12-- Holiday Gifts of Chocolate Cream Liqueur

Chocolate Cream Liqueurs
Collect up about 9 decorative bottles with tight lids that can hold about 1/2
cup each. This stuff is potent, so don't be tempted to give more.

2 cups light cream or half-n-half
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp instant coffee crystals
1 beaten egg yolk
1 cup Irish whiskey
1/3 cup rum
2 T chocolate-flavored syrup
1 T vanilla
In a large heavy saucepan combine light cream, sweetened condensed milk, and
coffee crystals. Cook and stir over medium heat until coffee crystals dissolve.
Gradually sti about half the hot milk mixture into the beaten egg yolk, then
return the whole thing back to the saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil. Cook and
stir over medium heat for 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.
Add Irish whiskey, rum, chocolate syrup, and vanilla to the mixture. Stir well
to combine. Let mixture cool to room temperature. Transfer to bottles. Chill at
least 4 hours before serving.

To serve: Shake well. 1/4 cup per serving, so each person gets their own bottle.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

12 Yule: Ever-So-Easy Fruitcake

Ever So Easy Fruitcake
Makes one 10-inch cake
2-1/2 cups unsifted flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 (27 oz) jar None Such Ready to Use Mincemeat (any variety)
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT EVAPORATED MILK!)
2 cups (I lb) mixed candied fruit
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 300F. Grease and flour 10-inch tube or fluted tube pan. Combine
flour and baking soda. In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredents. Blend in
the flour mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake one hour plus 45-50
minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 15 min.
Turn out of pan and cool completely. Garnish as desired.

Note: Fruitcakes improve in texture if you wrap them in foil and allow them to
rest at least overnight. They'll be much easier to cut.

Optional fruitcake loaves: Grease two 9x5 loaf pans. Turn half the batter into
each pan. Bake one hour plus 20-25 min. Cool as above, etc.

Borden recipe collected 1992.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Recipe: Easy Fudge

Reduced Fat Chocolate Fudge
3 cups (18 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 14-oz can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
dash salt
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. In a heavy saucepan over low heat, melt the chips, milk, and salt. Stir
constantly. Your patience will be rewarded.

2. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
3. Spread evenly into a wax paper lined square pan.
4. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge out on a cutting board and peel the
paper off. Cut into 28 squares. Store chilled.


Website URL: http://www.LenaAustin.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Catitude

New Release!! Sugarplums: Make the Yuletide Gay by Lena Austin

New Release Today!!

Sugarplum: Make the Yuletide Gay
by Lena Austin
Cover art: Reneé George

ISBN: 978-1-60521-520-4

Genre(s): Guilty Pleasures (Contemporary), Hot Flashes

Theme(s): Christmas, Seasonal Themes, Gay and Lesbian

Series: Sugarplums

Length: Hot Flash

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1507

Blurb:

Dr. Gary Lord was comfortable and out in his homosexuality anywhere but his southern hometown and certainly not at his parents' house. But, in Yulee, Florida, secrets are very hard to keep when the folks across town know how you season your greens the minute you say, "Pass the salt."

And there's an old high school classmate who's been waiting patiently for Gary to come home... and he plans to crash Gary's Yuletide celebration in a big way.

Excerpt:


Adam stood right behind him, trapping him with his arms, one on each side of Gary’s head. Adam looked a little like a cowboy Phantom of the Opera, with the light only illuminating one side of his face and his hat still on his head. “Only mine are gone, and they don’t need to know their son is gay. You’re still in the closet to yours, too, I guess.”

Gary admitted nothing. He didn’t care how much he wanted those firm lips on his or how much he’d fantasized about those rough, weathered hands on his body, Gary still didn’t want to believe his high school crush was within reach and offering. Somewhere, down deep in his soul, Gary dredged up one word. “Why?”

“You mean why am I doing my damndest to get you to do a horizontal tango with me? Hell, Gary.” Adam lifted his arms away from the wall and backed off. His left hand scrubbed at his forehead. Gary’d forgotten Adam was a southpaw. “I wish I knew what attracted me to you, but I’ve been running scared from you since our sophomore year, when I finally came to grips with my sexuality. You kept pushing those damn glasses up on your nose and sticking your chin in the air when you were outclassed in gym, and… aw, hell, you drove me nuts.”

“I had laser surgery on my eyes three years ago.” So maybe it wasn’t the most intelligent thing to say and in some ways was cowardly, but Gary just couldn’t accept what Adam was saying. “I don’t get it. You could have anyone. Why the nerd?”

Adam chuckled under his breath. “Finally, I get a real question. Best answer I have is that opposites attract. I’ve been waiting all year for you to come home for the holidays so you could make my Yuletide gay.”

“Very funny, Adam.” No one had popped out of the woodwork with a camera, yelling how they’d caught him in the act and were going to tell his parents and ruin their holiday, so Gary got a little bolder. “You realize I’ve no reason to trust you? Right?”

“Ye-up! I know.” Adam’s voice deepened, torturing Gary just a little more. “Guess I’m just gonna have to prove I’m serious.” His right hand touched Gary’s shoulder and gently pressed him against the wall. His left caressed the outline of Gary’s cock. “Leastways one part of you believes I ain’t lying.”

Gary had held fossils that were less hard than his dick was. So much blood had left Gary’s brain he was light-headed. Gary’s ass craved what Adam could give, and Gary let the ex-jock push him up against the chilly wainscoting for fear he’d do something stupid like beg if he opened his mouth. Hell, he’d dreamed about Adam for the past fifteen years, and now Gary was afraid to accept what Adam offered. “Fifteen years ago, I’d have been on my knees thanking Upstairs if you’d so much as blinked in my direction. I kinda idolized you.”

“I was a wuss.” Adam tossed off that statement and leaned in until Gary could feel his breath on his right cheek. “I took the easy road and let everyone believe I was the Marlboro Man, all perfect and shit. I wasn’t. Far from it.” Adam’s lips brushed his, and then Adam backed off to study Gary’s face for an objection. “Instead of all those squishy girls, all I wanted was a skinny nerd more interested in amphoras and some weird-ass device from Anti-something Greece.”

“Amphorae. The plural is amphorae. And the place is Antikythera.” Gary’s correction was automatic, considering how Adam was scrambling his brain and his pulse. “I… I can explain.”

“Later.” Adam reached around and yanked him right up to him for a little tongue duel.

Was Gary a sucker for a little domination? Okay, yes, he was. Working around Egypt, knowing his work could be yanked away at the least provocation, was stressful. Gary craved letting go and allowing someone else to take over, so he could stop thinking even for an hour. With Adam, that part was easy. Gary’s brain clicked offline as soon as Adam’s hand slid from his waist to cup Gary’s ass. Fortunately for him, Gary had a subconscious with more sense than intelligence. In response to Gary’s rising lust levels, one of his hands reluctantly slid around Adam’s waist and completed their clinch.

How long they locked lips was anyone’s guess, but eventually Adam broke off. Adam studied Gary’s glazed eyes and nodded. “’Bout time you stopped fighting me. Mind if I just bend you over the sofa? It’s the right height, I think.”

He wasn’t a shrimp, but Gary was about an inch or two shorter, so Gary gave the big leather-backed sofa a glance. “Looks pillow soft, but I won’t break if it isn’t.”

All Gary could hear was Adam’s breathing. Then Adam released him entirely. “Get naked. I want to see you. All of you.”

“Same goes, cowboy.” Gary lifted his chin and dared Adam like they were still in the schoolyard.

Adam nodded. “Fair enough.”

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1507

Recipe: Friendship Tea to Give as a Gift

When I was a kid, this was the gift to get from my mother.

Friendship Tea

18 oz Tang orange drink mix

1 cup instant iced tea

2 cups granulated sugar or Splenda

1 package lemonade Kool-aid mix

1-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 tsp ground cloves

Mix and place in a well-sealed jar or other decorative container. For hot tea, mix 2/3 T of mix and 1 cup hot water.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

RECIPE: Tres Leches Cake from Lena Austin

I'm lazy! Using a cake mix to save time suits me. This turns out delish! Because it's white, it lends itself to a holiday celebration.

Lena

Tres Leches Cake

Makes 12 to 15 servings

One package (about 18 oz.) white cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare mix

one can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

one cup milk

one cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream

one container (8 oz.) whipped topping, thawed

fresh fruit

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13 by 9 by 2 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2.  Prepare cake mix according to package directions.  Bake about 35 to 40 minutes or until cake is firm to the touch.  Remove cake from oven; cool five minutes.

3.  Meanwhile, combine sweetened condensed milk, milk and whipping cream in a four cup measure.  Poke holes all around the warm cake, using a wooden skewer or toothpick.  Slowly pour milk mixture evenly over top of holes on cake.  Let cake cool 10 to 15 minutes more to absorb all liquid.  Cover and refrigerate cake in pan at least one hour.

4.  When cake is completely cool, spread whipped topping evenly on top.  Cut into pieces and serve with fresh fruit.  Keep cake covered and refrigerated.

.

__,_._,___

Recipe: Snowballs

I've been making these since I was seventeen. That's over 30 years.

Snowballs

1/2 c. confectioner's 10x sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2-1/4 c all purpose flour

1/2 c chopped pecans

More 10x sugar (an extra bag is wise)

Makes 5 dozen, so set up a lot of cookie sheets while the dough chills. You may use silicon mats, if desired.

Mix the first three ingredients together well. Stir in the vanilla. Now gradually add the flour. Be patient. When all the flour is gone, now work in the nuts. Cover the bowl with foil and chill it well, at least an hour or two.

Pour the extra confectioner's sugar into a shallow bowl or pie plate. If you have helpers, give them each their own pie plate and storage container. From here on, everything moves pretty quickly, so being set up in advance makes the process go more smoothly.

Turn your oven on to 400F now and allow it to warm up. Use a melon baller, teaspoon measure, or a small child's hands to form the dough into 1-inch balls. Don't be tempted to make them larger. Place them on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 400F for 8-10 minutes until set but not brown. As soon as you can pick them up, roll them in the powdered sugar and put them on a rack to cool. Roll them again in the sugar, then put in storage containers.  You may use any leftover sugar to pack around the cookies for storage, if they make it to the pantry at all.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

A great gift idea for the holidays--Stick it Right on the Money Stickers

http://www.stickitrightonthemoney.com/

This has to be the most innovative way to give a plain old monetary gift some pizzazz to show you really did think about  what gift would suit the recipient.

My mother in law used to say that giving money, gift certificates, and gift cards were in a way a cop out and borderline rude. They require very little thought, and while "one size does fit all" it does show a certain casual disregard for the likes and dislikes of the recipient or even little more than a nod to the occasion.

However in today's busy world, sometimes giving cash can mean a whole lot more, especially when friends and family can be many miles apart. Cash spends well without having to worry.  

Now, with Stick It Right On the Money stickers, you can do more than give a nod to the occasion! Each frame and sticker are "Post-it" sticky, so the money isn't damaged. (That's illegal.) See the video at the website. What a great gift idea.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/

Do you love my work? Then don't download from pirates.
When you steal what I've earned, you're hurting me.

Thanksgiving 5 Things

Thanksgiving Five Things

Doing these five things ahead will save you time, stress, and money. Do it now, and write them down. If you don't have the FlyLady Holiday Control Journal, go get one. http://www.flylady.net Search "Control Journal" and you'll find it.

1) Guest List. Pretty basic, but seriously, make your list; check it twice and start making those all-important phone calls. Knowing how many to plan for is an integral part of successful holiday planning.

2) The Menu. What are you having besides turkey? Make your menu and appropriate grocery list and get everything purchased except the perishables (do that a few days before). If you have stuff that might get mistakenly eaten before the big day, put it in a box and stash it in the linen closet or label it instructing your loved ones to stay far, far away from this Thanksgiving food item.



3) The Turkey. If you're going to order a fresh one, time's running out. Make that phone call now. Make sure you get a confirmation number (put the confirmation number on your calendar or checklist). If you're buying frozen go ahead and purchase it now, double bag it and stick in the fridge to start thawing.



4) Serving Pieces. Do you have everything you need? Platters, serving utensils, extra plates, napkins, etc.? Pull them out and set them aside; that's one less thing you'll need to do. If you don't have what you need, buy them or make phone calls to borrow and pick them up as soon as possible.



5) Linen Check. Pull out your tablecloth and napkins. Are they clean, are they pressed? If not, wash and iron them now then hang them up on hangers and put them in your hall closet (or wherever you can hang them). Doing them the night before or the day of will exhaust you! There's way too much to do on those two days.



Remember that holidays are for everyone, INCLUDING the cook! Don't forget to ask for help, allow others to bring some of their favorite dishes and on cooking day, make time to stop, put your feet up and be very thankful for the faces that will be sitting around your Thanksgiving table. Enjoy yourself this year!

Fw: Pokey's Sharing a Cool Secret for making Holiday Ornaments

From: Quilting Daily <quiltingdaily@interweave.com>
To: voiceomt2002@yahoo.com

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Quilting Arts Gifts is a special issue of Quilting Arts Magazine devoted to the art of gift-giving!

September 9, 2010

My Recipe for No-sew Snowflakes It's no secret I'm a surface design junkie. Over the years, I have amassed an overflowing stash of fabrics that have been dyed, printed, screened, stamped, and stenciled. Not only do I despair of ever using these fabrics up in art quilts, I have to admit that some of them aren't quite art quilt-worthy. I also have to admit that, being a surface design junkie, I also collect a ton of objects that could be used in surface design. A category of those objects is cookie cutters—implements that I can assure you will never be used in the presence of butter and sugar. Soy wax, maybe. So you can imagine my delight when I figured out a way to use these extra fabrics and some snowflake cookie cutters that were gathering dust together to get a jump start on my holiday decorations. I created no-sew snowflake ornaments that are a snap to make, and I'm sharing the secret for making them with you. In fact, if you have an Accuquilt GO! Fabric Cutter, you can whip up a batch of these cool beauties even faster. I explain the process with the fabric cutter in the 2010-2011 issue of Quilting Arts Gifts, but I can't wait to share the instructions for the cookie cutter version, so here it is. No-sew Fabric Ornaments By Pokey Bolton Materials Scraps of fabric Fusible web Stiff interfacing Iron and ironing surface Fabric scissors Awl Eyelets and eyelet setting tools Decorative ribbon (at least 7" for hanging) Cookie cutters with holiday themes Fabric marker Making the snowflakes 1. Sift through your stash of fabrics and look for areas that have interesting patterns that you'd like to feature on your ornaments. 2. Following the manufacturer's instructions, adhere fusible web to the back side of the fabric with your iron. 3. Iron the fused fabric to a piece of stiff interfacing. 4. Take another piece of fabric, apply fusible web, and iron it to the other side of the interfacing so that it is double sided. 5. Place a holiday-themed cookie cutter on top of the stiffened fabric and trace the design using a fabric marker, then cut it out. Attaching the ribbon 1. Mark a dot on your fabric ornament where you would like the ribbon to loop through for hanging. 2. With your awl, poke a small circle. 3. Using your eyelet setting tools, hammer the eyelet in place. 4. Loop the ribbon through the eyelet, and tie the ends in a bow. Voila! Your ornament is ready to be hung on the tree, and your surface design efforts were put to excellent use. There are lots of make-it-quick projects like this in the new issue of Quilting Arts Gifts, as well as more complex gift-giving and home décor ideas for the holidays and beyond. Be sure to get your copy before—like your favorite cookie—they're all gone!

Pokey Bolton Editorial Director More Quilting Daily •  Blogs •  Galleries •  Quilting Arts TV •  Free Stuff •  Join Quilting Arts •  Share Your Comments

Buy Yourself Some Time Make easy, modern projects in no time with Quilting Arts Gifts Make quick work of your holiday gift list and home décor with fun, festive projects you can make in an afternoon. The 2010-11 issue of Quilting Arts Gifts offers you seven Make-it-Quick! ideas that are a snap to make, leaving you more time to enjoy the season and bask in all the compliments you'll get for your creativity. Got time for more involved projects? Quilting Arts Gifts includes more than 20 additional art quilting and mixed-media ideas that will elicit oohs and aahs from everyone who sees them. Our Gifts issue is always a best-seller, so don't miss out. Order your issue today, and complete a project the very day it arrives!

This email was sent to: voiceomt2002@yahoo.com. Privacy Policy        Unsubscribe Interweave, 201 E. 4th St., Loveland, CO 80537 ©2010 Interweave Press, LLC. All rights reserved.

Recipe for a Holiday Morning

OMG!! Even a “I can barely cook” type could make this delicious treat! It’s easy, inexpensive (monetarily, though carb-wise, you’d better have just one wedge and confess your sins later), and fast. From start to finish, it’s a mere thirty minutes of light work. So beyond decadent, especially with morning coffee. I’m going to serve this on Christmas morning, for sure.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/gingerbread-wedges/bb52b89d-bfb6-416d-a099-d61b3a6604f1

Majesty Mysteries: Silver Spider-- Coming in December

Http://www.changelingpress.com

Frosty the Caramel Apple Pie Cocktail

Frosty the Caramel Apple Pie

Go to Cocktails for more comforting, cold-weather recipes and videos.

Frosty the Caramel Apple Pie

By Stephen Phillips
This festive holiday cocktail draws inspiration from decadent caramel-apple pie.

Single Serve Recipe

Ingredients:
1-1/2 oz. vodka or tequila

1 oz. Hiram Walker Butterscotch Schnapps

1-1/2 oz. apple cider

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Apple slice for garnish

Crushed graham crackers

Preparation:
First, rim the lip of a chilled cocktail glass with your crushed graham crackers.
Pour all the liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake well.
Strain into your chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with an apple slice.
Note: Serve over ice in a large wine goblet.
See More Holiday Cocktails

Another Funny Picture

This cat reminds me of my DH. Dante and I act like fools at holiday time, but DH just grumbles. However, don't you even think about someone else stringing the holiday lights on the house or tree! He claims we don't do it correctly. LOL! Dante and I ignore his grumbles and cheerfully celebrate as much as we wish.

Do you have a Grinch at your house? How do you handle them?

Cherry Splash Cookie Cocktail

Cherry Splash
Recipe courtesy Jill Davie
Cherry Splash
RELATED LINKS12 Days of Cookie Cocktails
Holiday Cocktail Party Guide
Top 10 Holiday Cocktails
Fine Giving Holiday Gift Guides
Food Network’s 12 Days of Cookies

Ingredients:
2 oz. Silver rum
1/2 oz. amaretto, almond-flavored liqueur
1/2 oz. Luxardo maraschino cherry liqueur
Ice
Wedge of lime
Splash of maraschino cherry juice
Maraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation:
Pour rum, amaretto and cherry liqueur in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until ingredients are well combined and chilled. Pour into a highball glass filled with ice. Squeeze a lime wedge over drink and drop into glass. Add a pour of cherry juice and garnish with a maraschino cherry.