Fall is apple country in Nova Scotia and we head out to the Annapolis Valley to pick our own each year. There is something deeply satisfying and fulfilling, about picking apples. Perhaps it’s being outside in the crisp air, powder blue skies stripped with mare tails above, or climbing rickety ladders to reach the perfect red ones closer to heaven or that feeling that today was a good parenting day – watching little kids, apple juice dripping down their chins, running wildly through rows of orchards. After each member of our family has collected their bag of apples, we often end up with way too many, so we press them into fresh juice to make our own cider. There’s nothing quite like freshly made cider bubbling on the stove top, the comforting aromas of cinnamon, cloves and apples wafting through the house. You will need a juice press or juicer for this recipe.
Yields: 4-6 cups
6 cups freshly squeezed apple juice
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
4 whole all spice berries
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1. In a large saucepan over a medium heat combine the apple juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, all spice and maple syrup. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes. 2. Skim the top to remove the foam. Discard the spices and strain the cider through a thin sieve. Ladle into cups and serve hot.