Cider Sparkles

I received this gift from Stutz Cider last month in the midst of all my visiting guests and it was the perfect surprise! I had originally planned on trying to cook with some of it and sharing my results here but alas it was so yummy we drank it all! I love hard cider. It used to be the drink of choice before beer became widely available but it is now happily becoming popular again.

What I had planned on making was this! I think I will still try it. Have to pick up some more cider:) The recipe came from Epicurious.

Cider Braised Apples and Leeks
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
2 cups (generous) thinly sliced leeks (white and pale green parts only)
1 apple, peeled, cored, diced
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds, pinch of ground allspice, coarse kosher salt
1 1/2 cups hard apple cider

Melt butter in large pan over medium heat. Add apples & leeks. Cook covered, until tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Mix in caraway and allspice, salt and pepper. Add hard cider, bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered, until most of liquid is cooked away, about 16 minutes. Serve over hotdogs in buns spread with dijon mustard and topped with cheddar cheese.

Funnily enough, I had been in Grand Pre just the week before and sampled it for the first time at Domaine de Grande Pre. A vineyard in the heart of apple country.