Celebrate Michigan cider with these tasty drinks
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Contact: Denise Yockey
(800) 456-2753
(DeWitt, Mich.) – Apple cider has long been a favorite drink, dating back to the Middle Ages in northwestern France and England.
The tasty beverage made its way to America thanks to English settlers who brought with them apple seeds, planted them into thriving orchards and eventually pressed the fruit into cider. Today, the drink is being celebrated by Michigan cider makers and apple fans in honor of Michigan Apple Cider Month.
In light of this recent distinction as proclaimed by the Michigan House of Representatives, the Michigan Apple Committee would like to share these fat-free, cholesterol-free and low sodium recipes as a twist on an old-time favorite:
Hot Butterscotch Cider
4 cups Michigan apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
1/4 cup fat-free butterscotch topping
In 2-quart saucepan, gently simmer Michigan apple cider and cinnamon sticks, 10 minutes. Remove from heat and remove cinnamon sticks. Stir in butterscotch topping. Serve hot with cinnamon stick, if desired. Yield: 4 servings.
Hot Apple-Honey Drink
1 quart Michigan apple cider
1/4 cup honey
Dash ginger
2 teaspoons maraschino cherry juice, optional
Combine Michigan apple cider, honey and ginger in microwave-proof bowl. Heat on high 4 minutes or until hot. Stir in cherry juice. Serve hot. Yield: 4 servings.
Appleade
1 quart Michigan apple cider
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup frozen limeade concentrate
1/2 cup frozen lemonade concentrate
1 quart cold gingerale or lemon-lime soda
Combine apple cider or juice, orange juice, limeade and lemonade concentrates. Refrigerate. When you're ready to serve, add gingerale and pour over ice. Yield: 10 servings
Hot Raspberry Cider
8 cups Michigan apple cider
1 cup frozen raspberry juice concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick
Combine all ingredients in 4-quart saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture starts to simmer. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove cinnamon stick. Serve hot. Yield: 8 servings.
Michigan cider-makers have earned a reputation of making great-tasting apple cider. In fact, there is a campaign underway urging that apple cider be named the state's official beverage.
For more information on Apple Cider Month, the state beverage campaign or for more recipes, visit www.MichiganApples.com.
The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to promotion, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption by consumers in Michigan and around the world.