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!

Christmas Recipes and Traditions

Holiday Party Ideas

Everyone loves a party. Good parties consist of several different elements: food, fun and guest interaction. (Have you ever been to a middle school dance and the boys are on one side, the girls on the other, and no one is dancing?)

Food can be as easy as a Pot Luck, where everyone brings a dish of some sort, to a catered affair or restaurant setting. It can be a sit-down meal or a buffet of finger foods. You can theme the foods served and brought, or even challenge guests to bring traditional holiday colors. 

For instance, Christmas party-goers could be asked to bring food that is either green or red. Of course, there might be an  overflow of salads and salsa, so you might want to supply the main entree (it could be spaghetti red or wraps using soft green spinach tortillas). Whatever the outcome, it will be very interesting!

If your guests don't know each other well, an Ice Breaker is a good idea. You can ask them to fill out a Bingo grid, with each square representing a person with certain qualities or requirements (red hair, only child, born out-of-state, etc). An example is shown here, but you can find blank Bingo templates and fill in your own fun ideas. Another Ice Breaker is a Scavenger Hunt, either using the same questions about other guests, or asking them to find some item on other guests (ornament earrings, red shoes, holiday tie, etc). 

After guests have had their meal or munchies, you can offer entertainment or games. Let your guests get creative with stations for making their own holiday cards, decorations or even Gingerbread Houses. The houses can be made simply out of graham crackers and Royal frosting, or home-baked, or from kits, while guests can bring "sweet" decorations to share.

Gift Swapping games include Dirty Santa, which is another name for grab bag; Ornament or Cookie Exchanges, where everyone who brings will receive; Pass the Package, which is better if gifts brought are themed, like sweets, gift cards of a specific value, tree ornaments, etc. Guests sit or stand in a circle passing packages around the circle while someone reads a story or music is played. When the story or music stops, everyone opens their package.

My favorite swapping game not only gives to each other, but gives to the marginalized as well. Everyone buys a pair of men's white tube socks. One gets filled up with sample-sized items such as shampoo, soap, comb, tissues, etc. (something that can be taken home or put into a backpack, if homeless). The other sock is the "wrapping paper" of the gift for another guest. We play a swapping game with these socks, and before each guest goes home, they take out their gift and roll their sock up and stuff it into a donation sock so that a pair of socks goes with the personal items. Food pantries and the American Red Cross will gladly take these to distribute. 

The same can be done with items to be sent to deployed troops, but first check the internet to make sure you send only the items on their safe list! Here's one that covers most of the western world when it comes to not only sending donations to deployed servicemen and women, but writing them encouraging notes as well:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-websites-where-you-can-find-and-write-to-soldiers/

Whether your party is big or small, for work, family or friends, remember one thing - - - have fun and get into the spirit of the holidays. They only come around once a year!

Challenge #24 Christmas Traditions and Recipes

Not Turkey Again?!

In many families, roast turkey is served for Christmas Day dinner. If yours is one, I bet you've heard the words, "Not turkey again?!" many times. Well, try some of the following recipes and they won't complain for a long time!
For some yummy leftover ham recipes, scroll down further for the answer to the age-old question, "Not ham again?!" 

BBQ Turkey Pizza

-Pat Martin

Pizza crust

BBQ sauce

Toppings: leftover turkey, cut in small pieces

1/2 cup cooked & crumbled bacon

1/4 cup chopped onion

blend of shredded mozzarella & cheddar cheeses

Place pizza crust on pan or stone and cover with BBQ sauce. Add your toppings and then your cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees F/204 degrees C until cheese is melted. Yum!

Turkey Hot Cakes 

  -Kathy Toscano

2-1/2  cups leftover turkey

2   cups leftover mashed potatoes

2 cups Stuffing

1 Egg, beaten  

Salt & pepper to taste

**Mix above in large bowl and chill in fridge for one hour. 

Heat 1/4 cup oil and 2 TBSP butter in large or electric frying pan. 

Form leftover mix into flattened balls and heat until browned on both sides.

Drain and serve with or without leftover gravy. 

Depending on the size of your flattened balls, makes 16-20 fry hotcakes.

 Personalized Turkey Pot Pies

  -Pat Martin

4 cups leftover turkey chopped

Assorted canned vegetables (whatever your family likes-I use peas, carrots, green beans, sliced potatoes & mushrooms)

2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, thinned to gravy consistency with milk

Refrigerated pie crusts (each package I buy has 2 crusts, which is enough for 2-1/2 pot pies)

Using oven-proof bowls (like Pyrex or Corning Ware), cut out crust to line bottom of bowls. 

Pour ¼ cup thinned soup in bottom of bowl, then add by small handfuls turkey and veggies, adding more soup as you add. 

This is where your family’s personalizing comes in (I don’t like peas, daughter doesn’t like mushrooms, etc.) 

Top with crust and cut holes to vent (I carve each person’s initials in crust). Bake at 350 degrees until crust is golden brown (remember, everything is already cooked!).

If you’re trying to cut carbs, just skip the bottom crust and put on a top crust.

Turkey (or Chicken) Croquettes

  -Pat Jung

3 c leftover turkey/chicken, chopped coarsely 1 can cream of chicken soup (do not thin)

Mix together the above and chill for at east two hours.
When ready to cook, heat oil in shallow pan (I use electric frying pan), enough to cover half of each croquette.
Place one bowl each flour, 2 beaten eggs, bread crumbs next to container of turkey mix.
Using an ice cream scoop, form balls of the mix and roll each in flour first, egg second, bread crumbs last (I place mine on a cookie sheet and pop into freezer until I have enough for a full pan).
Gently place each croquette in heated oil until browned on both sides (remember, the turkey is already cooked). Drain on paper towels and serve with creamy chicken gravy:
1 can cream of chicken soup, thinned to gravy consistency with milk. Heat, stirring often.
I often serve these with leftover mashed potatoes.

********

Now it's time to "ham it up" with these leftover ham recipes:

Breakfast Muffin Sandwiches

-Sue Watson

Leftover ham slices, warmed up

English muffins, toasted

Cheese slices

Eggs, overeasy, overmedium or scrambled

Cook eggs individually to each family member's choice.

Toast muffins.

Add cheese slice, ham slice and egg.

Happy Day-after-Christmas!

Crustless Ham & Cheese Quiche

-Marie Traficanto

4 cups leftover ham, cut into bite-sized pieces

24 oz small curd cottage cheese

12 oz cheddar cheese,cubed

6 eggs

6 Tbsp. Flour

Paprika to sprinkle on top

Mix all together, put into a buttered or cooking sprayed 9"x13"  glass casserole dish. Sprinkle paprika on top.  

Bake at 350 degrees 45-50 minutes.  

(All photos credited to CanStock.com)