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...