JOY & Hot Apple Cider with Rum

It's official. I am feeling a charge of positive energy during my favorite time of year. The adrenalive IV with a nice caffeinated Christmas Blend is dripping away & I am looking forward to celebrating HIS birthday with the people I love most. It's a celebration & I have not forgotten the true meaning of why we do all of this.

And just as in the other times of year when I am preparing to eat & drink merrily with those around me, I get excited about the little things that make celebrating all the more JOYful!

In the midst of mopping, deep cleaning, grocery list modifying & creating a timeline for my dinner preparation, I stopped for a few minutes last night to do just that, STOP, & then let the creative juices flow.

I originally bought these jars for chocolate sauce but I ruined the lids, which contained a plastic ring, when I put them in boiling water to sterilize. Oops. So, I just glued on a sticker of Joy, tied on a little ribbon, added water & a tea light. These will be perfect for a fun dessert table Christmas evening.

Because I feel like I have been slacking in the actual food department here, I wanted to make up for it. And since sharing a recipe for pork in a crockpot hardly feels festive, here is a recipe for Hot Apple Cider with Rum that I have made in Christmas past. It's delicious and the rum is optional! For me, not so much....

HOT APPLE CIDER WITH RUM

1 apple
2 teaspoons whole cloves
1 orange, thinly sliced
2 quarts apple cider
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon allspice
Pinch grated nutmeg
1 cup dark rum
Cinnamon sticks, garnish

Stud the apple with the cloves. In a medium pot, combine the studded apple and remaining ingredients except the rum. Slowly bring to a simmer over low heat. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the rum. Discard the apple. Ladle into mugs and garnish each with a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.

{Click Here to Print Recipe}

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