Spiced Pear and Apple Cider

Ingredients: 

• 3 large apples
• 3 large pears
• 2 oranges
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise
• 1 whole nutmeg
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• Water to cover the fruit (about 6-8 cups)

Preparation: 

1. Wash the apples, pears, and oranges, scrub well, no need to peel the fruit.
2. Quarter the apples, pears, and oranges, and place into a large stock pot. Add the cranberries, cinnamon sticks, star anise, nutmeg, maple syrup, and enough water to completely cover the fruit.
3. Bring to a boil. After the liquid comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover with a lid and simmer for 1 hour, or until the apples and pears are tender enough to mash.
4. Next, remove the oranges, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and star anise. 
5. Mash the remaining fruit into a pulp with a potato masher.
6. Strain the pulp and liquid through a fine-mesh sieve. Use the back of a large spoon to press the rest of the juice out of the soft fruit pulp. Serve warm or chilled. Garnish with an orange slice, fresh cranberries, and a cinnamon stick.