So yesterday was cold, rainy, blowing like snot, and I’ve been low-key pining for apple cider since last fall, so I went out into the weather and bought some apples.

Turns out cider is very boring to make – throw apples and tiny chunk of orange in pot covered in water, with misc spices, simmer for 2 and a half hours, then mash and strain. It makes the house entire house smell lovely.

I definitely overclocked it a little on the cinnamon, at least in part because I couldn’t find any other of the spices I wanted in the tiny local grocery store the size of a postage stamp, but the result tastes lovely. Turns out in addition to brown sugar, you can put maple syrup in, which somehow feels peak New England, tastes fabulous. I realized only a little too late that I had nothing to pour the cider into that would then fit in the fridge, so I have commandeered three mugs, two for the cider itself, and one for the leftover mush which is basically just applesauce with peels in.

I’m pretty pleased with the results, and I might just being this again, especially if I can lay hands on some nutmeg. All in all, a peaceful way to spend a day that otherwise involved 26mm (or about a full inch) of rain.