Day 23

Listen to this:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light

Day 22

Too much?

Day 20

Another letter to Santa

Dear Santa,
How are you doing? Are your reindeer doing O.K.? Hope you like your gingerbread men for Christmas this year. Do you get any presents from any of the kids. How is Mrs. Clause. Hope your reindeer like the Carrots that we give them. I want a ramote control GMC truck.

Love,

Spencer

list25.com

Day 19

It's going to be a snowy ride

Day 17

This always warms me right up

A Hot Toddy

For one serving, I put 1 tsp of Turbinado or raw sugar and 3 tbs of bourbon in a mug. Then I add two cloves, half a cinnamon stick and about 6 oz just-off-the-boil water. I stir in a slice of lemon and add ½ tsp lemon juice (a Meyer lemon works well here) to balance the sweetness.

Inspired by Nigel Slater

Day 15

“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” 
–Charlie Brown

“Charlie Brown, you’re the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem.” 
–Linus

“It’s too early. I never eat December snowflakes. I always wait until January.” 
–Lucy

“If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself—just send money. How about tens and twenties?” 
–Sally in her letter to Santa

“Christmas is not only getting too commercial, it’s getting too dangerous.” 

–Linus

“We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big Eastern syndicate you know.” 
–Lucy

...from A Charlie Brown Christmas

Day 14

Shouldn't they be somewhere else?

Day 12

A letter to Santa:

Dear Santa,
This year, please give me a big fat bank account and a slim body. And please, don't mix those two up like you did last year.

Thanks,
Lucy

list25.com

Day 10

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Day 8

So yummy when it's cold outside

Parisian Hot Chocolate

Makes 4 servings

2 cups milk

4 oz top-notch semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

pinch of sea salt

In medium saucepan, warm milk, chocolate and salt. Heat until it begins to boil. Lower the heat to very low and simmer, whisking frequently, for 3 minutes.

Pour into small cups and serve, with a cloud of whipped cream if desired. Add some sugar to taste.

…. from David Lebovitz's book the Sweet Life in Paris

Day 6

A cute little elf

Day 5

The Grinch: “The nerve of those Whos. Inviting me down there - on such short notice! Even if I wanted to go my schedule wouldn't allow it. 4:00, wallow in self pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one; 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me - I can't cancel that again; 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing... I'm booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness. But what would I wear?”

...from the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Day 3

This has Christmas written all over it:

Glühwein (Mulled Wine)

Ingredients:

1 bottle (750 ml.) red wine

6 whole cloves

4 star anise pods

2 cinnamon sticks

2 juniper berries

2 oranges

1/4 cup brown sugar

Preparation:

Pour wine into a medium pot. Add cloves, star anise, cinnamon and juniper berries. Bring to a gentle simmer over low heat, don't let it boil. Meanwhile, wash oranges and cut into 1/4-inch slices, toss into wine. Add brown sugar and stir until dissolved. Simmer wine mixture 10 minutes. Strain and serve piping hot in mugs.

From Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro, Colorado via Sunset Magazine Dec 2013

A sort of Advent Calendar Day 1

Waiting for Santa...