Happy Holidays Everyone!

It is getting rather late on Christmas Eve and I am alone. I don't want to dwell on that sad state of affairs though. I want to tell you that my favorite holiday song is O Holy Night! Jimmy and I preferred the version sung by John Berry, but there are many great ones out there. Just hearing all of the holiday music kind of puts me into a good-ish mood!

Here is a recipe for The Smell of Christmas that my neighbors like. I am not a measure so you kind of have to go by your own eyes and nose on this.

Fill your biggest pot within two inches of top with hot water, put on high heat, cover and wait for it to start steaming.
Meanwhile, slice 1 apple and 1 orange into 1/3 inch slices. Break a few cinnamon sticks into medium pieces. Also have ready whole cloves, anise stars, vanilla and almond extract.
When water is steaming, lower heat as low as you can and still keep it steaming. Slowly and carefully begin to add the apple and orange slices. About half of each for a Dutch Oven sized pan. (Store the rest in a covered container in the fridge for the next batch or eat them for a yummy snack!)
Sprinkle broken cinnamon sticks, whole cloves(around 1/8 cup) and about 4 or 5 Star Anise on and around the fruit. Last you will pour generous amounts of Vanilla and Almond extract (Maybe a tablespoon each or more depending on what you like).
It may have stopped steaming while you were adding all the goodies, but it will start again after you put the cover on with venting room, and set the temp down as low as you can get it yet still enjoy the fragrance.
Yep! I can smell the Wonder Of Christmas from here!
I guess now, all that's left to do is fix a nice steaming cup of hot chocolate, snuggle into a comfy seat on the sofa and watch my all time favorite Christmas movie, White Christmas.

I hope you all have a wonderful one! I will think of you....and be happy!!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Less than a week 'til Christmas. A busy time for most everyone. I hope that during all of the hustle and bustle of running here and there, worrying over what gifts to give to whom and most assuredly overspending, that we will take at least a moment to remember whose birth it is we are celebrating. The gifts that we exchange are merely symbols of the gifts that were given to the Christ child as He lay in a lowly manger.
I hope that we all have very safe and happy holidays.