For Thanksgiving, we make homemade spiced cider, prepared by steeping cinnamon sticks and other spices in apple juice. In the fall and winter, look for  in the big, glass bottle with mulling spices in a free packet around the neck of the bottle.

MessyMom uses the tea-bag-like packet (which contains cinnamon, orange peel, cloves and spices) plus 2 whole cinnamon sticks with most of the jar of apple juice. (We set some plain juice aside for the MessyBaker who does not like cider.) MessyDad adds Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum to his cider.

We keep it on the stove all Thanksgiving day, letting the smell permeate the house and sipping whenever we want. For our family, that is the aroma of the holidays!