Hot Apple Cider for One ♥

 

 

I'll never forget the first time I made my husband this hot apple cider.  It was a few years ago and I had just discovered how easy it was to prepare at home.  Literally just heat up cider, add a few spices, a splash of OJ, and a cinnamon stick. That's it. Up until then I had only gotten hot cider when we went apple picking or occasionally at a restaurant as treat.  It had never occurred to me that I could make it at home. It's so delicious on a cold, damp, Fall day. ♥
 

One Sunday Rob was watching a football game and I offered him some cider.  To my delight he said yes.  I prepared it for him and put it an a fancy mug with a cinnamon stick.  "Enjoy!" I said as I left the room.  A little while later when I came back to collect the cup I noticed the cinnamon stick was gone.... I asked how he liked the cider and he said it was really good, but he didn't care for the cookie! OMG - he ate the cinnamon stick!!! Has anyone ever eaten a cinnamon stick??? I didn't think it was possible???  When I told him that he wasn't supposed to actually EAT the cinnamon stick he said "good, because it tasted terrible".  True story ♥

 

Every Fall, as soon as the cider hits the market I buy it.  I love heating it at night, curling up on the couch with a cozy blanket, and sipping a big mug of it.  Last week I put some in a thermos and brought it to work. It was raining that day and the cider (and cinnamon) made my day so much better.  For me this is a Fall staple.  For some reason it only appeals to me in October & November. 

 

 

 

All I do is take a cup of cider (I measure it in the mug I'm going to drink it in first, then dump it into a little sauce pan) and heat it with a splash of OJ, a few dashes of cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg, and (of course) a cinnamon stick.  Let it come to a boil then shut off the heat.  Stir it up until all the spices absorb and carefully pour it back into the mug.  If you desire you could also add a little something "extra" like brandy or bourbon and turn it into a hot toddy.  This is really nice on coooold nights.  You will sleep like a baby ♥

 

 

 

 

I've been nursing a cold all week and this cider, along with my mom's chicken soup are the only things that are making me feel better.  Leftover Halloween candy is helping too : )

 

Earlier this week I was feeling crafty and started dipping pinecones in melted candle wax to make ornaments.  I'm all done except for hot gluing bows on top.  I had to stop because I got sick, but hopefully I'll finish them up this week and I'll post a DIY.  They came out really cute and are getting me into a holiday mood!

 

 

 

 

I can't believe it's already November.  Thanksgiving is three weeks away!  I just booked tickets for a Polar Express train ride in December and next weekend I'm going away overnight with my Mom on our annual "girls only/Christmas shopping/craft fair/Yankee Candle extravaganza".  Every November we go up to the Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield, MA.  It's about 3 hours from here.  We shop like crazy and then the next morning we go to a huge Christmas Craft Fair in Springfield, MA.  By the time we are through the car is jammed with presents and smells like a giant Christmas tree!  We drink tea, eat chocolate covered apples in the car, and tell funny stories.  We've been doing this for over 10 years and it's one of my favorite weekends of the year! (read about last year's trip here).  Have you started thinking about the holidays yet? It's not too soon, right?  

 

Hope you all are having a wonderful week.  Autumn is going by so fast....xo