Toasted Mulled Cider Margarita Food

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.

GZ'S MULLED CIDER

Steps:

• Combine the apple cider, cranberries, ginger, red chile flakes, star anise, cloves, allspice, orange slices and 2 of the cinnamon sticks in a medium pot. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the cider to sit for 5 minutes. Strain the cider to remove the spices.
• If desired, put 1 ounce dark rum in each of 4 large mugs. Divide the cider among the mugs and garnish with the remaining cinnamon sticks.

TOASTED CIDER

Steps:

• Heat the cider in a large pot over medium heat until it starts to simmer. Add 3 strips of orange zest, the orange juice, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice and stir. Bring to a simmer then turn the heat down to low to keep it hot, but not simmering. Heat for 5 minutes to allow all of the flavors to meld together before serving.
• Serve hot in heatproof mugs with a shot of spiced rum, if desired.

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.

MULLED CIDER WITH CARDAMOM, BLACK PEPPER AND GINGER

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 large Dutch oven or pot. 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.
• Put the ginger, lemon, orange, salt and apple cider into the Dutch oven. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer and simmer for 30 minutes. (If you use unfiltered cider, some solids may rise to the top as you simmer; it's not necessary to skim them, but if you find them unappetizing, you can.)
• Decrease the heat to its lowest setting. (Use a heat diffuser if you have one.) Stir in the vanilla. You can leave the cider on the stove for several hours. Set the rye whiskey by the stove so guests can spike their mugs, if desired, and set out cinnamon sticks and sliced citrus, so guests can garnish as they like.

MULLED MARGARITA

Steps:

• To make mulled cider: combine the cider, apple slices, cloves, and ground cinnamon in a pot; heat until boiling; let boil for 5 minutes.
• Ladle about 4 ounces mulled cider into a coffee mug; add in the Grand Marnier and tequila; garnish with a cinnamon stick.
• *Spiced Apple Margarita: combine 2 ounces cooled mulled cider with 1 ½ ounces tequila and ¾ ounce Grand Marnier in a cocktail shaker filled with ice; shake and strain into a martini glass; garnish with cinnamon stick and apple slice.

SLOW COOKER MULLED CIDER

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients except the calvados in a slow cooker and cook for 1 hr on high or up to 4 hrs on low.
• Just before serving, stir in the calvados. Ladle into heatproof glasses or cups to serve.