Homemade apple cider is really, really simple. Actually, I am not sure if what I made can even be called apple cider... Let's call it spiced apple juice.

• 3 cups natural apple juice
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• lime/lemon or orange peel
• 8 whole cloves
• 4 whole cardamom
• some cut ginger
• a few dried rosebuds (you can totally leave this out though)

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and heat until it begins to simmer.
Turn off the heat, cover and leave it on its own and let the spices infuse for an hour.
Strain, pour into a jug and refrigerate.
Serve hot or cold according to your liking.

I juiced my own apples-it's time-consuming but joyous at the same time- of course, I ended up with a jar full of forlorn-looking dehydrated apples but I packed and stashed them away in my freezer to use in my smoothies later. No-waste in my kitchen!