Fall is in the Air!

I know after a very hot summer most people are enjoying the fall temps. I know I am one of them! Anyone with a heart condition enjoys these temps. It's very hard to get out and do anything in the heat or the extreme cold when you have cardiomyopathy and history of heart failure. Make sure you pay attention to what your body is telling you in that type of weather. Fall has always been my favorite season but it's even more so now because it's when I can get outside and exercise and enjoy the beauty God has given us in nature. So, with fall in the air I thought I would post a recipe that goes right along with the season. Hope you enjoy.

Apple Cider Cupcakes (use icing recipe to follow or just dust with powdered sugar)

3 cups apple cider
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cup all purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon sodium-free baking soda

In a large saucepan, boil the cider until it is reduced to about 1 1/2 cups and let it cool. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and the sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture is fluffy. Beat in the eggs. Into the bowl sift together the flour, the cloves, the cinnamon and the baking soda; stir in the reduced cider and combine the mixture well. Divide the batter among 18 paper lined muffin tins and bake in the middle of a preheated 375 degree oven for 25 minutes, or until a tester come out clean.

Each cupcake will contain 12 mg sodium

Now for the icing.

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons apple cider

Beat together butter, sugar and cider until smooth. Add more cider if necessary to make frosting of spreading consistency. adding the frosting to cupcakes will add 1 mg sodium.

Recipe found in 500 Low Sodium Recipes by Dick Logue, page 467-468

Enjoy!