Honey Ginger Spiced Mulled Cider Food

HOT MULLED CIDER

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Pour into mugs and serve.

MULLED APPLE CIDER WITH ORANGE AND GINGER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine the cider, the cinnamon stick, the cloves, the orange and the ginger and simmer the mixture for 20 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a heat-proof pitcher and serve the mulled cider warm.

SLOW-COOKER MULLED CIDER

Steps:

• Put the cardamom pods on a cutting board. Lay the flat of a chef's knife over them and gently smack the flat of the knife to lightly crush and crack the pods. Add the cardamom pods, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks and allspice berries to a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Toast the spices, shaking the pan often, until very fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the cinnamon sticks into a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Tie up the remaining spices into a cheesecloth bundle, and add that to the slow cooker as well. (If you don't have cheesecloth, you can use tea infusers or loose tea bags. You could also put the spices directly into the slow cooker, then strain the mixture as you serve.)
• Cut the piece of peeled ginger in half lengthwise and smash each piece by laying the flat of the knife over it and smacking with the heel of your hand. (At this point, put the slow cooker in the spot where you'd like to serve it, because it will become difficult to move once you've added all of the liquid.) Add the ginger, lemon, orange, salt and apple cider to the slow cooker. Cover, and cook on high for 3 hours.
• Reduce the heat to warm. Add the rye whiskey and vanilla and stir to combine. You can leave the cider on warm for several hours, allowing guests to serve themselves, adding additional citrus slices and cinnamon sticks to their mugs, as desired.

MULLED CIDER ("WASSAIL")

Steps:

• Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low; simmer for 20 minutes. Ladle into mugs and serve warm. If you want to strain off bits of spices and fruit that are floating in the cider, you can pour the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth before serving.

MULLED GINGER CIDER WITH HONEY

Steps:

• In a nonaluminum saucepan over low heat, combine the cider, honey, and ginger.
• Cover and warm, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
• Transfer to a preheated large thermos.
• Include the ginger for a more pronounced ginger flavor.
• Pour into mugs to serve.

MULLED CIDER

Steps:

• Pour the cider, Calvados, apple juice and sugar into a large saucepan, and gently heat to mull.
• Add the orange zest and spices, bring to a simmer, then turn down and keep on a low heat for 20-30 mins. Ladle into glass mugs to serve.