Serves 12 from Shannon Hughes Bey

3 qts apple cider or apple juice

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon whole allspice

1 teaspoon whole cloves

6 cinnamon sticks

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1) Heat 2 cups of the cider with the sugar and salt, stirring until the sugar dissolves (can do this in the microwave). Pour into the crock cooker with the remaining cider.

2) Tie spices in a cheesecloth bag and drop them into the cider.

3) Cover and heat at Low for 3-5 hours. Remove spices at serving time.

Serve in hot mugs or glasses.

Notes:

As extra, can add the peel from one large regular orange +/- the peel of a lemon, making sure the white membrane on the back of both peels is completely removed. Just let the peel float in the cider like the spice bag and remove when you remove the spice bag.

For an alcoholic version, add 2 cups brandy to the cider about 15 minutes before serving.