Spiced cider

It's a horrid cold day here – no frost or anything interesting, just that damp cold that goes all the way through you.  I felt bad for my daughters having to come home from the bus stop in the cold, so I had spiced cider waiting for them when they arrived.  Now my whole kitchen smells of Christmas.

And in case it's cold where you are, too (which it is, unless you're Serenity Woods), I include the recipe for you.

Spiced Cider

4 pints/2 litres dry cider
juice 2 oranges
8 oz (220g) soft brown sugar
2 sachets mulled wine spice or 16 allspice berries (optional)
24 whole cloves
8 cinnamon sticks
half of a whole nutmeg, grated

Place ingredients in saucepan, warm gently until piping hot but not boiling. If you're going to keep this for longer than a couple of hours, take out the spices or it starts to taste like cough medicine!