This Cider is on Fire!

It's true, there's so many "miracle" drinks on the market today.  They all promise to promote this or that, and make your body stronger overall.  Do they deliver?  Really who knows, they aren't medicine, but this next cider, called Fire Cider has been used for centuries to promote health and well-being, ward-off colds, and make you feel better during the long winter months.  Rosemary Gladstar, who wrote the book, Medicinal Herbs, stopped by Tonia's Kitchen to talk about this cider, and how you make it.  It does take some time (6-8 weeks) and can be on the spicy side, since the recipe calls for horseradish and Cayenne Pepper.  But it can and does work! Give it a try, and fight those winter blues, (PLEASE NOTE: There is a product on the market with the name Fire Cider, this recipe is not related to that)

• ½ cup grated fresh horseradish root
• ½ cup or more fresh chopped onions
• ¼ cup or more chopped garlic
• ¼ cup or more grated ginger
• Chopped fresh or dried cayenne pepper ‘to taste’. Can be whole or powdered.  ‘ To Taste’ means should be hot, but not so hot you can’t tolerate it.  Better to make it a little milder than to hot; you can always add more pepper later if necessary.
• Optional ingredients; Turmeric, Echinacea, cinnamon, etc.

1. Place herbs in a half-gallon canning jar and cover with enough raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar to cover the herbs by at least three to four inches.  Cover tightly with a tight fitting lid.
2. Place jar in a warm place and let for three to four weeks.  Best to shake every day to help in the maceration process.
3. After three to four weeks, strain out the herbs, and reserve the liquid.
4. Add honey ‘to taste’.  Warm the honey first so it mixes in well.  “To Taste’ means your Fire Cider should taste hot, spicy, and sweet.  “A little bit of honey helps the medicine go down……”
5. Rebottle and enjoy!  Fire Cider will keep for several months unrefrigerated if stored in a cool pantry.   But it’s better to store in the refrigerator if you’ve room.

A small shot glass daily serves as an excellent tonic Or take teaspoons if you feel a cold coming on.