Drink: Warm Spiked Cider

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Cinnamon, Lemon

Health and fertility benefits of Warm Spiked Cider

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060). Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to.

Ingredients

1 lemon
1 navel orange
2 quarts unfiltered apple cider
3 whole star anise or 1/8 cup star anise pieces
5 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
10 juniper berries
1/4 cup superfine granulated sugar, or to taste
1 cup apple brandy such as Clear Creek, or to taste

Instructions

With a vegetable peeler remove four 3-inch-long strips of zest from lemon and two 6-inch-long strips from orange.
In a 3-quart saucepan bring cider to a rolling boil and pour through a sieve lined with a triple layer of cheesecloth or paper towels into a heatproof pitcher. Stir in orange and lemon zests, star anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks, juniper berries, and sugar and steep at room temperature 1 hour. (Cider may be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely before being chilled, covered.)
Just before serving, in a saucepan reheat cider over low heat until just warm. Discard spices and stir in brandy.

Add a review for Warm Spiked Cider