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Christmasy

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.

Katja

1 Comment

  1. mdmhvonpa

    I admit, I cheated and bought the mulling spices from Williams Sonoma … forgive my sin!

    Reply

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