it’s country time

Took a ride up to the mountains this weekend to visit family in Okemo Valley, VT. Chili, cheese, craft fairs, cider days, chocolate and cupcakes… could a girl ask for anything more! After stopping at the local Ludlow craft fair, we picked up some Crowley Cheese then headed to Belmont Cider Days where I saw the pressing of apples and discovered the deliciousness that is Belmont Chocolate. The espresso bark is to die for, I may just have to order more because it went within the first 24 hours in the house.  Our last stop of the day was A Dozen Eggs Bake Shoppe where we picked up the perfectly seasonal treat of pumpkin cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting, maple cupcakes with maple cream frosting,  pumpkin cheesecake, and pumpkin whoopie pies. Whoopie is right!

1. Crowley Cheese, 2. Apple Cider, photo spotted on The Bridal Blog, 3. Espresso Bark, Belmont Chocolate, 4. Cupcakes & Whoopie Pie, A Dozen Eggs Bake Shoppe

HOT SPICED APPLE CIDER, recipe courtesy of cooks.com
Ingredients:

• 1/2 gallon apple cider
• 12 cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 c. orange juice
• 1/2 c. lemon juice

Directions: Heat apple cider. Add all ingredients. Allow the mixture to simmer for half hour or more. Serve this in mugs on a chilly night. Makes 12 servings.