Recipe: Christmas Burgundy Sangria

 'Tis the night before Christmas, and all through the house, you and your guests are craving a glass of something sweet but without too many carbs.... This makes a great holiday beverage for Christmas Eve and tomorrow's festivities as well! Fresh juices keep it light, and the citrus flavors bring out the Christmas spirit in everyone - plus it's a beautiful drink that looks very festive in your glass!

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Christmas Burgundy Sangria
(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

2 cups Burgundy wine
2 cups seltzer water
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 lemon, washed and sliced in thin circles
1 lime, washed and sliced in thin circles
1/4 to 1/2 cup stevia (more or less for taste)

Directions:

• In a large bowl or pitcher, put all the ingredients and chill in refrigerator.
• When ready to serve, pour over ice in tall glasses.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Holiday Recipe: Easy Maple-Glazed Ham

If you want a great recipe for a Christmas ham, try this simple one. Just a few unique ingredients provide a great flavor that your whole family will remember! (Try to find a naturally cured ham if you can, and make sure to use real maple syrup - none of that flavored corn syrup junk.) This makes for a great main dish for your Christmas dinner.

Easy Maple-Glazed Ham

(Photo credit: Another Pint Please...)

Ingredients:

10 pound natural hickory-smoked ham, fully cooked
3/4 c. real maple syrup
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp white vinegar
3 Tbsp bourbon
1 Tbsp whole cloves

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Put ham cut side down in a shallow baking dish and form a tent with aluminum foil, loosely sealing.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.
4. In a glass bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, dry mustard, white vinegar, and bourbon, and set aside.
5. When ham is done, remove from oven, take off foil, and turn ham over in the baking pan so you are looking at the fatty side.
6. With a sharp paring knife, cut shallow criss-cross pattern (like tic-tac-toe) into the fatty side, in about 1/2 to 1 inch square shapes.
7. Stick a single whole clove in the center of each square you made.
8. Whisk the glaze again, then pour evenly over the top of the fatty side of the ham, over the cloves, and put back in the oven (uncovered) for about 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.  You can ladle the glaze in the pan back over the ham once during the cooking time.
9. Remove and let stand for 10 minutes, slice and serve warm, with pan drippings poured over each slice if desired.

Christmas Recipe: Apple Citrus Spirited Wassail

Remember the song, here we go a-wassailing? If you haven't had wassail before, you're in for a treat. Wassail is a tradition that goes back over a hundred years, putting the "spirits" in the Christmas spirit! While younger generations may not be as familiar with this Christmas tradition, your grandmother surely knows what wassail is. And it's actually quite easy to make - warm up your holiday cheer this Christmas Eve with an old Christmas tradition - which just may become a new one once you try it! The recipe below will serve a good-sized party, but feel free to cut down or increase the recipe as needed. (As an added bonus, your house will smell amazing while this is simmering! Please drink responsibly.)

Also, on a related note, we will not be posting next week, as we will be traveling and spending time with our families for the holidays. But be sure to check back on the 31st for some tasty New Year's Eve treats! In the meantime, have a wonderful, safe, fun, and of course YUMMY holiday!  :-)

Apple Citrus Spirited Wassail
(Makes about 2 gallons of wassail or about twenty 12-oz servings.)

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

1 gallon good apple cider
6 cinnamon sticks
1 lemon, washed and cut into wedges
1 orange, washed and cut into wedges
1 Tbsp whole cloves
1 Tbsp allspice
1 gallon white wine, room temperature
2 cups rum, room temperature

For garnish:
1 lemon, washed and sliced into thin circles, seeds removed
1 orange, washed and sliced into thin circles, seeds removed
cinnamon sticks

Directions:

1. Put apple cider, cinnamon sticks, lemon wedges, orange wedges, whole cloves, and allspice into a large (non reactive) pot.
2. Place over low heat, stir, and simmer slowly over very low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
3. Pour the liquid through a fine mesh sieve to strain, then pour back into pot.
4. Add the wine, rum, and the slices of lemon and orange, stir and serve.
5. If the wassail cooled down too much when you added the spirits and fruit, you can warm it up on low just until heated again, but don't let boil.
6. Serve warm or hot in large mugs, making sure to get a slice or two of citrus in each serving. Add a cinnamon stick to each mug if desired for a 'swizzle stick.'

Christmas Recipe: Eggnog Pancakes

Whether it's a festive "breakfast for dinner" Christmas Eve tradition, or a fun Christmas morning with the kids, these holiday-inspired pancakes are oh-so-special! Use up some of that leftover eggnog to make these delicious breakfast treats. The warm flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg will put you in a holiday mood all day! For added healthiness, use part whole-wheat flour, or even almond meal. 

'Tis The Season Eggnog Pancakes

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour (or 1 cup white, one cup whole wheat)
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups good eggnog
2 large eggs, beaten

Directions:

1. Put a fine mesh sieve over a large bowl; put all the dry ingredients in the sieve and shake to sift into the bowl (or use a flour sifter).
2. Add the eggnog and eggs to the dry ingredients and stir together until just combined - don't over mix, you should see some lumps just like any pancake batter.
3. Lightly oil your griddle or skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Drop batter by ladle or measuring cup out onto hot griddle, wait until bubbles form on the surface of the pancake, then flip and brown the other side.
5. Serve warm with maple syrup or fresh fruit topping.