Let’s Get to Know our 1/3 Moms!

(Thanks Abbie Wilson for sharing your table with us!)

Back Row: Shauna LeGrande, Alexa Margary, Tiffanie Thompson, Alicia Kurzenburger, Jessica Van Voorst

Front Row: Marta Kolosso, Abbie Wilson, Chris Mayne

 

Christmas in Russia

 

By Shauna LeGrande

 

Let's go back in time to Christmas 2009. My family had just moved to Moscow, Russia one month earlier. My oldest son Conrad was 22 months and my son William was five months. We were still adjusting to our new life and had just received our household goods a few days before Christmas. I did my best to completely unpack the house by Christmas but there was still a lot of work yet to be done. I accepted the fact this would be no ordinary Christmas. I was so caught up with unpacking, getting my oldest son settled in his new preschool and just life in general that it didn't dawn on me we didn't have a Christmas tree! My options were limited as our car had not arrived from the States yet, so I either had to pay a driver to transport me or hitch a ride with a neighbor.....except I quickly realized that just about all of the expats had left Moscow for the holiday break. So, I took the Metro to the closest mall to see what I could find. To my amazement I found the most pitiful trees on display for unrealistically inflated prices. There was no way I was going to spend $200+ on a sub-par miniature tree. So, I decided to focus my efforts on the Christmas feast, rather than décor.
 

Later that day when I picked up my son at preschool, I commented on the school’s beautifully decorated Christmas tree and mentioned my discovery at the mall. Since the school would be closed through early January, the director (also my son’s teacher) readily offered the tree for us to borrow. I felt a little weird about the thought of getting a hand-me-down Christmas tree, but figured something was better than nothing. At that time it was snowing and the most efficient way to transport my two year old to and from our residence and school was to drag him on a sleigh. It was quite a site to see a crazy woman pulling a sleigh with a little boy and a Christmas tree. Note, this was no landmark Christmas tree as it made Charlie Brown’s tree look like a prize winner. Still, we staged our little loaner Christmas tree in a prominent place in our home and placed a few gift-wrapped presents around the tree. We even managed to get our two young sons to pose for a Christmas photograph to capture the story.
 

The Moscow winter of 2009 was the coldest in 90 years, but it forced us to hunker down on our cozy home. I don’t remember what we ate for Christmas dinner, or what Santa Claus brought the children but I do remember how it felt to be together. Despite the challenges of living in a completely foreign place with no friends (yet) or family, we were together and God was watching over us. As our family reflects on past Christmas days my husband and I will continue to tell our children about our many adventures in Russia, especially Christmas in Moscow.
 

 

A Tradition in Our Family is...

·         One of our Christmas traditions at the Kurzenberger's is when all of the presents are opened on Christmas morning the grandchildren get to wrap up grandpa in all the leftover wrapping paper. They think it's funny to bury him in the wrapping paper. (Alicia Kurzenberger)

 

·         As a first generation American of Puerto Rican decent, my memories of Christmas conjure up many traditions. As I mature in my Christian walk both as a wife for 11 years and a mom of 2, I want to make sure my family maintains our cultural traditions without losing site of the true meaning of Christmas. 

 

The 24th of December was always our Noche Buena celebration. Preparations would start early in December because one of the staples of the menu was pasteles; a laborious task but oh so delicious. I recall staying up late as my family sat around the table sharing stories as they prepared the pasteles in assembly line fashion. One of my grandmothers always made my sister and I specially sized pasteles. This year I am excited to have my grandmother visiting in early December; I will be making my first pasteles with her. It should be interesting trying to find all the ingredients locally.

 

More than the food we will prepare, it's the time I will spend sharing, learning, laughing and maybe even some singing with my grandmother that I will remember for years to come. She always reminds me of her choice to follow Christ on a Christmas Eve when she was 16. Through all the hustle and bustle of the season, it's her love of Jesus I want to cling to the most as I now have my own family to infuse with Christmas traditions.  (Alexa Margary)

 

·         Growing up we always set up our Christmas tree in front of a window.  We were missionaries in Taiwan and being a Buddhist/animistic country Christmas was little known.  One night we noticed that some neighbors (we lived in apartments) were all gathered at their window looking at our tree lit up.  This memory has always been a good reminder to celebrate CHRIST at Christmas and let our His light shine through me. (Abbie Wilson)


Let’s Eat…

Frosted Cranberry Salad (from Tiffanie Thompson)

 

1 13 1/2 ounce can crushed pineapple

2 3 ounce packages lemon gelatin

1 7 ounce bottle gingerale

1 1 pound can (2 cups) jellied cranberry sauce

1 2 ounce package dessert topping mix (Dream whip)

1 8 ounce package cream cheese

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 Tbsp butter

 

Drain pineapple and reserve liquid. Add water to pineapple juice to make 1 cup of liquid. Heat to boiling and dissolve gelatin. Cool to room temp. Stir in gingerale and chill till gelatin is partially set. Blend pineapple and cranberry sauce together and add to gelatin. Put in 9x9 pan and chill till firm. Prepare Dream whip according to package. Whip cream cheese until smooth and mix with Dream whip. Toast pecans in 1 Tbsp butter and sprinkle on top. Can also use a 9x13 pan. Double the recipe and use 9x13 pan if you want the jello part thicker.

 

Irish wheat soda bread (from Jaime Stiles)
3 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups white flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups buttermilk
Mix dry ingredients
Stir in buttermilk
Transfer to floured surface and knead briefly and lightly just to mix ingredients and shape in ball.
Transfer to greased cookie sheet. Flatten ball of dough to an oval about 1" thick
With a sharp knife cut deep cross in center of loaf almost to cookie sheet (this allows bread to cook in the middle)

Brush loaf with buttermilk to produce a shiny glaze
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

 

Zucchini Bread (From Alexa Margary)

3 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 1/4 cups sugar
2 cups grated raw zucchini
2 tspn cinnamon
1 tspn salt
1 tspn baking soda
1/4 tspn baking powder
Less than 1/4 tspn ground nutmeg and cloves
3 cups unsifted flour
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into a loaf pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about one hour. Store in a covered tin or tightly wrapped in foil.
 

Easy Peanut Butter Blossoms (from Marta Kolosso)

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated peanut butter cookies

3 tablespoons sugar

36 Hershey's® Kisses® Brand milk chocolates, unwrapped

 

Heat oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar.

On ungreased cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately top each cookie with 1 milk chocolate candy, pressing down firmly so cookie cracks around edge. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely before storing.
 

Frozen Peppermint Oreo Dessert  (from Jessica Van Voorst)

1 package of Oreos

1/4 cup oleo

1/2 gallon peppermint ice cream (may use other ice cream flavor of your choice)

2 jars Hershey's hot fudge topping (Microwave enough to spread easily)

8-ounce Cool Whip

nuts (optional)

 

Crush 3 cups Oreo cookies and add 1/4 cup oleo (melted). Press into bottom of a 9x13-inch pan. Freeze. Spread 1 jar of Hershey's hot fudge topping on top. Freeze. Spread 1/2 gallon softened peppermint ice cream on top. Freeze. Spread 1 can Hershey's hot fudge topping on top. Freeze. Spread an 8-ounce carton of Cool Whip on top and freeze. You may garnish the top with crushed Oreos or nuts.

Fun Things To Do in Omaha This Holiday Season...

*Holiday Air Affair at Strategic Air & Space Museum, Sat. Dec. 8th!  Send Santa off to space in a hot air balloon at 9:30, then go inside for the lighting of a museum aircraft, cookie decorating, photos with Santa, and other activities.

 

*17th Annual Christmas at the Cathedral, Dec. 7th & 9th!  Hear music from the Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra at St. Cecilia's Cathedral.  There will be a guest appearance by the Archdiocesan Children’s Choir. ($3)

 

*"Madeline's Christmas" at The Rose Through Dec. 16th!  Everyone’s favorite schoolgirl in the bright yellow hat is back for some festive fun in France!  This musical theater production is recommended for ages 4 and up. 

 

* Gingerbread House Display at the Mormon Trail Center

Starting on November 17th, 2012 and running through December 29th, 2012, the Mormon Trail Center will house the annual Ginger Bread House Display.  The display is free to attend. The center will close at 4 P.M. on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and will be closed on Christmas day

 

*Visit Live Reindeer at Mulhall's Through Dec. 16th!  There will be reindeer-themed activities for kids throughout the store, too.

 

*Christmas at Union Station @ Durham Western Heritage Museum

801 South 10th St. Omaha (402) 444-5071

 

*Dickens in the Market - Victorian Christmas

The Old Market Omaha 10th to 13th Sts., Harney to Jackson Sts.

Each Christmas season, Omaha's Old Market becomes a Victorian-Era holiday marketplace.  Festive decorations, carolers in Victorian dress, and horse-drawn carriage rides add Dickensian cheer to the festive season each Saturday and Sunday.

 

*Holiday Lights @ Gene Leahy Mall 12th & Farnam Omaha

A million lights decorate the trees at the Mall from Thanksgiving to early January.

*Holiday Wildlights @ Henry Doorly Zoo

3701 South 10th St. Omaha

Wander through the Omaha Zoo's winter wonderland. Glimpse at the glittering lights on the trees and bushes, and catch sight of the moving animal images. Make a holiday craft in Santa's Workshop, visit the Touch Tank in the Scott Aquarium and have a snack from Durham's TreeTops Restaurant. 

 

*Classic Holiday Film Series @ Marcus Midtown Cinema

Saturdays at 10AM, November 24 - December 22nd

 Admission only $5

 

Join Midtown Cinema for the 2012 Classic Holiday Film Series, in conjunction with the Miracle on Farnam Celebration at Omaha's Midtown Crossing. Enjoy classic holiday films for the whole family on Saturdays at 10AM for only $5 from November 24th to December 22nd!

 

A Christmas Story

November 24th

 

The Grinch

Dec. 1st

 

Miracle on 34st Street

Dec. 8th

 

Elf

Dec. 15th

 

It's a Wonderful Life

Dec. 22nd

 

For more information and/or to purchase tickets:

http://www.midtowncrossing.com/event...12&d=22&y=2012

*Indoor Ice Skating Rinks:

 

Mid-America Center Ice Arena

http://www.midamericacenter.com/aren...formation.aspx
 

Motto McLean Ice Arena in Hitchcock Park

http://www.cityofomaha.org/parks/par...ties/ice-rinks
 

Moylan Ice Plex

http://moylaniceplex.com/
 

*Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks:

 

Dundee Neighborhood Ice Skating Rink

(No website). This is a small outdoor ice skating rink that Dundee Bank and the Dundee-Memorial Park Neighborhood Association provide free of charge to the public. The City of Omaha flooded the sunken area in the boulevard parkway at Happy Hollow Boulevard and Underwood Avenue. Skating is at your own risk. Because there are no lights around the rink, skating is limited to daylight hours. Skate rental is not available, so please bring your own. Please also be aware that there are no restrooms or other facilities.

 

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Ice Skating Rink

http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/parks/...tmactivity.asp
 

University of Nebraksa Medical Center Ice Skating Rink

http://www.unmc.edu/services/bus-fin...ss/skating.htm
 

 ConAgra Foods Ice Skating Rink (Holiday Season Only)

http://www.holidaylightsfestival.org/icerink.html

(For more ideas go to http://www.momsofomaha.com/)
 

November Blog

Let’s Get to Know Some of our 2/4 Moms

(Thanks Holly Gillespie for sharing your table with us.)

 

Front row from left to right: Brianne Minturn, Jill Garton, Lindsey Schneider

Back Row: Susan Williams, Holly Gillespie, Meredith Ehrenberg, Kari College, Emily Born

Not shown- Courtney Hunsberger

 

 

Taking a Plunge:

By Holly Gillespie

 

Plunging! When I was asked to write this article about "plunging into adoption" I thought, how am I ever going to be able to put into a few short paragraphs the joy, adventure, learning and love that adoption has brought to our lives? I would love to take credit for bringing adoption into our lives but that honor would go to my husband. Adoption to me had always been something that I thought was very cool and a very loving thing to do but honestly beyond that I never gave it much thought. My husband on the other hand had fallen in love with the idea of adoption ever since meeting a family who had an adopted daughter from China when he was 10 years old. When my husband and I started dating seriously and began to talk about marriage he explained to me that adoption was something he felt very strongly about and really wanted to make part of his family. He not only wanted to adopt but wanted to adopt after having a biological child (if we were able) before we had a second biological child.

We attended our first adoption information meeting after being married only a couple of years. At that time we found that not only were we too young to adopt from almost every country but we hadn't even been married long enough to do so. We kept in contact with the Holt International social worker and soon after having our biological son we contacted her to tell her we were ready to start the adoption process! Little did we know that less than a year later we would be boarding a plane heading to Seoul, South Korea to adopt our beautiful 7 month baby girl whom we had named Eve.

The process had gone extremely quickly as we had opted to take the route of adopting a child with minor special needs. This "title" scared us at first but our social worker assured us that these special needs could be as minor as jaundice or a birthmark. Our daughter, Ji-Hye was born a month early and had a slight heart murmur that had repaired itself before we even brought her home. We had only seen one picture of Eve before going to Korea so we had NO idea what she would look like except for the fact that she was tiny! We learned later that her wonderful foster family had called her Thumbelina for just that reason. After being in Korea for a few days were finally able to meet our beautiful daughter! We sat nervously in this tiny little room waiting for the social worker and foster family to walk in with Eve. Everything is kept very warm in Korea, even the floors are heated, so to say we were sweating just a little bit is quite an understatement, hee! OH MY GOODNESS was she beautiful! This tiny little beauty with almond shaped eyes was being handed over to US! How could we ever be worthy of this? We had prayed during this entire adventure that God would give us the child that was meant to be with our family and whom we would be the best parents for. Knowing that, I had no doubt that this beautiful little girl was meant to be ours.

 

What I didn't expect however was the feelings of sadness we would feel in taking Eve from her only family she had ever known. Eve's foster family was the most loving, amazing family and we knew that they had loved Eve from the moment they had gotten her at three days old. Eve's foster family did not speak much English and we spoke even less Korean however I really feel that through looks and hugs and we all knew that we were grateful for one another. After taking Eve with us and after three NON-STOP hours of her screaming, she finally calmed down enough to fall asleep. She awoke a couple hours after that with an attitude that seemed to say 'ok, as long as you hold me mom, I am good' and she was! We boarded the plane the next morning and after a fifteen hour flight, of which she was angel, we finally landed at the Kansas City airport, greeted by forty-five friends and family members! Our almost two-year old son stood there with a dozen roses to give to his new baby sister although I am not quite sure he was really aware of what was actually happening! From the moment everyone met Eve, she was been welcomed and so very loved! We know that God truly meant for our beautiful daughter Eve to be OUR daughter and I will be forever grateful to my husband for feeling so passionate about adoption!

Adoption has been such an amazing blessing to us that now, five years after our adoption journey began; we are in the middle of the journey again! We now also have a two year old biological daughter so for us of course the most obvious next step was to adopt a SON! We are now in the midst of adopting a boy from China and are anxiously awaiting the phone call from our adoption agency that tells us that have found a little boy for us! Our children our so excited to have a little brother and we can't wait to see his picture and board that plane to China to finally bring him home!

We are truly blessed!
 

__________________________________________________________________
Now that I’m a mom, I am THANKFUL for…

·       Time together as a family. I love the times my husband and I are both home and can snuggle and play with our boys. (Courtney Hunsberger)

·       Other mom’s. I am thankful for other mom’s advice, stories and just a chance to learn from other mom’s. Before becoming a mother I never truly admired mothers, now mothers are truly an inspiration to me and there is always something new to be learned within us all coming together and sharing our experiences. (Lindsey Schneider)

·       An extra hour of sleep in the morning, quiet moments to myself, and sweet coos and smiles from my little one. (Emily Born)

·       Endless opportunities to fall more deeply in love with my Beloved in all kinds of situations and roles, including our new one of being IN-LAWS! (Susan Williams)

·       For my mom, I didn't realize the things she was sacrificing for me as a child and now that I am an adult I understand a lot of things. (Brianne Minturn)

·       Extended family in a new way and the opportunity to be mostly at home with the girls. (Jill Garton)

·      The hugs and kisses I get from my boys and sweet conversations when putting them to bed.  (Kari College)

__________________________________________________________________

How We Share our Thankfulness on Thanksgiving…

·       We usually take the time for everyone to mention the top 3 things we are thankful for in that year. Last year, my husband and I started to write down in a notebook the things we are thankful for in the past year. (Courtney Hunsberger)

·       We go around the table and share what we are thankful for.  (Lindsey Schneider)

·       Last year, everybody drew names. We went around the table, and you had to say what you thought the family member whose name you drew was thankful for. It showed how well we knew each other, or not (!) and made for some lively discussions! (Susan Williams)

·       We go around the table at thanksgiving to share what we are thankful for. (Emily Born)

·       It is always tradition to go around the table and say what we are thankful for. It is nice to talk and think about the simple things that we take for granted that we should be more grateful for. One year we had a 15 minute discussion about running water and how great it was while our food was sitting right in front of us getting cold and no one even complained when we finally started eating. It's nice to think about and put things into perspective. (Brianne Minturn)

·       We are going to make a Thankful Tree this year.  We’re going to put it up on a door or wall near our kitchen.  Then we will write things that we are thankful on the leaves and put them on the tree.  (Kari College)

·       We haven't in the past, but I pinned the idea of a thankful tree and plan to implement that this year! (Jill Garton)

___________________________________________________________________

Ways we Serve as a Family…

·       My husband and I have been involved in a number of ministries at the church. With our boys being so young, I look forward to them being old enough to teach them to love and serve others. (Courtney Hunsberger)

·       We love going down to The Mission Church in South Omaha to help serve to the homeless community that attend that church. We help by teaching Sunday school classes to the small children and teaching them the word. (Lindsey Schneider)

·       Journey group leaders...as Rachel gets older and our family grows we look forward to serving in the community and at church more. (Emily Born)

·       We also donate as much as we can to the open door mission. We clean out all of our outgrown or gently used items several times a year. It is always nice to help others as we have been in need ourselves at one time. (Brianne Minturn)

·       One year we got a family’s Christmas wish list from Boys Town , went to Wal-Mart together, and shopped ‘til we dropped. For every gift we selected, we reduced our own gift budget correspondingly. It was a great lesson about giving for our four girls. (Susan Williams)

·       Worked with Abide through our small group - we've helped renovate some houses, cleaned up their church property, and served Thanksgiving to the neighborhood last year. (Jill Garton)

·       We love to put shoe boxes together for Operation Christmas Child.  It is fun to go to the Dollar Store with the kids and let them pick out gifts to put in. 

_________________________________________________________________

Favorite Family Games…

·       Having a 2 year old and 10 month old boys, our favorite games tend to focus on trucks and balls. (Courtney Hunsberger)

·       Apples to Apples and The Game of Things (Lindsey Schneider)

·       Ticket to Ride (Emily Born)

·       We love to sit at the table and blab for at least an hour after Thanksgiving dinner is over. Last year, a new boyfriend and a new fiancé were in the mix and we wanted to break the ice for them. So one family member was assigned the task of thinking up wacky phrases, like “The wet moose walks backwards tonight” (well, maybe not THAT wacky). She wrote them on slips of paper, and put one under everybody’s plate. At the beginning of the feast, everybody secretly read and memorized their phrase. Then we went ahead with dinner and rollicking conversation. The object of the game was for you to try to slickly work your phrase into the general conversation without getting caught. It really makes you listen! You also try to “catch” others trying to insert their phrases. If you accuse someone of using their phrase and are right, you get a point. If you are wrong, you lose a point. When it was all over, only two or three of us successfully got their phrases “in” without detection, and Maddy, who was 11, got the most points. (Susan Williams)

·       Catch Phrase and Triple Charades (Jill Garton)

·       We love to play Spot It and Pass the Kitty.  (Kari College)

·       I have to say Candyland. I think I have the colored spots memorized in order and all the rules including the ones Makenna (3 years old) has made up. We also like to wrestle in the living room with the whole family we could dogpile on daddy for hours. (Brianne Minturn)

_____________________________________________

Let’s Eat…

First You Take a Leek" Tomato Soup by Susan Williams

2 T. unsalted butter

1 T. olive oil

1 large leek (white and tender green, coarsely chopped)

3 T. flour

1 can (13¾ oz.) chicken broth

1 can (35 oz.) Italian peeled tomatoes, with liquid

¾ tsp. basil

1 to 1½ tsp. sugar

1½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Several dashes cayenne

½ C. heavy cream

Melt butter in the olive oil in a large saucepan over moderate heat. Add the leek. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add flour. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

Add chicken broth, tomatoes and liquid, basil, sugar, salt, black pepper, cayenne, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.

Remove soup from heat. Let it cool slightly. Puree in batches in a blender or food processor. Return soup to saucepan and reheat. Add cream. Simmer for 5 minutes. Serve.

(This soup got its name after someone asked, “How do you make this soup?” and I found myself saying, “First, you take a leek. . . .”)

(p.s. Makes a great hot appetizer in a mug for tailgating or before the Thanksgiving feast)

Pumpkin Bars by Meredith Ehrenberg and Holly Gillespie

4 eggs

1 cup salad oil

2 cups sugar

1 can pumpkin
*mix the above ingredients

 Sift:

2 cups flour
2 tsp. soda
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp.  ginger
½ tsp. cloves
½ tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. cinnamon

 Mix all well and pour into greased and floured pan (12x18x1 inch).  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 min. Frost.

 Frosting:

1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
¾ stick margarine
1 T milk
1 t vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar

 

Corn Casserole by Emily Born

1 can corn, drained

1 can creamed corn

2 eggs

1 stick melted margarine or butter

1 cup sour cream

4 tbls chopped green onion

1 box jiffy cornbread mix

Mix into buttered dish.  Bake 350 for 45 minutes

 

Apple Crisp by Courtney Hunsberger

10 cups all-purpose apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1 cup white sugar

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ cup water

Topping:

1 cup quick-cooking oats

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup packed brown sugar

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

½ cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C).

Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour water evenly over all.

Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 45 minutes.

Turnips by Brianne Minturn

6 turnips

1 cup of buttermilk

2 tablespoons of sugar

salt to taste.

 

Boil turnips until tender.  Then add rest of ingredients and mash.

Cranberry Harvest Relish by Jill Garton

1 ¼ cup water,

6 oz. strawberry jello,

1 cup sugar,

½ cup lemon juice,

16 oz. fresh cranberries,

1 unpeeled orange,

1 tart apple,

1 cup diced celery,

1 cup chopped pecans

Bring 1 cup water to a boil - add jello and sugar, lemon juice and 1/4 cup water and stir until dissolved. Chill while combining the remaining ingredients.  Chop all other ingredients very finely and combine everything

 

Hot Caramel Apple Cider by Kari College

1/2 gallon apple cider (64 oz or 8 C)

1/2 C orange juice, fresh squeezed or good quality bottled like Simply Orange

1 orange

8 cloves

2 cinnamon sticks (if yours are more than a year old- buy new ones!!)

1/4 t ground allspice

1/3 C jarred caramel sauce* more to taste if needed

Optional: caramel flavored syrup

Sweetened whipped cream (or from a can is fine!)

*For a delicious twist, substitute maple syrup for the caramel sauce in this recipe.

Pour 8 cups of apple cider into a large stock pot on the stove pot. Set heat to medium-high. Add orange juice, cinnamon sticks, and allspice.

Thoroughly wash your orange and then gently stab the whole cloves into it. If you find it hard to do that without destroying the cloves, use a toothpick to poke little hole first and then insert the cloves.  (If you are doubling the recipe, you can still just use one orange; just double the number of cloves you poke into it).

Gently drop the whole orange into the pot. Bring cider to a boil and then reduce heat to a low simmer. Simmer on low for 60 minutes and longer if you wish. If you’re keeping the pot on the stove for an extended period, keep an eye on the orange. If at any time it splits open, remove it from the pot. If the white pith is exposed it will add a bitter taste to your cider. If you’re going to have the pot warming for hours on end, take out the orange. After you’ve simmered for an hour, add caramel sauce and stir to combine and dissolve. Add more caramel to taste if needed.

When ready to serve, ladle into mugs, top with whipped cream, and give it a drizzle of caramel and a sprinkle of cinnamon