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When I think of fall one of the first things that comes to mind is a steaming cup of apple cider, made spicy and aromatic with cinnamon sticks, cloves and a hint of nutmeg. But it doesn't end there.
I also think about substituting cider for the broth in some of my favorite fall recipes. One recipe in particular is a hearty stew chock-full of tender beef or pork, potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery simmered, not in chicken broth, but in seasoned apple cider.
For an easy dessert, Apple Cider Upside-Down Cake is a small cake with big flavor. Cider in the batter, and apples, raisins and cherries swimming in a buttery brown sugar topping, makes this frosting-less cake a favorite fall sweet.
Hot Spiced Cider for a Crowd
2 quarts apple cider
1 orange, quartered
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 (4-inch) cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves, tied in a cheesecloth bag or a coffee filter, if desired
Directions: Place all ingredients in a 3-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil; cover and reduce heat to simmer. Simmer at least 1 hour before serving to develop flavors OR combine all ingredients in a 3-quart slow cooker, cover and cook on low 2 to 4 hours. Remove orange and cinnamon sticks before serving. Makes 10 servings.
Apple Cider Stew
(Serve this tasty stew with plenty of crusty bread or rolls.)
2 pounds stew meat, beef or pork, cubed
3 T. oil
3 T. flour
2 tsps. salt
1/4 tsp. thyme, crushed
2 cups apple cider
1/2 cup water
2 T. vinegar
3 potatoes, peeled and quartered
4 carrots, large dice
2 onions, large dice
1 celery stalk, sliced
Directions: Cube meat. Combine flour, salt, pepper and thyme and dredge meat in the mixture. In heavy pot, brown coated meat in 3 tablespoons oil. Stir in cider, water and vinegar. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until meat is tender. Add potatoes, carrots, celery and onion and continue to cook until vegetables are tender. Serves 4 to 6.
Apple Cider
Upside-Down Cake
Topping:
2 T. plus 2 tsps. butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup raisins
2 cups apple slices
2 T. chopped maraschino cherries
Cake:
1 1/3 cups sifted flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup softened butter
2/3 cup apple cider
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
Directions: Melt butter in 9-inch cake pan. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over bottom of pan. Arrange apple slices over sugar and sprinkle with raisins and cherries.
Sift first 5 cake ingredients into bowl. Add butter, cider and vanilla and beat for 2 minutes. Add egg and beat again for 2 minutes. Pour batter over topping ingredients in pan. Bake at 350-degrees F. for 40 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes then invert onto serving plate. Serves 6 to 9.