On the Twelfth Day of Cooking/Baking...

I thought we should start our 12 days of cooking and baking with something that will keep you warm and make your entire house smell delicious AND a sweet treat that your kids will go crazy over.  The first recipe listed below is for a mouthwatering glass of WARM APPLE CIDER.

Ingredients: 

• 6 cups apple cider
• 1/4 cup real maple syrup
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 6 whole allspice berries
• 1 orange peel, cut into strips
• 1 lemon peel, cut into strips

Directions: 

1. Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
2. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.
3. Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.
4. Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.

My 2yr old loves this drink.  It's also something great to serve at a holiday party or for a cool, crisp night.  Enjoy!

The second recipe is a tasty dessert that is fun to make.  I found this recipe in the Pampered Chef Festive Holiday Desserts Cookbook.  It's Marshmallow Treat Ornaments.

Ingredients: 6tbsp of butter, 2 1/2 cups of miniature or 18 large marshmallows, 2-3tsp red or green food coloring, 5 cups crisp rice cereal, 16 pieces thin black or red licorice rope, 16 gummy candies, and 3tbsp decorating nonparelis or colored sugar.

Directions: 

1. Melt butter in a casserole pot over low heat (do not use stainless cookware).  Add marshmallows and stir with a scraper until completely melted.  Remove from heat; add food coloring and stir until well blended.  Add cereal to marshmallow mixture and stir until well coated.

2. Using a large scoop, scoop cereal mixture into 16 round portions onto Parchment paper.  Fold one piece of licorice rope in half.  Wearing plastic gloves, form an indentation for licorice.  Insert licorice ends into indentation.  Lightly pack scoop into a ball of licorice, leaving a 1 1/2inch loop at the top.  Thread one gummy ring over licorice loop to fit on top of ball at base of loop.  Repeat with remaining licorice, cereal mixture, and gummy rings. 

3. Place nonpareils into a plate or tray.  Roll each ornament in nonpareils to form a narrow stripe around the middle.  Store in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to serve.