It's still officially summer and the sunshine is still pretty warm, but where we are the air has some of that telltale fall crispness. In our chilly basement suite we are swaddled up in comfy sweaters and we've already ditched our iced coffee for homemade pumpkin spice flavoured ones. In our minds it's officialy fall.

During the colder months we like to have a pot of something warm and spiced on our counter almost 24/7. I find that it serves two purposes - one is that you have a nearly constant supply of something warm and delicious to drink, and the other is that it fills your home with a beautiful warm aroma. My basic recipe varies quite a bit from day to day, but some green cardamom pods were the source of my inspiration lately. Here's the recipe.

Cardamom Apple Cider

4 Litres of Apple Juice
5 or 6 Whole Cloves
2 Cinnamon Sticks
7 or 8 Green Cardamom Pods
4 or 5 Allspice Berries

Fill - exactly how much depends on how many people you are serving - your slow cooker (or a pot on the stove) with apple juice. I usually use a four litre jug (one gallon for my American friends). We like to find organic and local juice if possible, but anything from the store will do if you're in a pinch.
Add spices and turn the cooker up to high for a while. Once heated and steaming turn it to low. Allow the spices to mingle with the juice for at least 30 minutes before drinking. The longer you leave it the stronger the taste of the spices.