HOLIDAY CHEER!!!

I made the following drink for Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit!! I wasn't sure if the Brandy in it would taste too Brandy-ish, but you could barely tell there was any in it. Dangerous? Not really. The recipe calls for 2 cups, but as you'll see after you dilute each glassful with the soda, you have 30+ servings, so no one drink is going to make anyone table dance! Do drink responsibly, and have a designated reindeer wrangler if someone over indulges!! Of course you could opt for a liquor free version, that's also very good, but you won't get the same slushie effect, so don't freeze it or you'll have nice juicy ice cubes!
It's pretty, it's festive and it has that great holiday combination of Cranberry and Orange flavors. I 'xpect we'll have it again during the upcoming holidays at some point. Maybe our Open House. Yeah, that's with our neighbors and they can just walk home! No crawling!! So grab a punch bowl, some pretty stemware and have some holiday cheer. This round's on me!!
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CRANBERRY-ORANGE SLUSH COCKTAIL

1 can (12 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 can (12 ounces) frozen cranberry juice concentrate, thawed
2 cups brandy
1 bottle (32 ounces) cranberry juice cocktail *(I used Cran-Raspberry..Yum!)
2 bottles (1 liter each) lemon-lime soda pop or sparkling water *(I used 7-UP)
1.Mix all ingredients except soda pop in nonmetal container. Divide among pint containers. Cover and freeze at least 8 hours until slushy.
2. Pour equal parts juice mixture and soda into each glass and serve immediately.
TIP: I have also used a Wildberry blend frozen concentrate in place of the cranberry and feel certain you could use any fruit juice combination with the orange juice you'd like. I know the berry flavors work really well. And you know that Vodka would be great, too. So many versions for this one! Pick one and Enjoy!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

2008 came just in time at the Schmidt House. Maybe you noticed that I took some time off around the holidays and am just now getting back in the groove. This was one of our best holiday seasons in a long time, and with that came alot of preparation and celebration. We had the boys and their significant others, our grandson Logan, and friends and neighbors in and out for days. My family back in Illinois had a great time together with their spread out families, also. I always miss them when the rest of us get together here in Tennessee. It's so hard to work with everyone's schedule, but we were in one another's hearts. We also had a great night out with our good friends Mike and Bob ( who are relocating soon) and in between all the hustle and bustle, Geraldo and I had to manage a few dental appointments. I had a root canal (attempt) that became a bigger deal than expected so that knocked me off my feet for a couple of days. Mepergan and baking do not mix. I was loopy for a few days. But Christmas came and the day was great and the brunch the day after was wonderful also. A couple of nights after Christmas, we met Mike and Bob at "Toot's" a surf and turf restaurant in Smyrna and I, quite obviously, got hold of a BAD oyster. The reaction was swift and violent, and I'm not quite ready for any trips to the all you can eat seafood bar at the local Oriental Buffet. I did learn a valuable lesson tho....trust your nose. I was excited to see our friends, and quite truthfully, giddy that I was getting to "eat out". So I dug in with abandonment and paid for it later. I am happy to report that I was the only casualty (from our table) that night, but Gerald got a 24 hour bug a couple of days later. We were both fine for New Year's and watched the ball drop from the comfort of our living room with our furry friends. The four legged kind....not the neighbors.
So I hope all of you had a great holiday season and that love found its way into your hearts and homes. I'm ready to meet 2008 with an attitude adjustment and live in the present.
I do have a couple of recipes that I tried out for the first time. Actually I did 3 new cookie recipes that were all really, really good. I'm paying for that now...I have put on some pounds since Thanksgiving and I knew I would. I really enjoy all the flavors this time of year offers. So, I'm resolving to rework some old recipes and give them a lighter makeover. I've got a quiche recipe we had for Christmas that was so easy and delicious. Everyone loved it..including our big ole boys. They had never even heard the phrase "real men don't eat quiche", so I didn't have that hurdle to get over. I'll get some recipes to all of you later and please email me if you had any tried and true favorites over the holidays or found some new taste sensation. comfortcook@gmail.com God Bless You and Yours and I wish you "Comfort and Joy" for 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Potluck Etiquette

It has been really busy here at The Schmidt House. I did finally get our tree up, the house decorated and Gerald took care of the outside lights. The living room and the porch looked great, but for a few days, I had 2 rooms filled with half filled boxes of old decorations and just old Christmas junk spread out everywhere. Gerald says that's what doors are for, but I happen to know what's behind those doors and it makes me a little crazy. I do like it when everything is out and looking on purpose. I feel a real sense of accomplishment. So, our home is in full holiday bloom and I love it!
We had our little Christmas neighborhood Open house on Tuesday and that was fun. I made way too much food, but I get into it when I'm cooking and then it's overkill. The neighbors appreciated it though...they all had a nice little "Reindeer Bag" of leftovers to take home. Spreading the love!! I smoked a pork butt on Sunday for 4 hours and then finished it up, low and slow in the oven on Tuesday. It was (and still is) really good. We also had some Italian meatballs, Chicken Salad WonTons, too much chocolate, mini Red Velvet cupcakes w/ cream cheese frosting, and the ever present Bleu cheeseball and veggie tray. I did dig out an old recipe for Beau Monde Dip for the vegetable tray this year. I hadn't had it in years and folks, it is really good. I had found the Beau Monde ( Spice Islands Spices) at Publix. It's a nice little alternative.
My neighbor, Rhonda, who does not cook and is proud of it, brought a pan of pepperoni stuffed yeast rolls and Oh My Gosh...they were so-o-o- good! Maybe it's because I didn't make them that I enjoyed them so, but Geraldo was into them too. I'll share her recipe with you soon. It isn't written down and takes only 3 ingredients (5 if you count the pan and the oven.)
They're kinda like Pigs in a Blanket on steroids. I really appreciated Rhonda bringing something to our little soiree and that made me think about potlucks and how folks know to bring something or not. So here's some homegrown advice............... comfortcook@gmail.com

POTLUCK ETIQUETTE
* If you're bringing something to a potluck, let your host know what you are bringing and how many people you are expecting.
* Put your offering on a nice platter or bowl- as opposed to plunking down a plastic tub or container of food on the table or expecting your host to provide a dish or platter. And bring your own serving spoon, if needed.
* If you are bringing an appetizer, be sure to arrive on time.
* If you're hosting a potluck, have supplies on hand to wrap up food to take home.
* As for cleaning the serving dishes, guests should defer to the host ( Gerald will do it for you at our house!) Kisses, Geraldo! But if you are in doubt of protocol, rinse the dish, wrap it in a plastic bag and take it home to wash.
* And, if you want to know who gets the leftovers, they should be offered to the host. (I send anyone and everyone who wants a little somethin' somethin' a little something home.....hence the Reindeer Bags.)
As a Hostess, I appreciate any helping hand, but I want my guests to know that it is always my pleasure to spend time with good friends and neighbors. The food and prep is just how I say "Welcome to our home."