LIGHT MY 'FIRE CIDER'

You know that it would be untrue...if I didn't give you an Immune Boosting recipe in the middle of winter! Fire Cider, my friends, is a legit folk remedy that lives up to it's name. It's an elixir of sorts, something that you take small sips of when you are feeling a bit warn out. The ingredients are top notch Immunity boosters: horseradish, garlic, onion, ginger, turmeric, chiles, citrus, rosemary, thyme, peppercorns, and the all-mighty Apple cider vinegar. Place all of these ingredients into a jar, leave them to "marinate" in each other, and wait. Like most good things in life, you do have to wait some time before you can fully enjoy this little beauty. But as my good friend Inga always says, "wait for it guys..wait for it."

Makes 1 Quart

1/2 cup horseradish, peeled and diced 1/2 cup garlic, peeled and diced 1 small onion, peeled and diced 1/4 cup ginger, peeled and diced

1/4 cup fresh turmeric, peeled and diced 1 jalapeño chile, split in half 1 orange, quartered and thinly sliced crosswise 1 lemon, quartered and thinly sliced crosswise 1/2 cup chopped Parsley 2 T. chopped Rosemary 2 T. chopped thyme 1 t. black peppercorns 3 cups raw unfiltered apple cider

1. Place all of the vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices into a clean 1-quart jar. This will take a bit of prep, but trust me, it's very fulfilling to see all of this healthy goodness in one jar. Fill the jar with vinegar, covering all the ingredients and making sure there are no air bubbles.

2. Cap the jar. If using a metal lid, place a piece of parchment or wax paper between the jar and the lid to prevent corrosion from the vinegar.

3. Shake well.

4. Let the jar sit for 3-6 weeks, shaking daily (or as often as you remember :-)

5. Strain the vinegar into a clean jar. Add honey to taste if desired.

6. Refrigerate and use within a year! Woo hoo!

*Word on the street is that this healthy elixir also bodes well in a cocktail recipe, and it's really powerful ingredient to add to a salad dressing or as your 'citrus' component in homemade mayo. Fire cider mayo? I know. ;-)