Ingredients
1 pear, not too soft; bosc highly recommended
1 orange
1 to 2 tablespoons whole cloves
1 lemon
3 to 5 whole allspice berries
3 to 5 inches peeled fresh ginger root, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium stick of cinnamon (or a half of a large stick of cinnamon---they're easy to snap, especially if you have some holiday stress to get out!)
2 to 3 gallons apple cider
Instructions
  1. You know your slow cooker best: Get this started in time to allow at least 30 minutes of simmering.
  2. Stud the pear and orange with cloves.
  3. Using a vegetable peeler or sharp knife, peel large pieces of rind from the lemon, trying to avoid the white pith. Give each piece a little twist to release some of the lemon oil.
  4. Put fruits and spices in your slow cooker, pour a gallon of cider over it all, and put it on high heat for a few hours, allowing for at least half an hour at a full simmer. As you drink the cider, top it off every now and then with new cider—the mixture can keep mulling and spicing all day.