Fire Cider… a magical potion to keep your immune system strong all winter! It’s filled with things like garlic, horseradish, hot peppers, and apple cider vinegar. Basically a lot of things that sound like they would be awful together. I can’t say that I would ever pour myself a glass of it over ice, but I will happily add a splash to my water or tea, and even drizzle a little over a salad if it’s going to prevent me from getting “the sick” all winter. I made one batch this year and filled up two little glass bottles. I keep it in the fridge, and any time I start feeling icky or like my body/gut needs a little kick, down the hatch it goes! Usually a few tablespoons throughout the day when you start feeling a cold (and during your cold) will do the trick. It does take a few weeks to make though (well, to sit in a dark cabinet) so you should start this now if you want it ready for the winter months!

Some of this items can be hard to find, like fresh horseradish and turmeric. But if you have a Whole Foods nearby, they’ll have it all.

Ingredients: (Recipe from The Kitchn – fills 1-quart jar)
1/2 cup peeled and diced horseradish
1/2 cup peeled and diced garlic
1/2 cup peeled and diced yellow onion
1/4 cup peeled and diced ginger
1/4 cup peeled and diced turmeric
1 habanero chile, cut in half
1 orange, quartered and thinly sliced crosswise
1/2 lemon, quartered and thinly sliced crosswise
1/2 cup chopped parsley
2 tablespoons chopped rosemary
2 tablespoons chopped thyme
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 to 3 cups raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar

Wash your glass jar before filling it. Simply fill the jar with all of the ingredients, then pour in the apple cider vinegar to cover everything completely, making sure there are no air bubbles. If you are using a metal lid, place a piece of parchment paper between the jar and lid to prevent corrosion from the acidic vinegar. Shake it well and place in a cool dark place for 3-6 weeks. You’ll want to shake it daily if you can, or at least twice a week. When it’s ready, simply strain through a cheese cloth into a clean jar/bottle. I like using the cheese cloth because I feel like I can really squeeze all of the goodness out of the ingredients. At this point you can add some honey (to taste) to help sweeten a little. Though I prefer to just add the honey later as I use it, rather than adding it to the full bottle. Keep in the fridge and use within a year.

Here are a few ways that I like to enjoy my fire cider:
– Add to hot tea
– Mix with hot water and honey
– Add to other beverages like your daily water or orange juice
– Mix with honey and olive oil for a tangy salad dressing
– Go nuts and just add it to everything