I always have mugs of Alternanthera cuttings in water through the winter. They can switch to Santa for the Holidays, then return to a non-seasonal mug.
Thursday
Santa Mugs
Not for drinking hot cocoa, for decoration.
Yogurt cups make fine liners to hold a Christmas Cactus cutting, a small Begonia plant, a bit of Mistletoe Cactus, a Hyacinth bulb or some other fun plant of a size that fits into a mug.
I always have mugs of Alternanthera cuttings in water through the winter. They can switch to Santa for the Holidays, then return to a non-seasonal mug.
I always have mugs of Alternanthera cuttings in water through the winter. They can switch to Santa for the Holidays, then return to a non-seasonal mug.
Saturday
Hot Cocoa Italian Style
When we ran out of 'mix' packets and I searched for hot cocoa recipes I discovered the most sensuous of Cocoa recipes. It took a little tweaking to adjust to our tastes but this is wonderful.
I froth a little milk and add to the top of the filled mugs. The easiest froth is when there's not much milk left in the jug and you just shake it hard.
HOT COCOA Italian Style
2 tablespoons Cocoa 2 tablespoons Sugar -- whisk together in a saucepan 1 1/2 cups of milk -- we use 2% add milk and continue to whisk over medium heat until it simmers.
Have prepared: 2 tablespoon cold milk 1 tablespoon cornstarch Whisk milk and cornstarch together and add to the simmering cocoa/sugar/milk mixture. Whisk over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper -- barely a pinch. I had written that 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla was optional; I forgot to add that. It could hardly have been better but I'll add it next time.
This makes enough for two. It will not fill large mugs but it's plenty filling, not to complain.
*The original recipe called for 3 tablespoons of Cocoa -- too much! and less sugar that I used. This makes a thick drink. I could not imagine how comforting it is on a cold day until I tried it.
I froth a little milk and add to the top of the filled mugs. The easiest froth is when there's not much milk left in the jug and you just shake it hard.
Monday
Fruitcake
He-Who-Mows cracked enough pecans that I had a quart of pecan halves once they were shelled.
This year I left out coconut and only used a half pound of candied pineapple because that was all I found at the store. It was chopped more finely than what we used to buy, which came in little wedges.
My fruitcake consists of a pound cake batter using a cup each of sugar and butter, 5 eggs and 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla flavoring and a cup of flour.
The other fruits are a cup of golden raisins and a pound of candied cherries.
Mama used to use a similar recipe except that she used dates instead of raisins.
In previous years I 've added spices and different flavorings like lemon and rum extracts. I like a purist fruitcake: simple fruit and nuts with batter to hold it together.
Because it is more than 2 weeks before Christmas, we will likely have eaten the whole thing by Christmas. I have enough pecan pieces to make a Chocolate Sheet Cake for Christmas Day.
This year I left out coconut and only used a half pound of candied pineapple because that was all I found at the store. It was chopped more finely than what we used to buy, which came in little wedges.
My fruitcake consists of a pound cake batter using a cup each of sugar and butter, 5 eggs and 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla flavoring and a cup of flour.
The other fruits are a cup of golden raisins and a pound of candied cherries.
Mama used to use a similar recipe except that she used dates instead of raisins.
In previous years I 've added spices and different flavorings like lemon and rum extracts. I like a purist fruitcake: simple fruit and nuts with batter to hold it together.
Because it is more than 2 weeks before Christmas, we will likely have eaten the whole thing by Christmas. I have enough pecan pieces to make a Chocolate Sheet Cake for Christmas Day.
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