Holiday Cocktail Recipes

One of the best parts of the holidays are holiday cocktails. There are certain flavors that instantly evoke a warmth of the holiday season. Specifically, anything with peppermint, egg nog, or gingerbread. Anything peppermint tends to work the best for me. Thats why I love this drink so much. The Baileys Irish Mistletoe.

INGREDIENTS

- 2 ounces Baileys Irish Cream
- 1/4 ounce peppermint schnapps

DIRECTIONS

- Add Baileys Irish Cream and peppermint schapps.
- Shake with ice and strain into martini glass.

- If you feel like being fancy, you can garnish the bottom of the martini glass with chocolate syrup and add a mint leaf.

The Best Christmas Commercials

Everyone always talks about Christmas movies and Christmas specials, but no one ever talks about Christmas commercials. Below is a compilation of some of the best Christmas commercials ever made.



Here is my personal favorite Christmas commercial for Fruity Pebbles.

The Christmas Toy

Last night I forced to watch a Garfield Christmas. First off, I'd like to go on record as saying that it was without a doubt the worst Christmas special I have ever seen in my life! It was poorly animated, boring, it made no sense, and the music was just terrible. I was never a huge Garfield fan to begin with; I just don't see the appeal. He's a cat that loves lasagna, we GET it. How someone managed to stretch that comic out for so many years is beyond me.

After the movie came to a merciful end, I began to rant about how awful it was, as I am want to do. I began listing other Christmas specials that were far superior to this lackluster movie and I eventually came to Jim Henson's: the Christmas Toy. I was shocked and appalled to find that neither of roommates had ever heard of this film.

The Christmas Toy is one of my all time favorite Christmas movies. Without giving too much away, it is a story about toys that come to life whenever humans leave them alone. They have their own society and carry on fun little lives involving building things and playing games. The only catch is, if they are seen moving by a human, they pretty much die. They freeze in the position in which they were found and then the other toys hold a funeral service for them. How messed up/ great a premise for a children’s movie is that?!

Every year the toy society welcomes in the new additions that arrive on Christmas morning and last year’s favorite toy has to come to terms with the fact that they are no longer number one. This concept is lost on Rugby, a stuffed tiger who refuses to give up the thrown, as he attempts to sneak back down to the tree and climb into a box so that can be unwrapped and serve a 2nd term as the family childs favorite toy. Hilarity ensues. I am now on a personal quest to track down this movie so that I may add it to my holiday movie rotation.

If you have never seen this movie, please do yourself a favor and give it a shot. You won't be disappointed.

3 Films that you didn't know were Holiday Movies

Gremlins
Sure you knew you can’t get them wet, they can’t be in the sun, and you can’t feed them after midnight. But did you know that Gremlins is actually a Christmas movie? Think about it. There are Christmas lights, snow, and at one point the Gremlins themselves sing Christmas carols to the enjoyment of no one! And who could forget the touching story explaining why Phoebe Cates doesn’t much care for the holidays? If you’ve had enough of the same old Christmas movies, pop Gremlins in your DVD player. Provided of course that Gremlins haven’t already destroyed it.

Ghostbusters 2
Sure ghosts are an issue 360 days a year for most of us, but in Ghostbusters 2 evil rears its ugly head on at the onset of the holidays and culminates on New Year’s Eve. When a haunted painting of a 16th century madman tries to take over the city, the boys in beigh are ready to do defend New York in an epic battle that can only be won with proton packs, slime, and holiday cheer of New Yorkers everywhere.

Die Hard 2
Meet John Mclain, the smart mouthed, gun toting, New York cop who saves Christmas! When a sky scraper is overrun by terrorists on Christmas Eve, Bruce Willis is forced to take action into his own hands with nothing but wits, guns, and an endless array of Holiday puns.

Egg Nog Cookie Recipe

I've touched upon the greatness that is egg nog in the posts of Christmas past. I've also mentioned how much I enjoy Christmas cookies. It seemed only fitting that I somehow combine the two into what can only be described as the personification of holiday cheer. I'm talking about egg nog cookies. Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot.

They're easy to make, they're delicious, and they're a welcome change of pace from the same old ginger bread and sugar cookies that are shaped like socks. Here's what you will need:

• 1 1/3 cups butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cups eggnog
• 2 tsps dark rum
• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt

Combine the ingredients in the order listed above. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about an hour.

Drop the batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 10-12 minutes. After such time, press the center of the cookie. If your finger leaves no imprint, they are done. Make sure to keep an eye on them and don't let them burn. If you do, Santa will pass over your house on Christmas Eve and give all of your presents to that neighbor you don't like. You know the one I mean.

Holiday Drinks

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season are the winter drink varieties at Starbucks. There are few things as warming on a cold winters day than a nice hot holiday beverage. This year there are 3 different varieties available: Gingerbread Latte, Espresso Truffle, and Peppermint Mocha Twist. Peppermint mocha's have been around for a few years now and I believe that the gingerbread latte was available last year. The only new edition to the line up is the espresso truffle.

I love peppermint mocha's and feel they are the best choice for a little holiday pick me up. Hot chocolate and peppermint; whats not to like? I recently tried the espresso truffle for the first time the other day, and while delicious, I suspect it kept me from getting a good nights sleep. I had one around 7 o'clock PM and didn't fall asleep until roughly 4am the next morning. Apparently you shouldn't have 2 shots of espresso that late in the evening. Who knew? Either way, I strongly suggest you give one a try, just make it a little earlier in the day.

Modern Christmas Music

As soon as the holiday season begins we are all bombarded with Christmas music everywhere we go. Super markets, department store, even laudry mats start playing they're favorite holiday songs before the first snow even falls. I for one, love Christmas music, so I'm not complaining. I know many people that find it annoying, but not me. I especially love a new twist on an old classic. The Trans Siberian Orchestra for example plays rocking versions of classic songs. You've most likely heard their famous rendition of Carol of the Bells (one of my personal favorites).

What you may have not seen is how some people have used songs such as these to make some amazing videos with their Christmas lights. I strongly suggest you check out some of these videos.