It’s almost Christmas
Where is the snow? I know I may lose some of you readers here, but we live in northern Indiana and it’s just a week before Christmas, so there should be snow. No “global warming” theories please, because everyone is entitled to their own opinion on that.
Many people I know say they would like snow for Christmas day and that’s enough. Here is my version of a perfect winter scene. Let it snow enough to give a good ground cover, at least six inches. Let it melt quickly off the roads, then have a light dusting every few days to keep it clean and fresh. Temperatures in the low 30s to keep it from getting slushy with no wind chill. (Although, I’ve often wished God could have made snow and 70° compatible.) It would be so much prettier than the dull brown yards and bare tree branches.
Ok, if you’re still reading and haven’t written me off as a nut case, let’s think about ways to warm up this winter. A cup of tea or hot chocolate sounds soothing and yummy on a cold day. Sometimes I make it to warm my hands along with my insides.
On Facebook I saw my granddaughters in Illinois were mixing up a big batch of cocoa mix to package as gifts. You can make your own mix; buy the individual packets; or make old fashioned cocoa from scratch. For instant hot chocolate you just add hot water, but you can use milk for a creamier taste. I like to make mine with coffee for a mocha drink. Flavored creamer can give it a new twist. Sometimes I stir it with a candy cane for a bit of peppermint flavor. And as my five-year-old grandson says, “You can’t have too many marshmallows”.
I admit we drink more iced tea year-round at our house, but a hot cup of tea is especially welcome on a cold winter’s day. There are so many flavors to choose from. My son makes his own herbal teas from his garden. Some like a little sweetener in their tea. Honey is a favorite. It’s strange, but as much as I like sweets, I don’t like any sweetener in my tea.
When I was in college my roommate came up with a drink we would make in the evening. We had a hot pot (you have to be old to remember those) in our dorm room to heat water. We would put powdered milk in a cup and add sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. It was yummy even without chocolate.
I don’t want to take business away from the coffee shops, but experiment with making your own specialty drinks at home. If you live ten miles from the nearest coffee shop like I do, it will not only save you money on the drink but on gas as well. My favorite is Crème Brule creamer and Hershey syrup in the bottom of my cup. I microwave it for 30 seconds then fill the cup with French Vanilla coffee. I like it hot, but if I get distracted and it gets cold, it’s still good.
One more cookie recipe for your Christmas treats. My grandma always made these and I guess they really aren’t a cookie at all, but technically candy.
CATHEDRAL COOKIES or STAINED-GLASS COOKIES: 2 cups chocolate chips; ¼ cup butter; 1 – 10 ½ oz. bag of colored marshmallows; 2 eggs, beaten. Melt chocolate & butter. Stir until blended. Stir in eggs until mixture is smooth. Pour over marshmallows. Mix until all are coated. Form 3 – 11-inch rolls in waxed paper. Chill 30 minutes. Roll in chopped nuts if desired. Chill then slice. Enjoy!