Snow, Snow, Snow - no

It looks like we won't have a white Christmas in Central NY  

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Cranberry-Lime Vodka

This was a quick idea for a unique gift….

…especially while its easy to find fresh cranberries...

…and it tastes great with lemon-lime soda, orange juice or pineapple juice!

I could resist making my own labels for each bottle!

Cranberry-Lime Vodka

• 3 ½ cups fresh cranberries
• ½ cup sugar

• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• 3 cups vodka
• Strips of lime zest from 1 lime

1. Heat 3 cups of the cranberries, the sugar, and the lime juice in a medium saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Reduce heat to low and simmer until most of the cranberries pop, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.

2. Add the strips of lime zest to a jar with a tight-fitting lid, then pour in the vodka. Spoon the cooled cranberry mixture into the jar. Put the lid on the jar and let the mixture macerate in the refrigerator at least one day or up to a week.

3. When you’re ready to package it, strain vodka througha sieve into bottles with tight-fitting lids. Add the remaining ½ cup of fresh cranberries.  Makes 3 cups

As Easy as a Shake!

Have you tried these mixes yet?

Just perfect for a last minute addition for the cookie tray!  A little white frosting drizzled over and a few red and green sprinkles - As easy as a shake!

Santa, Snowmen and Checks….and Quiche!

I am hosting brunch and chose to set the MC table...

…with my small collection of Possible Dreams Santas...

…and snowman dishes.

I am serving quiche and fresh veggies with dip...

…the veggies will be cut in long strips and served in small M-C herbal pots...

…candy cane embroidered napkins sit in wine glasses...

...and checked salt and peppers float on the glass table.

A green tree sat among the Santas...

…and the quiche was baked in a coordinating baking dish...

…red, white and black - my favorite color combo!!

These dishes are over 10 years old and were purchased at the Christmas Tree Shop - they are my favorite!:

Enjoy the faces of my favorite Santas:

Ho Ho Ho!

Sharing with BNOTP

Winter - Floating in Mid Air...

My table is set quite simply in a light woodsy theme.

Three girlfriends are coming for a quick lunch of Baked Onion Soup and Caesar Salad….

I am using my MacKenzie-Childs Camp Bowls to bake the soup and my winter dishes from Syracuse China for the salad:

The paper tags on the base of the stemmed glasses will also be used as name tags,  The glasses are sitting on glass star coasters.

A simple tall thin tree is sitting in the center of the table ...

…with candlesticks on each side:

The dishes appear to be floating in mid air on the glass table top:

A quick lunch for 3 friends who only have an hour break!

Sharing with BNOTP and Lets Dish

Stars and Stripes….Lunch for Two...

This was a table setting for two, simple chef salad and croissants were served.

I served the salad in Pottery Barn star bowls...

…and we used the snowman dishes for the croissants.  The striped dishes from Ikea acted as a charger...

…each setting had a hand painted butter dish...

…and the red flatware and napkins were tossed into holiday water glasses...

The striped chair covers picked up the stripes on the chargers and the table banner:

I kept the centerpiece on the table that has been there for the last few weeks...

…some mercury glass, candlesticks and some M-C holly:

The thing I enjoy most about the holidays is entertaining, catching up with old friends, and reminiscing!

Sharing with BNOTP

The First of Many Holiday Dinners...

Last night we invited neighbors from our old neighborhood over for a holiday dinner.

The menu….

We began with "New England Express Cocktails":

Directions: Make a simple syrup  by bringing to a boil 1/3 cup water and 1/3cup sugar and 8 sprigs of thyme. Cool.  In a pitcher combine 2 c apple cider, 1 1/2 c dark rum, 3/4 c lime juice and simple syrup.  Pour into 8 glasses and top with Club Soda.  Garnish with a slice of lime and a sprig of thyme

It snowed all day...

…so I set the table...

…with a snowman cookie jar as a centerpiece.

The napkin rings are "hair bows" I purchased in NYC for $.25 ea:

As an appetizer, I served Holiday Crunch Jello...

Directions:  10 Oz crushed pineapple, 1 pkg berry jello (any flavor berry), 1/2 can whole berry cranberry sauce, 1/3 cup chopped walnuts, 1 stalk celery, chopped.  Drain pineapple and add water to make 1 1/4 c liquid.  Boil this liquid and add to jello until dissolved.  Add all other ingredients and chill until set.

I served it in crystal martini glasses:

The glasses sat on old dishes from Pier 1 Imports:

Which sat on my holiday dishes from Target:

This cookie jar was a gift from a girlfriend over 20 years ago, and it is one of my favorite holiday decorations!  Just look at that cute face!

Another $.25 napkin ring:

I served water in a large green wine glass from the Dollar Tree 

(I think we all have these glasses!!)

And wine was served in my Mom's wine glasses that she passed on to me:

The snow continued to pile up outside…

Candles lit...

Dinner served…Roast Pork, Parmesan Roasted Potatoes and Rosemary and Thyme Glazed Carrots:

Good friends, good food and lots of laughs!

Sharing with BNOTP - Tablescape Thursday and Grace at Home