Frannie will prepare “Apple Pie Spiced Hot Tea Mix” by piling crystallized ginger, whole allspice and cloves onto 8” square double-thick 100% cotton cheesecloth, tying closed with a bit of kitchen twine. She will place apple chips and cinnamon sticks in a teapot and attach four teabags and serving directions to the pot.

Recipe makes four teapots’ worth of gifts. Idea: Anje can give decorating ideas for the teapot and other ideas of wrapping the gift (say without a teapot…thrift store tea cups?)

...The How To Show November 2014 – Food Gifts

Apple Pie Spiced Hot Tea Mix This recipe will make four gifts…

1/3 cup crystallized ginger

1 tablespoon whole allspice

1 tablespoon whole cloves

2 cups dried apple chips (no added oils or sugar)

12 cinnamon sticks

16 green tea bags

Four 7 to 8-inch squares of double-thick 100% cotton cheesecloth

Kitchen twine

4 clear plastic gift bags

Divide ginger, allspice, and cloves among the four cheesecloth squares. Tie closed with kitchen twine. Into the bottoms of four clear gift bags divide apple chips and cinnamon. In each gift bag place four tea bags and one spice bag. Close gift bag with kitchen twine and include directions for making tea.

To Make Tea: In a medium saucepan, combine spice bag, cinnamon sticks, and 4 cups water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat. Add apple chips and tea bags to spiced water mixture. Let tea steep for 5 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags, spice bags, and cinnamon sticks.