Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar

Today we took some time to harvest the last of the baking apples from the tree.  It is the last of our fruit … excluding tomatoes …. and makes it feel like autumn is really here, especially as the rain has just begun.  Apple crumble on the menu tonight I think however what to do with all the extras and the peels?

I have an apple cider on the brew which I’m hoping will be drinkable so thought I’d get some more apples ready for a second brew ….. fingers crossed.  I also was reminded about an easy apple cider vinegar recipe I had, only uses the peels and cores of the apples, which was successful many years ago.   I have decided to just be lazy and re-post it below with a few notes in italics 🙂  I’ll keep you posted on the Cider!

‘A while ago I was given a link to making your own apple cider vinegar and I have to say that at the time it fell into my ‘lovely, but no time to do now’ basket.  However as the apple harvest time came and I was given some apples along with all the apples coming from our trees I thought it was time to get cracking and make some!

This recipe from Janella Purcell (sorry link doesn’t seem to be working now) is almost too easy for words!  It is simply making the most of your waste as you prepare your apples for stewing or baking…… I know isn’t that awesome 🙂  So, as I cut, peeled and cored I popped all the skins and cores into a large jar beside me. Then when it was full I added a couple of tablespoons of honey (I’m trying with maple syrup this time due to veganism on the bus now) and covered with filtered water.  Yes, that is it …. oh and the patience to let it mature 🙂

Once you have your jar full of honey, water and apple leftovers you need to cover with something breathable and wait.  After 2 weeks you can take out all the apple for composting, leaving behind the liquid, and then stir daily for 4 weeks while the mixture turns into Apple Cider Vinegar then bottle up.

Now while it all seemed (and is) very easy I have to say that the end result was a little different from what we were all expecting.  I’m not sure if it is because there were a few stray seeds that lingered in the liquid or just the type of apple used.  Either way there is a distinct taste of ‘corn chips’ when we tasted it neat ….. no, not what we were expecting either but there you are.  (This makes me laugh as I forgot about that!! The longer we had it sitting in the cupboard the nicer it got so I think the moral of the story is to brew and let it sit for as long as possible) All in all, I think that it will be a recipe that I’ll venture to try again 🙂 True to my word I am :)’

Hope this finds you making the most of what you have at hand.

Arohnaui

Y

www.becominghealthy.co.nz

Apple Cider Vinegar Uses

Recently a video came up on Facebook while I was in the midst of procrastination and being the dutiful procrastinator that I can be I watched it of course 🙂  It was all about Apple Cider Vinegar and 16 uses for it.

Turns out it was a really great video.  It was full of good quick tips about using Apple Cider Vinegar along with information about ACV as well as offering me something to blog about – seems my procrastinating was really working in an alternative way after all!.  It also fits nicely with my upcoming blog about the Apple Cider Vinegar I have on the brew at the moment.

My first attempt at Apple Cider Vinegar!  So excited 🙂

The link for the website and  video is here however if you are like me and prefer to have something written down I thought I would outline the 16 uses of Apple Cider Vinegar below.  Do watch the video though if there is one point in particular you think you’d like to try as I may have left out a bit of information you need.

16 Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

1. Banish Break outs: Use ACV at an antibacterial toner
2. Soothe a sore throat: Gargle ACV with warm water (this one works and is one himself uses all the time)
3. Get rid of Dandruff: Make a mix of 1 part ACV to 3 parts water and spray onto hair.  Leave for an hour and then rinse off.
4. Remove a wart: Soak a cotton ball in ACV and tape onto your wart/verruca and leave overnight. Repeat for a few nights and the wart/verruca will go.
5. Deodorant: Kills the odour causing bacteria
6. Clear a Sinus infection: Mix 1/4 C unfiltered ACV, 1/4 water, 1 Tb honey, 1 tsp cayenne and a the juice from a wedge of lemon.
7. Whiten your teeth: 2 parts ACV to 1 part Baking Soda then rinse thoroughly with water as highly acidic. NB: Use caution with this one due to the high acidity
8. Heal a sunburn: Apply with wash-cloth to the area.
9. Clean make up brushes: 1 cup water mixed with 1 tsp ACV and pop brushes in.
10. Soothe Eczema and psoriasis: Add some ACV to bath water.
11. Prevent ingrown hairs: rub on the area with a cotton bud
12. Detoxify your skin: Mix ACV with bentonite clay and use as a mask
13. Get rid of stinky feet: Soak feet in a mixture of 1 part ACV to 4 parts water. This can be used to clear up athlete’s feet too.
14. Boost your energy: ACV is rich in vitamins and minerals to making a drink of it with water is great for your system.  1 tb ACV to a mug of hot water with honey to taste or 1 tsp to a glass of cold water.
15. Improve digestion: Create a salad dressing using 1/4 C ACV, 1/4 tsp pepper, 2Tb water, 1 tsp salt, juice from a lemon and 1/4 C olive oil
16. Support Weight Loss: Pop some ACV into your water in the morning and throughout the day.

Hope this finds you marvelling in the wonders of ACV as I did 🙂

Arohanui

Y

www.becominghealthy.co.nz