Spiced Apple & Ginger 'Cider'

One of my favorite fall drinks, besides a chai tea latte is apple cider.  I just love the intense apple taste paired with aromatic cinnamon and nutmeg. Since I am still coming up with creative ways to go through my delicious bag of apples, I decided to create a Spiced Apple & Ginger 'cider' that ended up being the perfect drink to sip on a crisp fall day. This drink is subtly sweet, thanks to the honey and provides a bit of zing due to the fresh ginger.  Continue for recipe...  

Ingredients:

2 apples diced, leaving skin on (Rome, Cortland, Macintosh)

2 inches ginger, peeled and diced

4 cups water

4 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Cinnamon sticks, optional for garnish

Thinly sliced apple, optional for garnish

Directions: Add water, apples, ginger, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg into a sauce pan.  Turn stove to medium heat. Allow for mixture to come to a simmer. Let cook for about 25 minutes or until apples become soft.  Remove from heat. Allow to sit for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.  Strain through sieve.  If you are going to serve, place drained liquid back into pan and reheat until hot.  If you are going to serve later, place inside mason jar and put into the refrigerator.  For serving garnish with cinnamon sticks and sliced apples. 

*All photographs by Alison