Happy Hour: Mulled Cranberry Apple Cider

This weekend we’ve got fall on our agenda. It’s staring us dead in the eyes just waiting for us to tear back the layers upon layers of fun we’ve got planned.

Tomorrow we’re meeting clients in the charming seaport village of Port Townsend for chats about dreaming up their summertime coastal-inspired menu, tasting delicious confections from a French bakery, and then heading to Remlinger Farms for pumpkin hunting and hay rides with friends. Oh, does this bring back fond memories. Growing up each year Aleah’s family would head out to the farm {it’s east of Seattle in the rustic little town of Carnation} to select the most perfect pumpkins for carving. Jam eating, hay rides, corn mazes and savoring family time ensued.

Sunday Aleah and her mom are spending the day at Mystery Bay Farms and learning how to make goat’s milk cheese! Yes. We’ll be donning galoshes and flannel and rolling up our sleeves learning all about the farm and what goes into making one of our favorite delectable chèvre varieties. Whew – we’re a little sleepy just thinking about the adventures ahead, but are truly savoring the season. So enter our Mulled Cranberry Apple Cider beverage {either non-alcoholic or spiked}. Can’t you envision curling up by a roaring fire with one of these?

Photos and recipe: Valley & Co.

2 cups of apple cider | 1 cup of cranberry juice | 2 cinnamon sticks | 1 teaspoon whole cloves | 1 teaspoon nutmeg |  a dash of whiskey or your liquor of choice if you’d like

warm up the apple cider, cranberry juice and spices in a sauce pan for about 30 minutes over medium-low heat. If you’re spiking this with liquor add once it’s warmed so you don’t cook it out. Then strain through a cheese cloth into two heat-proof festive glasses. Garnish with a cinnamon stick if you so please and enjoy!

Do tell us…what fall traditions to you have in your family? Do you have an always make cocktail recipe you enjoy while decorating for Halloween or carving pumpkins?