Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Cider Sparkles


I received this gift from Stutz Cider last month in the midst of all my visiting guests and it was the perfect surprise! I had originally planned on trying to cook with some of it and sharing my results here but alas it was so yummy we drank it all!!! Zesty and zingy and good. I love hard cider. It used to be the drink of choice before beer became widely available but it is now happily becoming popular again.

What I had planned on making was this! I think I will still try it. Have to pick up some more cider:) The recipe came from Epicurious.
Cider Braised Apples and Leeks
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
2 cups (generous) thinly sliced leeks (white and pale green parts only)
1 apple, peeled, cored, diced
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds, pinch of ground allspice, coarse kosher salt
1 1/2 cups hard apple cider

Melt butter in large pan over medium heat. Add apples & leeks. Cook covered, until tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Mix in caraway and allspice, salt and pepper. Add hard cider, bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered, until most of liquid is cooked away, about 16 minutes. Serve over hotdogs in buns spread with dijon mustard and topped with cheddar cheese.

Funnily enough, I had been in Grand Pre just the week before and sampled it for the first time at
Domaine de Grande Pre. A vineyard in the heart of apple country.

4 comments:

christina said...

this sounds like a wonderful recipe. it's almost apple picking time here.
xo

Ruth said...

oh yum. so fortunate. agree with Christine...:)

Gayle said...

Oh what a beautiful photo: it is the perfect visual of "impending" change. You poor things, hot weather I loath it and it is just around the corner for us in Aus. 40 and 42 degree days are not that uncommon here now. Fortunately we live on the coast ,so we can always get relief there and the nights are'nt too bad. Mmm cider,only cider I have ever tried was one in England called Scrumpy, it was delicious. Good luck with WW.

aliceinparis said...

Christina- I do plan on making it this fall for sure!
Ruth- I was delighted.Such a great surprise:)
Gayle-This weather is highly unusual for us at this time of year. Anytime of year really! Glad you can find relief from the heat in your town.