sweets for the sweet

yum. yum. yum. nine days til i party.

Ingredients: regular sized marshmallows, caramel (homemade or pre-bought), chocolate, crushed candy canes (optional), sucker sticks

Directions: Make or melt your caramel. I use a double boiler on the stove top to melt caramel. While you are waiting for the caramel to melt, stick a sucker stick into the marshmallows. Set out a sheet of parchment or wax paper or the new non-stick aluminum foil. Once the caramel is melted dip each marshmallow into the caramel, covering completely. Place each dipped marshmallow onto the parchment or whatever you’re using. Allow the caramel marshmallows to cool completely. You can crush your candy canes now, if you haven’t already. Once cooled (this can take up to a half an hour) melt the chocolate. You can do this in a double boiler on the stove top or in the microwave. Dip each marshmallow into the chocolate 2/3 of the way then immediately roll the ends in crushed candy canes. Let cool on the parchment, wax paper or non-stick aluminum foil.

christmas-tini

tis the season for holiday parties. i plan to bring back martha stewart's famous (and quite potent) egg nog for my party, and probably a punch too. but i think that the hibiscus mocktini might be a nice addition a pre- "holiday hop" cocktail party that we are heading to this weekend.

enjoy...

naughty or nice tartini

If you're looking to save a few calories without skipping the spirits, go for this simple (and organic!) alternative.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Prairie Organic Vodka

• 2 oz. Honey-Rhubarb Simple Syrup

• 4 oz. Soda

Directions:

Shake with ice and strain over fresh ice in a tall glass. Fill the rest of the glass with soda water.

hibiscus mocktini

Ingredients

3 cups hibiscus tea (such as Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger)

3 cups ginger ale

6 fresh pineapple spears

Directions

In a pitcher, mix together the hibiscus tea and ginger ale. Serve over ice in a tall glass with a fresh pineapple spear.

martha's famous eggnog

ingredients

12 eggs, separated

1 1/2 cups superfine sugar

1 quart whole milk

1 1/2 quarts heavy cream

3 cups bourbon

1/2 cup dark rum

2 cups cognac

Freshly grated nutmeg

Directions

1.In a very large bowl, beat egg yolks until thick and pale yellow. Gradually add sugar to yolks. With a wire whisk, beat in milk and 1 quart cream. Add bourbon, rum, and cognac, stirring constantly.

2.Just before serving, beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into mixture. Whip remaining 1/2 quart heavy cream until stiff, and fold in. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

it's beginning to look alot like christmas

santas.. reindeer.. and doodles... oh my!

i made great use of my final day of thanksgiving "vacation" to get all of the holiday decor out. its always so much fun to pull out the decorations that have been passed down from my childhood.. and the new ones that have become fun traditions in my house.

unfortunately for kingsley, his antlers and bell collar from last year no longer fit.. so mommy had to find him a new outfit. as you can see from the image below, he is less than impressed.