By Halloween. Owen in his firefighter costume, Nora in her lab coat with the plastic beaker, which she carried trick-or-treating and which she used to collect approximately half her candy because the bucket, she explained, was for less important items. Ryan took them out while I stayed with Patty at Steve's to receive trick-or-treaters and man the kielbasa soup pot. The kielbasa soup. Third year now. It is fully a tradition: the soup goes on at five, the trick-or-treaters come until eight, the family reconvenes with candy and tired toddlers.
Owen went to ten houses. Ryan said he approached each door with the professional manner of someone performing an official function, which he is — he is a firefighter on Halloween, which means the candy collection is part of the job. He said "trick or treat" at every door and "thank you" after and came back to Steve and Patty's with a bucket that was, by any measure, a success. He showed me every piece of candy. He had opinions about each one.
Nora ran to every door. No approach, no strategy, just velocity. She got there first and she got the candy and she said "thank you scientist" at two houses, which means she introduced herself at the door, which Ryan confirmed, which I find completely in character and completely wonderful. Nora the Scientist. She is going to be something, this girl. She is already something.
After the kids were down Ryan and I sat with Steve and Patty and ate kielbasa soup and drank cider and Steve told stories about his childhood Halloweens that I have heard before and that improve with each telling. These are the evenings I am collecting. These are the ordinary evenings that are not ordinary at all, that are everything, that are what a life is made of when you look at it honestly: a table, a soup, people who know you, October.
Every year when we sit down after the kids are in bed — soup bowls in hand, Steve mid-story, October doing its thing outside — someone always has a mug of something warm. This year I made sure it was spiced apple cider, because if kielbasa soup is the anchor of our Halloween night, cider is the thing that keeps everyone at the table a little longer. It’s the simplest gesture, and somehow always the right one.
Spiced Apple Cider
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 25 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes | Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 gallon fresh apple cider
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice berries
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Combine. Pour the apple cider into a large pot or slow cooker. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg.
- Add citrus. Float the orange slices on top for a bright, slightly bitter note that balances the sweetness of the cider.
- Heat gently. Warm over medium-low heat (or on the low slow cooker setting) for 20–25 minutes, until fragrant and steaming. Do not boil.
- Sweeten. Taste and stir in brown sugar if you’d like it a touch sweeter. Stir until dissolved.
- Strain and serve. Ladle into mugs through a fine mesh strainer to catch the whole spices. Garnish each mug with a fresh cinnamon stick or orange slice if desired.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 120 | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Carbs: 30g | Fiber: 0g | Sodium: 25mg