Merry Christmas!

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS & RECIPES - CHEERS TO HOLIDAY SPIRITS

Cheers to Christmas Spirits

There is an old German proverb that reads: 
“To good eating belongs good drinking” 
The holidays are chock full of chances to eat and, therefore, drink, so let’s take a look at some delicious adult drinks that leave eggnog sitting side by side with his pal, the fruitcake. For some extra fun, I’ve included some well-known (and little-known) quotes about liquor:

APPLE CIDER SANGRIA

(photo credit: http://thechew.com/recipes )

“[O]ne sip of this

Will bathe the drooping spirits in delight

Beyond the bliss of dreams.”

~John Milton

 I love Fall with its crisp leaves and apple picking. I especially like to visit Long Grove, IL, where the apple cider mill still grinds out all sorts of apple goodness. So when I found this recipe for Apple Cider Sangria (did I mention I love Sangria?) I had to start off with the recipe here. It sounds so refreshing, a perfect offering at any holiday party.

1 cup mixed green, yellow, and red apples (quartered, cored, and thinly sliced)

1 orange orange (quartered and thinly sliced)

1 (750-ml) bottle white wine

1 cup apple cider (chilled)

1 lemon (juiced)

1/4 cup apple brandy

2 (12-ounce) bottles hard apple cider (chilled)

6-8 cinnamon sticks (for serving)

Pomegranate seeds (for serving)

·        In a large pitcher, combine the apple slices, orange slices, white wine, apple cider, lemon juice, and apple brandy. Mix and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.

·        When ready to serve, mix in the hard cider.  Pour into glasses and garnish with cinnamon sticks and pomegranate seeds.

BRANDY ALEXANDER

(photo credit: http://www.barnonedrinks.com/drinks/b/brandy-alexander-frozen-8678.html)

“My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses.

Drinks right out of the bottle.”    

~Henny Youngman

  Every year when dinner was over and the tables were whisked away, my dad would quietly go into the kitchen. While the kids waited impatiently for the presents to be brought out, the adults would all look at each other with anticipation in their eyes, smacking their lips. Dad was the champion Brandy Alexander maker, and we insisted on having our Christmas treat every year. Luckily, I was able to “assist” him and came away with the secret to his creamy, delicious frostiness. As a family, once we lost dad, we lost a taste for those glasses of cheer, but this year, I’m planning on celebrating his memory by offering the best Brandy Alexanders to my guests as an after dinner treat. Cheers, Dad!

4 generous scoops vanilla ice cream

2 oz. brandy

2 oz.  crème de cacao

Add ice cream and liquor to blender and blend until you have the consistency of a milk shake. Pour into two glasses and sprinkle nutmeg, cocoa powder or shaved chocolate on top.

CHRISTMAS MORNING MIMOSAS 

(photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/295689531762113455/)

“Tea is so tame. A cocktail is lots more naughty.”   

~Richard Florance

 The first year my family tried mimosas while we opened our stocking stuffers and had breakfast, we started toasting way too many times, drinking up three bottles of champagne between 7 people. By the time we bundled up and got to my Gram’s house, we were pretty snockered. Gram was not happy with us, because our side of the family was her kitchen help both with food preparation and clean-up. That year, we sat and relaxed while our cousins and aunt sweated in Gram’s tiny kitchen, putting the food away and washing up. That was a great year, but we decided to limit our mimosas to one bottle of champagne before breakfast from then on.

What you need is just Champagne and Orange Juice.

 This recipe is simple, and allows each person to choose the potency of their drinks. Pour as much champagne in your glass as desired, then top off with orange juice. That’s it! Get fancy by adding maraschino cherries, strawberries, orange peel or orange slices, or nothing at all! 

CHRISTMAS PUNCH  

(photo credit: https://www.marthastewart.com/316360/christmas-punch?czone=entertaining%2Fholiday-entertaining%2Fholidaycenter-drinks&gallery=856474&slide=316360&center=276958)

“Stay busy, get plenty of exercise, and don't drink too much. 

Then again, don't drink too little.”    

~Herman "Jackrabbit" Smith-Johannsen

One of my favorite things about going to parties is when there is a punch offered. I’ve collected quite a few recipes for punches, and this one sounds yummy. I can’t wait to host another holiday party so I can make this fabulous bowl of cheer!

1c sugar

1 c water

2 c chilled pomegranate juice

1 c vodka

1 c chilled orange-flavored liqueur

1 c chilled club soda

1 c chilled cranberry juice

½ c (about 6 lemons) freshly squeezed lemon juice

Combine sugar and water in pot and heat, stirring constantly. Take off heat when sugar is dissolved and let cool completely (refrigerate for faster results).

Combine the rest of the ingredients in a punch bowl with only ½ cup of the syrup you made. (Refrigerate the leftover syrup, reheat and cool to use again).

Float frozen cranberries in punchbowl or make ice cubes with frozen cranberries. Pop these in a glass before pouring the punch for a great looking glass of cheer.

CHRISTMAS GRINCH PUNCH

(photo credit: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/drink/punch/christmas-grinch-punch.html)

“Candy Is dandy

But liquor Is quicker”

~Ogden Nash

While we’re on the subject of punches, I found this on Pinterest. Looking at the photo, I don’t think one drop of this punch has passed through the Grinch’s taste buds –He couldn’t stay “grinchy” after drinking up a cup of this good cheer!

1/3 c evaporated milk

1/2 tsp almond extract

12 drops neon green food coloring

2 ltr lemon lime soda chilled

2 pt vanilla ice cream

¼ c Homemade Punch Syrup (see Christmas Punch recipe above)

Add milk and extract to syrup and refrigerate. Just before serving, transfer milk mixture to a punch bowl. Stir in the food coloring and soda. Top with scoops of ice cream. Cheers!

JACK FROST 

(photo credit: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/21-amazing-and-delicious-party-drinks-for-the-holiday-season/)

“Everybody should believe in something;

I believe I'll have another drink.”    ~Author Unknown

Here’s a pretty drink that will tickle your taste buds. Just add everything together in a blender until you have a slushy consistency and serve in glasses rimmed with fresh coconut flakes. I was going to try this one myself until I read the coconut parts. I am not a coconut lover, but many are, so enjoy!

4 c ice cubes

1 c chilled pineapple juice

½ c blue curacao

½ c light rum

½ c cream of coconut

KAHLUA HOT CHOCOLATE

(photo credit: https://damndelicious.net/2013/12/03/kahlua-hot-chocolate/ )

“For fear that one drink will be lonesome, 

take another to keep it company,

and another to keep peace between them…”

~A Book of Old Songs, Healths, Toasts, Sentiments, 

and Wise Sayings Pertaining to the 

Bond of Good Fellowship, 1901

Are these drinks too cold for you? You might like to defrost with a Kahlua Hot Chocolate. It’s sure to put a warm smile on your face. I’m going to quote a line from the movie “Oliver Twist,” when Oliver holds out his bowl and says, “Please, sir, may I have another?” YUM!

1/4 tsp Cinnamon               

1-1/2 TBSP unsweetened Cocoa powder

1 Pinch Nutmeg

2 tbsp Sugar

2 cups Milk

1 oz Kahlua coffee liqueur

Condiments: Chocolate syrup, mini Marshmallows, melted Caramel

In a medium saucepan, combine milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon and nutmeg over medium heat until heated through, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Kahlúa.

Serve immediately, garnished with mini marshmallows, salted caramel and chocolate syrup, if desired.  ∙ Serves 2

 Bottoms up, crafters - Enjoy the holidays!

Challenge #36 Midway: Optional Theme...Christmas Cupcakes

Hello and happy Friday folks! It is the 15th of the month, and that means it is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their fabulous images from Limited Runs, our guest sponsor this month!

All of the following images can be found in the Cupcakes Category section of the Limited Runs store. Click HERE to head to that specific section.

(Category: Cupcakes; Section: 101-110)

  (Category: Cupcakes; Section: 111-120)

(Category: Cupcakes; Section: 101-110)

(Category: Cupcakes; Section: 101-110)

Thank you so much to this month's generous sponsor for providing such incredible images for the team to work with! Please pop over and pay them a visit when you have the chance! You are sure to find something to add to your wish list while you are there!

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called Sweet Convections 1: Cupcakes. It is more of a generic set this month to match with our theme. Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of December will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post. Additionally, one random winner will earn the full set of papers.

Have your say in determining which paper will be offered to those who link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll below.


DIGI PAPER POLL
Please click "like" to choose the ONE paper that you would like offered up to participants who link up a minimum of two cards during the month of December. Poll will be open until December 31st, 11:59 p.m. EST. Please note that you can get a better idea of what the actual paper looks like by bringing the preview ABOVE up in the lightbox.

Now check out what the Merry Maidens came up with to inspire you. Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards.

So if you haven't entered already, what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for December. Whether you choose to link up ANY type of Christmas or holiday card you've made for a chance to win this month's Paper Kit, or link up two of them simply to earn your free paper this month, or you choose to also follow the optional theme to have a chance at the sponsor's prize, it is completely up to you! 

Here is a refresher of the details for this challenge...

Please remember that this is a CARDS ONLY link up. While we've had some lovely tag entries in the past, we've sadly had to disqualify them.

Challenge #36

Optional Theme: Christmas Cupcakes

What would Christmas be without all of its tasty treats?! There are so many different kinds of goodies: cookies, cakes, puddings, etc. In the past few years, Christmas themed cupcakes have become quite popular. They come in an abundance of flavours and can be decorated in a variety of ways.

That is why this month, in order to have a chance to win the prize from our guest sponsor, be sure to have a cupcake of some nature on your card. It can be the image itself or in the paper(s) you use but it must be featured prominently. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10.00 gift certificate from Limited Runs.

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab.  As this is a different kind of link up where we have both an Anything Goes Christmas or other December Holiday option AND an optional theme to follow, be sure to read all the details and rules you need to know in order to participate, by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

You can find the Challenge Details Summary along with the link up for
Challenge #36 by clicking HERE.

 Don't Forget, if everything goes according to plan...

• If I can pull it off, I'll try and get another winner announcement done before the year is out. 
• Pat will be back on December 23rd with another special Holiday Traditions & Recipe post.
• Our new challenge will start on January 1st.
• Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Challenge #32 Winner Announcement

Hello to all our Christmas crafting friends! I'm popping in to announce the winners and our top three Stocking Stuffers from Challenge #32.

We had 67 entries in our August challenge which was up from the previous month. 20 of those entries stated that they followed the theme which is defiitely a record. Please remember to add FT after your name if you have followed the theme. It would be a shame for those actually following the theme to lose out on the chance for the prize simply for forgetting to add the initials.

Anyway, it is time to get on with the finding out who our winners are for the month of August.

Are you one of those lucky peeps?! Let's find out!

DIANE H.

Diane, you are the winner of a $20 gift certificate to the NS Designs store, our guest sponsor for August (chosen by miniwebtool.com based on all eligible entries).

Diane, please send an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (or click HERE to bring the address up in your email program), with the subject, "12MoC Challenge #32 WINNER" to make arrangements to receive your prize. Please note that it may take me several days to get back to you. Thank you for your patience. In the interim, please grab a copy of the winner badge below for your blog.

Next, it is time to get on with showcasing the top three. With so many wonderful entries to choose from, it is always such a difficult task for the design team. We did however settle on three awesome creations. So, without further ado, here are our Stocking Stuffers for Challenge #32:

ANS

HAZEL

ROCKY

Congrats to our top three Stocking Stuffers! Ans,  Hazel and Rocky, please grab a copy of the badge below for your blog.

Everyone who links up two cards each month is eligible to receive a free digital paper. All those who linked up two cards during the month of July have previously been mailed their paper. If you thought that you had linked two, but did not receive a free paper, please contact us and let us know and we'll look into it for you.

The seventeen individuals who linked up a minimum of two cards each during the month of AUGUST, qualifying them to receive the digital paper from that month, will receive the Gold Glitter paper which received the majority of the votes! I have included the watermark of it, below...

 

To all of you who linked up during July, thanks ever so much! We are so happy to have all of you with us and hope that you'll continue to link up your holiday cards as you continue to work on your stash for 2017!!! There isn't much time left so get as many as you can done!!!

Papers will be sent to the email address that qualifying participants used when they added their cards to the Link Up as soon as I can manage.

As always, we are going to have a random draw from all the entries and give out a set of six digital papers to one lucky individual. The papers are all made so why not have an extra prize! Here is the watermark for the full set...

The winner of the Glitteratti Set 2: 

Traditional Christmas Colours-Dark Collection Mini Kit is 

JANIS LEWIS

(chosen by random.org)

 
Janis, as you earned the free paper of the month by submitting more than two cards, I will send you out the paper set when I send out the individual paper to our players. If it happens that I forget and send you just the one paper itself, please do not hesitate to remind me that you won the full set.

Well folks, that is it for today. While you are here, please be sure to check out the details for our current challenge going on now (if you haven't already), with the Optional Theme this month of "Christmas Cupcakes". You can find out all the details along with the link up, by clicking HERE.

Other special posts may be published throughout the month; so, be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

Until next time,

Challenge #36: Optional Theme...Christmas Cupcakes

Hello crafters! Welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. It is the first day of December and that means it is time for our final challenge of 2017 to get under way! With just 24 measly days until the BIG DAY itself is here, it is imperative to get all those last minute Christmas and other December Holiday cards completed before we run out of time!

With that in mind, it is time to get down to the business of our latest challenge. Here is what you need to know...

The Basics

While you can find out ALL the information you need to know in order to participate in the challenge by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page (or by clicking HERE), here is a refresher of the basics.

• Anyone can link up as many Christmas and/or December holiday themed cards (including Happy New Year's cards) throughout the month with an ANYTHING GOES theme.
• Every person who has linked up a MINIMUM of two (2) cards will be eligible to receive a specially designed Christmas themed digital paper.
• Each month there will be an OPTIONAL theme to follow. Anyone who submits a card adhering to the monthly theme, will have the chance to win a prize from that month's guest sponsor.
• ALL entries adhering to our basic rules also have the opportunity to win a mini pack of digi papers each month as well.

Now that the basics are out of the way, how about we get on with the details of Challenge #36.

Challenge #36

Optional Theme: Christmas Cupcakes

What would Christmas be without all of its tasty treats?! There are so many different kinds of goodies: cookies, cakes, puddings, etc. In the past few years, Christmas themed cupcakes have become quite popular. They come in an abundance of flavours and can be decorated in a variety of ways.

That is why this month, in order to have a chance to win the prize from our guest sponsor, be sure to have a cupcake of some nature on your card. It can be the image itself or in the paper(s) you use but it must be featured prominently. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10.00 gift certificate from Limited Runs.

Talking about Limited Runs, it is time to refresh ourselves with the details of this returning sponsor…

Limited Runs is a great little shop for all your digital needs we have tons to play with and even better they are all set up for those on a budget with almost all images for only $2.00 and lots of hidden sets and deals in the shop to save you money !!! Who doesn't like to save $$$. We have a huge Collection for the Holidays and also lots of other cuties and not so cute images. We also have cupcakes, coffee, and for those that like the darker side monsters and even a eyeball cupcake.

Limited Runs is now on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/230242700670077/  too with a Freebie for every 50 Followers.

We also have a Monthly Progressive Challenge Running too. Read all about it here:  https://limitedrunsstamps.blogspot.ca/p/here-they-all-are-for-you-our.html

It is on Facebook but don't worry if you don't have Facebook. You can email me a link to your site showcasing your project using the image and I will add you into the challenge so you can win too. The Progressive challenge works in 3 rounds. So there is a freebie available every 1st round just email me if you want to play.

Store:  http://limitedrunsstamps.blogspot.ca

Check out the incredible images that the team worked with this month for the start of the challenge. All but the last image listed can be found in the Cupcakes Category section of the Limited Runs store. Click HERE if you'd like to head to that specific section. You can find the Santa Head image in the Christmas Section located HERE.

(Category: Cupcakes; Section: 111-120)

(Category: Cupcakes; Section: 101-110)

 (Category: Cupcakes; Section: 111-120)

 

  (Category: Cupcakes; Section: 101-110)

(Category: Christmas; section: 71-80)

You'll get to see more awesome images used during our midway so be sure to come back again at that time!

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called Sweet Convections 1: Cupcakes. It is more of a generic set this month to match with our theme. Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of December will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post. Additionally, one random winner will earn the full set of papers.

Have your say in determining which paper will be offered to those who link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll below.


DIGI PAPER POLL
Please click "like" to choose the ONE paper that you would like offered up to participants who link up a minimum of two cards during the month of December. Poll will be open until December 31st, 11:59 p.m. EST. Please note that you can get a better idea of what the actual paper looks like by bringing the preview ABOVE up in the lightbox.

Now check out what the Sleigh Belles came up with to inspire you. Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards...

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for December!

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab and all the details you need to know in order to participate, in the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

We have a packed month as usual; so, Pat and I and the rest of the gang hope to see you back with us soon!

• We hope to publish the names of the winners and top picks from Challenge #32 ASAP. 
• Then, be sure to join us again on December 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!
• Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

CHALLENGE DETAILS SUMMARY
Each month we'll include a summary of details for the particular challenge taking place. If you are new, please be sure to familiarize yourself with all the details and rules in the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page.  Please note that dates and times listed below are for this particular challenge only:

• Cards for this challenge will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. (18:00 hrs), December 1st until 11:59 p.m. (23:59 hrs), December 31st, 2017.  All times listed are in EST (Eastern Standard Time).
  
• If you wish to receive the free digi paper being offered up for this month, you need to link up a minimum of two (2) Christmas or holiday themed cards. 
• This is NOT a progressive challenge. You can jump in at any time.
• Only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's prize prize of  a $10.00 gift certificate from Limited Runs.
• No backlinking.
• Make sure when entering your project that you mention The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up in your post with a link back to this blog.
• Please remember to link directly to your blog post where we can see your creation, and not just the generic link to your blog.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:
If you have any problems linking up, please be sure to leave a comment.

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Challenge #36
Please link up your Anything Goes Christmas and/or December holiday themed CARDS with the optional theme of Christmas Cupcakes, below. Please see above for all the rules and details.