For the warm drink snobs such as myself!

Ok so I love a good latte right? But sometimes I just don't want the extra 60-100 calories (homeade ones) I know call me anal but I don't and I don't want tea.. whats a girl to do? So I get the latest OH magazine and low and behold there is a great recipe for warm apple cider! Sugar free too! I have really been down and out about not being able to enjoy some actual apple cider this year and the SF version at the store has 4 carbs in it (I know not much but If I drink several cups this adds up.. not cool in my book). So they had this recipe in there and I have to share it! I made a modified version as I did not have all the things they suggeted and wow is it yum and virtually CALORIE and SUGAR FREE! I am in heaven! They called for 3 tubs of Apple SF drink mix (walmart brand) by the crystal light and 4 quarts of water. They also called for 4 allspice berries and 2 cinnamon sticks, orange slices. This is my modified version. I used one tub of Walmart brand Apple SF drink mix (calorie, carb free stuff) Cinnamon generous dash All spice less generous dash but good amount Ground cloves, just a dash ;) I then added ONE packet of the SF apple cider mix (15 cals, 4 carbs) 4 thing orange slices I boiled all this together... woweeeeeeeeeeee good! I have a new winter drink! So excited!

That sounds SOOOO incredibly good!! Ok, now for my stupid question of the day. Why can't we have cider? Is it because it's not pasturized or a sugar issue? I know the cider mill I go to doesn't ADD sugar, and I assumed that was fine. Not that I consumed a great deal of it, mind you, but I had some. Ok...some is maybe 2 oz. but apples give me trouble anyway.

If it is not pastuerized that is why, for fear it could harm your unborn baby.. go for my verious, its pretty darn tasty and risk free

After 4 kids and I still did not know this. I had no idea you are not supposed to drink cider when you are pregnant. I never did, but found this interesting. You are probably the most creative person I know when it comes to food and drink that is acceptable for wls patients. Maybe you should look into a new career? Hope you are doing well. ~ Terisa

Aw thanks Terisa, I told my husband the dietary and exercise affects of things postop really interest me. I told him I should go back to school and be a dietician.. one that really HELPS their patients haha.. It does fascinate me, I probably drive all you mad. The nonpasteurizing of certain apple ciders we were told about in nursing school.

Thank you for sharing this, Melissa. If I had a representative in front of me from Crystal Light i think I'd slap them silly!!! It totally p*sses me off that they do not make a powdered drink mix without aspartame. There are plenty of people like me around who would even pay substantially more than the usual Crystal Light cost for such a product. ARGHHH!!! I think I'm going to print out your recipe to save and start looking for some plain old Kool-Aid type mix that is apple flavoured. SOMEBODY must make that! Then I could do the same thing and just add my splenda to it. And if I can't find that then I'll just hunt down some type of apple-type herbal tea and try it that way. I agree with you about the carbs in apple juice. Every time I look at the bottle of apple juice in the pantry I debate about opening it and so far it is still sitting there. Have you tried hot chai tea? If you drink it without any milk you avoid the carbs and still have a nice drink. I'm getting back into my cold-weather tea groove and having fun trying new teas again. Keep up the great recipe work, we all appreciate it! (BTW...where's that cheesecake recipe of yours?) Molly

Hi Molly, yeah when I typed that up about the Apple CL I thought about you.. acutally its a walmart brand but you are right its aspartame and try to stay away from it myself b/c it gives me more munchies than splenda, or at least it appears to. As for the cheesecake recipe I posted it under the cheesecake thread you started, at least I thought I did, let me look!

Couldn't find any apple flavoured powdered drink mix like Kool-aid (unsweetened) but i did find a herbal tea that is apple cinnamon. It is brewing right now and really doesn't smell anything like cider but it does smell good. Have to be careful though, too much cinnamon really causes heartburn. Smells like it'll be worth it!

Aw Molly I will keep on the look out for things but I have had the tea you speak of I believe it is by Celestial Seasons? It is good.. so is the apple cranberry.. yum!

Yes, that's the one. I tried the apple cranberry last year and didn't like it...gave it to my daughter. The apple cinnamon tea was good and when i have time to play with it I'll try it with your recipe. Sooo tired from cooking all day but I have to get busy and get the interview clothes ironed. (for dh) Molly