogspot.com/2016/11/giveaway-winners-announced.html

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Your KINDLY WORDED, constructive comments are welcome, whether or not they express a differing opinion. All others will be deleted without second thought.