Hot Apple Cider

Ingredients

• 2 (4-inch) cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 2 to 3 whole cloves
• 3 to 5 whole cardamom pods
• 5 coin-size pieces fresh ginger (optional)
• 2 (1-inch) strips fresh orange peel
• 2 (1-inch) strips fresh lemon peel
• 5 cups cold water
• 4 bags tea
• 3 cups apple juice, clear
• 1 orange, juiced

Directions

Lightly crush the cinnamon, peppercorns, cloves, and cardamom pods in a mortar and pestle or on a cutting board with the bottom of a saucepan. Transfer to a medium saucepan, add Combine the ginger, citrus peels. Put the crushed spices in a medium saucepan and add the water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, partially covered, until aromatic, and the cinnamon stick opens a bit, about 10 minutes. Add the tea bags, immediately remove from the heat, and steep for 3 to 4 minutes.

Remove the tea bags, and add the cider and juice of 1 orange. Return the pan to a medium heat and warm, taking care not to let the tea boil. Serve hot.

Copyright 2004 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.

Muffins for the Christmas Kitchen

In Egham where I live, the local churches run a Community Kitchen every Wednesday and in the week or so leading up to Christmas.  It is run by church members and the food provided by the congregation and members of the public.  This year, Naomi and I are going to make muffins.  I have just finished baking one of the recipes for blueberry muffins.  Tomorrow I'm going to make Christmas Cranberry Muffins.  However, thanks to a trip to Canada recently, I discovered muffin tops and so, instead of baking the muffins in tins, I am going to make them on cookie sheets.  I think they look far more appealing!

Christmas Cranberry Muffins

(Though this recipe is in American measurements, it is easy to convert by remembering that American cups are 8 oz.  Just use a regular measuring cup for the dry ingredients as well as the wet.)


Ingredients
1 cup cranberries
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1 egg, beaten
1/4 teaspoon orange rind
3/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup nuts, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Coarsely chop cranberries, sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar & set aside. Preheat oven to 375 F, prepare pans.

Combine flour, 2nd measure sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon & allspice. In another bowl combine egg, orange rind & juice and melted butter. Add dry mix to wet mix & stir to moisten. Fold in cranberry mixture & nuts.

Spoon into pans & bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden.

Blueberry Muffins (These have just come out of the oven!)

Ingredients

2 cups (approx 280 grams) self raising flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup (approx. 67 grams) sugar
2 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
4 tbsp butter, melted
3/4 cup (175 ml) milk
2 cups (approx. 300 grams?!?) blueberries, well-dried
optional: 1 tsp grated orange or lemon rind muffin pan lined with muffin papers (i use one 12 cup and one 6 cup pan)

Method

1. Wash the blueberries and drain. Sprinkle a tea towel with flour and roll the blueberries in it. Wrap the now lightly floured berries and leave for a good 30 minutes or so to dry completely.
2. Preheat oven to 425F/210C/Gas Mark 7.
3. Sift the flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder into a large mixing bowl.
4. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Add the melted butter and then the milk.

5. Quickly stir the liquid ingredients into the dry, confining yourself to only 10-15 strokes. Leave the lumps as too much handling will result in tough muffins.

6. Add the floured blueberries and the optional rind if you are using. Briefly fold in the berries. Spoon into the prepared muffin pans, allowing the mixture to fill about 2/3 of the cup. Bake in the hot oven for 15-20 minutes. Muffins will be a light golden colour when fully cooked.

7. Remove at once from their tins. Serve with plenty of butter. To really make this a meal, scramble some eggs to eat with the muffins!