Hot Apple Cider

Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Ready In: 15 Minutes Yields: 6 servings

"Nothing beats a mug of hot cider on a cold winter day. This recipe is great as it calls for fresh apple cider and pure maple syrup. Start with only 6 strips each of the orange and lemon peel, and adjust to taste."

INGREDIENTS:

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

DIRECTIONS:

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.

Pecan Pie

Prep Time: 25 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour

Ready In: 1 Hour 55 Minutes Yields: 12 servings

"This is the most amazing pecan pie. Once you start eating it you can't stop."

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons white sugar 1/2 cup butter, chilled 4 tablespoons ice water 3 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup light corn syrup

2 tablespoons dark corn syrup 3/4 cup light brown sugar 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1 pinch salt 1/2 cup pecans, finely crushed 1 cup pecans, quartered 1 cup pecan halves

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.	To Make Crust: In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt and white sugar. Cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually sprinkle the water over the dry mixture, stirring until dough comes together enough to form a ball.
3.	On a floured surface flatten dough ball with rolling pin. Roll out into a circle that is one inch larger than pie dish. Place pie shell into dish and refrigerate until pie filling is complete.
4.	To Make Pie Filling: In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, light and dark corn syrups, brown sugar, butter, salt and finely crushed pecans. Spread quartered pecans over bottom of refrigerated pie crust. Pour syrup mixture over top of pecans, then arrange pecan halves on top of pie.
5.	Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for one hour or until firm; let cool for one hour before serving.

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