10 Days of #ChristmasinJuly #Christmas

Kind of like the 12 days of Christmas, but 10 days for this sort-of-holiday, because July is SO busy, and I never seem to be able to post enough in the early to middle part of the month. So here we are...the 10 Days of Christmas in July!

Today I'm sharing a couple of recipes, and some Christmas quotes, from this wonderful book I ordered a while back. The book is called Four Midwestern Sisters Christmas Book and here's what it's about...

With easy warmth, the director of the Washington D.C. Office of Human Rights Watch describes the Christmas holiday rituals and traditions her family has treasured since her childhood in Iowa--the sorts of personal reminiscences that make a family a family. Illustrated.

It did not take long to prepare the brew and thrust the tin heater well into the red heart of the fire; and soon every field-mouse was sipping and coughing and choking (for a little mulled ale goes a long way) and wiping his eyes and laughing and forgetting he had ever been cold in all his life. --Kenneth Graham, The Wind in the Willows

The Daileys' Hot Buttered Rum 
(about 35 servings)

• 2 cups (1 pound) butter, melted
• 2 pounds light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 4 eggs
• Rum
• Boiling water

Beat together the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and eggs until emulsified (at least 15 minutes). (You should turn off the mixer occasionally to let it cool down.) Pour into the airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve, put a heaping tablespoon of the mixture in a mug, stir in 1 1/2 ounces of rum, and fill the mug with boiling water.  

Cherish what is dearest while you have it near you; and wait not until it is far away.
--Thomas Carlyle

Image credit: McCormick

Cookie Balls
(makes 2 1/2 - 3 dozen cookies)

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 4 tablespoons powdered sugar 
• 2 cups finely chopped pecans
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• Powdered sugar

Cream the butter and 4 tablespoons powdered sugar together until well blended. Add the remaining ingredients, and stir until all the flour is incorporated. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make dough balls about the size of a small walnut, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Do not brown. Remove from heat, cool for a minute or two, then roll the cookie balls in powdered sugar until entirely covered. Cool on a wire rack.

Come back tomorrow for the 2nd day of the 10 days of Christmas in July!

Always in spirit...



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