Whoppy and Streaker's 99 Christmas Music Videos

Click on Whoppy & Streaker's Christmas portrait to visit their
awesome list of 99 Christmas videos.

I recently received an e-mail from Artie Wayne, detailing how his fine, festive felines, Whoppy and Streaker (pictured above), have compiled an impressive list comprising 99 YouTube Christmas videos. Adding to this, we have Artie Wayne's personal commentary, springing from his clearly vast knowledge of popular music and the music industry. So get on over there and start boosting your Christmas spirit, right now!

Then, spread the joy! Share the link around. Not only does music soothe and civilize the savage beast  (as seen above) but it cheers. It can change your whole mood from dark to bright, if you let it.

Merry Christmas, Artie, Whoppy, and Streaker!

A Cup of Christmas Cheer No. 2 - Cinnamon & Apple-Cinnamon Martinis

These particular drinks both call for Cinnamon schnapps, of which the most famous variety is Goldschlager, a Swiss product with flakes of real gold floating in it. Some have been concerned that the gold may cause an adverse reaction in individuals who are sensitive, but Wikipedia assures us that "there is currently less than a tenth of a gram (0.1 g) of gold flakes in a 750 ml bottle of Goldschläger^[1], which, as of July 9, 2008, amounts to about 3.00 USD on the international gold market.^[2]" I don't know why this information, in itself, should assure us, but no matter: you can get cinammon schnapps without the gold (although certain other brands have copied Goldschlager). DeKuyper's Hot Damn!™, for example, doesn't contain gold flakes, and it is on the Washington State Liquor Stores Current Price List.It also has the advantage of being a fiery red color, which goes with Christmas.


Now, having made all these qualifying statements, the recipes themselves are very straightforward--

CINNAMON MARTINI

Ingredients:
- 1/2 oz Cinammon Schnapps
- 1 oz. Vodka

Preparation:

Pour both liquors into glass - do not mix or stir. Serve on the rocks or straight up. Add cinnamon stick garnish.

APPLE-CINNAMON MARTINI

3/4 oz Apple Schnapps
1/4 oz Cinnamon Schnapps
2 oz Vodka

In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine ingredients and shake. Strain into glass. Drop in a thin wedge of green apple (e.g., Granny Smith var.) or mount on glass and add cinnamon stick.

Chocolate-frosted marshmallows/fruit on a stick

Your kids will enjoy helping with this recipe - and they'll be more than happy to eat the product of their labors afterwards. This is a great item for a kids' Christmas party, as well.

Ingredients:

15-20 large marshmallows
6 oz. semisweet chocolate
red and green sugars
waxed paper
toothpicks
cookie sheet or platter

Preparation:

Place a piece of waxed paper on cookie sheet or platter. Stick a toothpick into each marshmallow.

Heat the chocolate in a double boiler (or a smaller saucepan placed inside a larger saucepan of water if you don't have a double boiler) until melted. Take each marshmallow by the stick and dip in chocolate. Then pass it off to a kid who will then thoroughly roll it in red or green sugar.

Put the marshmallows on the cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator for about 4 hours.

Sliced bananas or other fruit of your choice may be substituted for the marshmallows.

"Atholl Brose" or "Hogmanay" (alcohol)*

Now it's time to begin with the really fun part of this blog. As with last year, I've been searching out all sorts of interesting holiday recipes for both food and drink, along with a host of other "Christmas arcana" - from poetry and fiction to Christmas trivia and factoids, from wallpaper and Victorian postcards to classic video and music clips - and more. This year I would like to make "Old Christmas" - the traditions from way back when - a major focus of the blog.

Here is a hearty brew from Athole, a mountainous region of Scotland, which may be served either warm or cold.

ATHOLL BROSE or HOGMANAY

Ingredients:

• 1 cup honey


• 1-1/2 to 2 cups heavy cream


• 2 cups Scotch whiskey

Preparation:

Heat honey, and when it thins slightly, stir in cream. Heat together, but do not boil. Remove from heat and slowly stir in whiskey. May be served hot, or thoroughly chilled overnight. If you have some comb honey on hand, a bit of the comb may be used as a garnish, as shown in the illustration. Makes 4-6 servings.

---------

Factoid: Today Atholl Brose is sold as a liquer, containing the traditional ingredients of oatmeal water, heather honey, and Scotch whiskey, but minus the cream. Often cream is added, particularly on festive occassions.

*Henceforth, all drink recipes will be clearly labeled either "alcohol" or "no alcohol."

A Cup of Christmas Cheer #1

I'm not much of a drinker, myself, social or otherwise. But, for some reason, mixology fascinates me (as you've probably gathered, if you follow this blog). I'm not sure what it is - there is just something unspeakably arcane and alchemical about combining various spirits and powders and spices, and coming up with the proverbial "cup of cheer."

Of course, there's a flip side to this. Like the guy who came up with Long Island Iced Tea (or Homer Simpson and the "Flaming Moe"). Rather than being a kind of artistry, this seems to be a recipe for getting sloppy/pasty. A kind of nefarious bartender hack, its popularity nothwithstanding. In fact, that is the basis of its popularity, because getting sloppy/pasty/making street pizza has always been popular in certain circles.

So, if you're looking to get sloppy drunk this Christmas, rather than enjoying a "cup of Christmas cheer," or three, this site might be more to your liking.

For the rest of you merry gents and gentlewomen, here are some positively magical drink recipes for a cup of Christmas cheer--

Peppermint Stick

• Creme de Cacao, white 1 1/2 oz.

• Schnapps, peppermint 1 oz.

• Cream 1 oz. (light)

Shake with ice; strain into a champagne glass. Garnish with a candy cane.

Hot Russian Christmas

• Vodka 1 shot

• Kahlua 1 shot
  

• Eggnog 1 shot

• Hot Chocolate

Prepare hot chocolate separately. To a mug add the shots of eggnog, vodka, and Kahlua. Fill to the top of the mug with hot chocolate, and stir well. Heat in the microwave for thirty seconds if hot chocolate has gone tepid. To make it festive looking, you may top it with whip cream and some colored sugar or a dash of nutmeg, or with a marshmallow, to make it foamy.

Ambassador's Punch

• Brandy 5 oz.

• Creme de Cacao, dark 3 oz.

• Rum, dark 4 oz.

• Eggnog 1 qt. (cold)

• 4 dashes of nutmeg

In a punch bowl, pour in everything except the nutmeg. Use a whisk or a wooden spoon to mix, then add ice to keep the punch cold. Serve immediately.

Brandy Alexander (an old classic)

• Brandy 1 oz.

• White Creme de Cacao 1 oz.

• Cream 1 oz.

• Pinch nutmeg

Stir ingredients in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg.

Decent, affordable, real brandy: E&J or Christian Brothers. Not the flavored crap, and NOT Potter's.

Christmas Greeting

Traditional

Sing hey! Sing hey!
For Christmas Day;
Twine mistletoe and holly,
For friendship glows
In winter snows,
And so let's all be jolly.

Christmas Piano Medley

"The Holly and the Ivy" + "O' Christmas Tree," and "Carol of the Bells." Magnificent piano playing and ultra-big Beethoven hair from Paul Todd.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=kLJYK97bp4w]

Holiday Cheer Ice Cubes, and two festive drinks

Holiday Cheer Ice Cubes

INGREDIENTS:

• Oranges

• Pineapple slices

• Strawberries

• Maraschino Cherries, whole

• Cranberry juice cocktail

PREPARATION:

1. Slice fruit into small pieces (except maraschino cherries)


2. Place fruit in bottom of individual ice cube tray compartments. Add one maraschino cherry per cube.


3. Cover fruit pieces with cranberry juice cocktail.


4. Freeze until solid.


5. Add these jolly ice cubes to whatever beverages/punchbowls you like, or try one of these two:

Christmas Cranberry Cheer Punch

Contains alcohol

INGREDIENTS:

• 64-ounce cranberry juice cocktail, chilled

• 1 bottle red wine, chilled (substitute de-alcoholized wine, if you like)

• 1/3 cup bottled sweetened lime juice (suggested brand: Rose's)

• 1 liter bottle lemon-lime soda

PREPARATION:

1. Mix all ingredients in a large punch bowl.


2. Add Holiday Cheer Ice Cubes


3. Serve.

Christmas Cranberry Punch (no carbonation)

Contains alcohol

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups Vodka

• 4 cups cranberry juice

• 1-1/2 cups lime juice

• 2 cups water

• 3 tbsp. sugar

PREPARATION:

1. Combine ingredients in a large punch bowl.


2. Serve with Holiday Cheer Ice Cubes

Recipes via Suite101.com

Rachael Ray's Candy Sushi

I don't think the original intent of this recipe was for it to be a Christmas candy. However, if you select your fruit leather in red and green, and get red twizzler's, the result has that festive, X'mas look about it. I also venture that your Christmas table will be one of the relatively few that boasts Christmas sushi.

Ok - it's debatable whether it will be a hit with the adults. But the kids are gonna love it--

Recipe via foodnetwork.com

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon butter, cut into pieces
12 regular marshmallows
2 cups puffed rice cereal
4 fruit roll-ups (pressed dried fruit rounds, 8 inches) any brand, any flavor
8 strips licorice candy, any flavor – pieces should be 6 to 7 inches long, trim to match width of roll-ups

PREPARATION:

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat and add marshmallows. Stir marshmallows until completely melted. Remove mixture from heat and add cereal. Stir to coat cereal evenly in melted marshmallows.

Roll out the fruit roll-ups. Place 1/4 of the coated cereal onto each fruit roll up and spread and gather toward 1 side of roll up. Place 2 licorice twists onto the center of the spread out cereal mix. Wrap and roll the candy and fruit, maneuvering the licorice to the center of the roll, so that the finished product resembles a sushi roll. Repeat with remaining rolls.

Place a sharp knife into a bowl of very warm water. Cut candy sushi with warm knife and arrange on a plate then serve.

A Great Grinchy Trick

A friend turned me on to this gag-gift stocking-stuffer idea. It's very simple, yet kind of funny. Kids are certain to get a kick out of it.

What you need to do:

• Buy a bag or three of M&Ms, plain or peanut (how many you buy depends on how many gag gifts you wish to make).


• Pick out the green ones, and set them aside. Eat the others. :)


• Get as many small bags as gifts you wish to make. Use Ziploc baggies, or if you want, buy some fancy little bags.


• Apportion the green M&Ms out in the baggies.


• Save the image file below to your computer.


• Print one image per gift, and cut them out neatly. Fold and insert in bags.


• Stuff the stockings with your homemade gag gifts.


• You may also add some candy sprinkles, or edible sparkles, to get a more festive effect.

This image I've created is a high resolution .png file, so it's going to look really big on your computer screen - however, it prints at 4 x 2.7 inches.*

Card designed by R. Dean Brock. For personal use only.

*NOTE: you may need to set the printing parameters manually on your printer, as not every graphics-viewing utility will understand that this image is set to print at 4 x 2.7 inches. Adobe Photoshop and most other sophisticated photo-editing software will print it at the correct size, automatically.

Alternatively, you may print it at any size your printer dialog can manage because the resolution is high enough in the image that it will look quite bright and crisp all the way up to an 8.5' x 11' print.

More Holiday Punch Recipes

Hot spiced Cranberry Punch (non-alcoholic)

• 4 cups cranberry juice


• Honey to taste


• Freshly grated nutmeg (substitute prepared if that's all you have)


• Cinnamon sticks

Heat cranberry juice, cloves and honey in a saucepan. Stir until honey dissolves and juice is hot. Season with nutmeg and serve in a mug (preferably clear) with a cinnamon stick.

The Apple Cinammon (easy non-alcoholic)

• 2 oz cranberry juice


• 4 oz chilled apple cider

Fill a wine goblet with ice. Add 2 oz. cranberry juice and 4 oz. chilled apple cider. Stir to mix. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Wassail Bowl (also known as "Lamb's Wool" - alcohol)

Note: You may, if you wish, omit the baked apples all together, and start at step 3. Or you may pick up a jar of spiced apple rings, and float those in the punchbowl, instead of the baked apples (Haggen may have spice apple rings - that's where I've found them in the past).

• 3 large cooking apples


• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar


• 4 cups apple cider


• 2 cups sherry (not cooking sherry - Harvey's Bristol Cream, or other)


• 1/4 cup granulated sugar


• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg


• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon


• 3 to 4 slices of lemon

1.) Preheat oven to 350°

2.) Core apples and arrange in shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar and bake until apples are tender (20 to 25 minutes). Set aside.

3.) Heat cider in a saucepan over low heat, bringing it slowly to a boil. Add sherry, sugar, spices and lemon slices. Stir until sugar dissolves; cover tightly and let stand over very low heat for 3-4 minutes. Do not boil again.

4.) Remove the lemon slices and pour into a punch bowl. Garnish with baked apples.

Makes 6 servings.

Cranberry-Citrus Christmas Punch

Cranberry Punch Recipe:

• 2 cans frozen cranberry juice, prepared*


• 1 can frozen orange juice, prepared*


• 2 16 fluid ounce bottles of ginger ale or lemon-lime soda


• Add fresh or frozen cranberries and oranges slices

Combine liquids, add cranberries and sliced oranges.

For an alcohol based version: add gin or vodka.

*or equivalent bottled juice

Christmas Coloring Pages for Kids Added

I thought it would be a nice touch, so I've created a kid's coloring page. There's a link in the sidebar, as well.

How to make English Christmas Punch

ENGLISH CHRISTMAS PUNCH

Ingredients
• 3 cups strong tea
• 2 750-ml. bottles dry red wine
• 1 750-ml. bottle dark rum
• 1 lb. superfine sugar
Juice of 1 large orange
Juice of 1 lemon

Mixing instructions:
Heat wine, tea and fruit juices in a chafing dish or saucepan, but do not boil. This punch may be served from the chafing dish or transferred to a heatproof punch bowl. Put sugar into a large ladle and saturate with rum. If ladle is not large enough for all the sugar, put remainder in punch bowl. Ignite rum in ladle and pour blazing into punch. Stir well, extinguish flames, and then pour remainder of rum into punch. Stir again and serve. Makes about 27 servings.

Gluhwein: German Spiced Wine

I've just been made aware of yet another holiday drink, which seems similar to Potus Ypocras; both most likely herald back to the Roman Empire, where mulled wines were also enjoyed. You may buy prepared gluhwein syrup online, here:

http://www.gluhwein.net/

And here is a recipe for making it at home. Personal websearches should almost certainly yield even more variants on the theme.