Very Christmasy around here. Youngest Son went out with his father yesterday to bag a tree; they found a very nice one. It’s half decorated. We’ve been a little confused about stockings; we used to have two fireplaces, but one is now gone and the other has no mantel. I discovered brick clips at Ace Hardware, so now they’re hanging from the bricks.
I just got back from a little paid Christmas carolling for a private party, and the sons are working on a gingerbread house. I used to make the windows out of leaf gelatin (very hard to find here), but the boys have the hot setup – they melt crushed Jolly Ranchers in the window openings.
On the way home, I stopped for some brandy to make mulled wine. My mother’s recipe:
Mulled Over Wine
- 3/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 inches vanilla bean
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 20 cloves
- peel of one orange
- peel of one lemon
Simmer for 15 minutes. Strain into 5 cups dry red wine. Add lemon or orange juice if desired. Heat – don’t boil. Brace with brandy to restore the evaporated alcohol.
I admit, I cheated and bought the mulling spices from Williams Sonoma … forgive my sin!