Homemade Apple Cider

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Homemade Apple Cider

homemade apple cider

I went apple picking the for the first time this fall. I didn't even realize that this is something people did or that it was something you could do until I was invited to tag along to the orchard. Back home, people grow apple trees in their yards, but orchards don't really exist. Instead of cherishing the fresh apples, the apple tree inheritors tend to pawn off the apples on as many people as possible. You said you wanted a couple apples? Here, take a bushel.

apple

I went late in the season so most of the apples were on the ground instead of dangling in the trees. This just means there were more apples to sample. And sample, I did. I must have eaten at least 6 apples and eat part of half a dozen more. Some sweet, some tart, and some sitting exactly in between. Oh, it was apple heaven.

all the trees looked like this
ground is littered with deliciousness

My apple picking methods were as follows: scope out the reddest apple trees, find an apple sitting at the base, pick it up off the ground, dust it off on my shirt, and take a big bite. Sometimes more than one bite. Sometimes I would eat the entire apple while picking as many as I could before another tree would catch my eye. Apple trees are terribly distracting. Especially the ones with the ladders to climb.

tall ladderwooden crates

All said and done with, I bought 20 pounds of apples. For myself. At this rate, I should be able to keep the doctor away for at least a month. Maybe two.

homemade apple cider

This is the first time I have attempted to make apple juice (or any juice for that matter). Without a juicer, I wanted to prove that making apple cider would still be simple, easy, and that anyone could do it (yes, that means you). From start to finish, this apple cider takes roughly an hour to make. So, if you happen to have a dozen or two apples lying around and hour to spare, you have no excuses for not making this. Absolutely none.

homemade apple cider

This homemade apple cider will make your home smell absolutely fantastic, 100% guaranteed. This is the real deal, my friends. It doesn't get fresher or more pure than this. And knowing you took the time to make the juice yourself will make you appreciate the final product all the more. The cider has hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a bit of orange to round out the flavors. I like to call it Autumn In A Cup because that is exactly what this tastes of.

homemade apple cider
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Brown Sugar Coconut Bubble Tea

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Brown Sugar Coconut Bubble Tea

brown sugar coconut bubble tea

Bubble tea is a relatively new phenomenon, originating in Taiwan in the 1980s. In fact, it only caught on because they were featured on a popular Japanese television show. From Taiwan, bubble tea traveled to east Asia and then to Canada before taking hold in the United States. Bubble tea comes in two different varieties: fruit flavored teas and milk based teas. But if you are lucky, you'll find a place that combines them to give you a fruity milk tea (my favorite). The base is traditionally a black or green tea, depending on which fruits are present.

mmm, froth

But what I find most interesting is that the tapioca pearls (also known as boba) in the tea are not why this drink is referred to as a bubble tea. The "bubble" actually comes from the fact that, when you blend the tea together, tiny frothy bubbles are created which sit on the top of the tea. So the next time you find yourself sipping a bubble tea, you can spread your knowledge and look like a hot shot tea drinker.

tapioca pearls in bubble tea

This brown sugar coconut bubble tea is light and delicious, satisfying any and all tea cravings. Brown sugar and coconut work very well together, creating an interesting flavor profile. The tapioca pearls give this drink texture, providing a chewy bite or two between sips. I think bubble teas are an unusual (but delicious) experience and it's one that I would like to share with you.

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Blueberry Tofu Smoothie

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Blueberry Tofu Smoothie

blueberry tofu smoothie

I recently went to the Jean-Talon Market and bought myself a few pounds of fresh, wild blueberries. Because really, when a few pounds of perfect blueberries stare you in the face and say, "Eat me! Take me home!" it is impossible to resist. Though I bought them without a specific purpose, I figured I would put them to good use somehow.

blueberry tofu smoothie

It has been well over 90 degrees the past few days and, in this concrete jungle of a city, it is enough to make anyone melt. And so when I woke up to a humid apartment already in the high 80s, nothing sounded better than a refreshing cold smoothie for breakfast.

all gone

This blueberry tofu smoothie is thick and incredibly filling, unlike most smoothies I've ever had. Now do me a favor and please do not let the idea of putting tofu in your smoothie turn you off. It takes the place of yogurt and packs twice as much protein! And honestly? You can't even taste it. This smoothie is vegan, delicious, and healthy. It would be a sin not to enjoy this for breakfast.
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