I don’t know how it is where you are, but here in North Carolina we are having colder weather than usual. It usually doesn’t get this cold until the end of December or January. So, when I noticed that November 18 is National Apple Cider Day it seemed like a good idea to make some apple cider and try to warm myself up. I order produce most weeks from a local organization called The Produce Box. They deliver local produce to your door. Apples are in season and they had a special on ten pounds of apples. These are the “flawed” or “slightly bruised” apples so the timing is perfect because they are great for making apple cider. If I am really ambitious, I plan to make some apple butter as well!
Apples are a super healthy food. They are filled with fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants. Eating apples regularly, can help prevent heart attack and stroke because the fiber helps absorb the cholesterol that may block your arteries. Apples have abrasive qualities which fights stains on your teeth so they may make your teeth whiter. In a Brazilian study, women who ate an apple before each meal lost 33% more weight than those who didn’t eat an apple. Apples can boost your immune system and is a great snack to eat before a workout because it increases your endurance. Apples have also been shown to improve your memory.
I realize that when we make cider out of apples, we lose most of the nutrients and fiber. So, when I made the recipe below, instead of removing all the pulp by straining it when it was finished cooking, I put it all into my Vitamix blender and blended it all up until it was liquified. Yum!