Recipe: Spiced Apple Cider

2 cinnamon sticks
2 quarts aromatic cider
Dash of orange bitters
1/2 tspn. allspice
6 whole cloves
1/2 cup clover or orange blossom honey
1/2 cup light rum

Break off a piece of cinnamon stick the length of your thumb, and put it and all the other ingredients in a heavy enamel pan. Heat the mixture over a low fire but do not let it boil. When it's steaming hot, rinse out your best punch bowl with hot water to warm it up. Then, strain the mulled cider into the bowl. Break the other cinnamon stick into slivered swizzle sticks and put one in each of the clear (optional) glass mugs. Ladle in the hot cider and serve.
NOTE: Do not use strong flavored honey for its overwhelming nature.

Or without the booze:

1 gallon of fresh apple cider
3 cinnamon sticks
2 whole allspice
1 tspn. whole cloves
Thin orange wedges

Pour cider into a large saucepan. Tie cinnamon sticks, all spice and cloves in a cheese cloth square. Add to the cider. Cover and simmer for ten minutes. Remove and discard the spice bag. Serve in mugs garnished with orange wedges. Refrigerate leftovers and reheat as needed. Makes 16 to 20 servings.