Tis' the season for Cider and Doughnuts!

As I woke up this morning in Southwest Florida, I ran outside as I usually do to tackle the morning chores.  To my surprise I was enveloped in a cool graceful wind at 65 degrees which means one thing, Lady Autumn has taken her mother’s earthly throne, and has come to decorate the world for her party. Though on the throne for only a short time, the Mistress of fall plans her decorations accordingly for her lively ball at Halloween, sponsored by her charming partner, Samhain.  Though her ribbons of color do not grace the trees of the tropics of the south, the wind of her movement makes a short stay. Breathing in this crisp air around me, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the many people in the Northern regions frantically grabbing their sweaters and scarves as they amble their way down the structured groves of apple orchards and maple trees.

One of my absolute favorite things to do as a child in the north was pick these succulent apples in the northern orchards, taking in their crisp skins and crunching on their tender flesh.  People of all ages could be found in these fruitful woods, laughing and climbing the limbs of those ample trees.  More than likely there was a mill nearby that majored in the art of Cider making and doughnut raising, causing a rippling sensation of joy in small children whose eyes became quite large at the sight of apples crushed into sweet juices and small round bits of dough rolling in the heated oil.

But there is hope for those who live below the frost line, but also for those who dwell in those blessed lands. For you can bring a taste of that orchard into your own home. By opening your house to that cool breeze you can create cauldron of trouble right there on your own stove, as well as the tortured pleasure of frying small rounds of dough into circles of brown delight. 

                                                                              Apple Cider

Bubbling Brew:

• 6 cups apple cider
• 1/4 cup real maple syrup
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 6 whole allspice berries
• 1 orange peel, cut into strips
• 1 lemon peel, cut into strips

How to Stir:

1. Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
2. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.
3. Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.
4. Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.

... a dash of thought:
"The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many."  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes