Enjoy this spicy recipe

By Staff
Mom’s Corner, Michelle Blaylock
After my article last week I had several people ask me if I could re-print my recipe for apple cider. My hot apple cider recipe is from my mother. (She had seven kids!)
Momma’s Apple Cider: 1/2 gallon of apple cider (I recommend pasteurized.), 1 orange (cut several slits in it to allow the juice to seep through), 1 Tbsp whole cloves, 3-4 cinnamon sticks, Sugar to taste (I omit the sugar. I like the cider tart.)
In a Crockpot or a large saucepan, mix the all the ingredients. Slowly warm to desired temperature. Make sure to refrigerate leftovers. Another way to do this recipe is to use a peculator type coffee pot. This is a favorite in our house and takes the place of coffee.
My mom also makes a wonderful apple pie. Her secret is sprinkling a few Red Hots candies on top of the filling before putting on the top crust. It gives the apple pie a nice zing.
I also love caramel apples, unfortunately I can’t have the ones in the store due to the nuts they have on them. My only recourse was to find a way to make them. After trying several times to dip apples in caramel and discovering how big of a mess it was, not to mention my kids would eat the caramel part and then throw the rest of the apple away, I decided there had to be a better way. I was complaining to a friend of mine that I loved caramel dip, but hated the way it hardened so quickly. She said it was easy to fix that by just mixing sour cream with the caramel when it was warmed up and then it wouldn’t harden as it cools. It worked wonderfully!
Add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of sour cream per package of caramel. This is also super for kids with braces. You can cut the apples into bite size pieces and drizzle caramel over them.
Another favorite fall and winter treat for us is hot chocolate. Of course hot chocolate is great plain. However, my family also loves to add things like marshmallows, flavored creamers, and whipped cream to name a few. I also have known people to add things like cinnamon, vanilla, and cloves. My kids also love to make “Hot Chocolate Spoons.” All you do is take plastic spoons and dip them in melted white chocolate (almond bark), add a few candy sprinkles on top then put them on wax paper to dry.
You can also use different types of chocolate or candies for variety. Use these spoons to stir your hot chocolate, coffee or tea. They will give the drink a wonderful flavor.
These make a great gift for children to give to friends and family at Christmas. (Ewww, did I say Christmas? It’s October!)
I also want to encourage you to spend time with your kids. Take the time to talk to them. I remember when we lived in Indiana the trees were particularly beautiful one year. I asked my five-year- old why she thought the leaves changed colors.
She thought about it for several minutes and then said, “Well, God must have gotten bored with green and decided to scribble.” OK, well I asked!
I hope you’re enjoying the fall weather! Please send me your tips and favorite recipes to Mom’s Corner; moms-corner@juno.com. God bless!