The original champagne cocktail is mentioned in Casablanca, in Mark Twain’s Innocents Abroad, and has been turned into one million variations. This is the classic one. The OG.

It’s pretty simple - and it works - like most classic cocktails. It’s a little sweet (sugar) a little bitter (bitters) a little warm (cognac) and deliciously bubbly. The lemon on top is the perfect topper.

I found that if you swirl the cognac with the sugar before you add the champagne, it’s a better drink immediately. But it is not as impressive when you serve it. If you don’t swirl, the sugar cube bubbles with the champagne and it looks so pretty. But it takes a few minutes to get to the delicious drink you’re craving. Either way, you should totally make these for New Year’s Eve.

The Original Champagne Cocktail

1 sugar cube

2 -3 dashes bitters

1/2 ounce cognac

Champagne

lemon

Drop a sugar cube in the bottom of a champagne flute. Drip the bitters onto the sugar cube and let it sit so it soaks up. Pour in the cognac and swirl a little (optional - it’s better for flavor, but not the looks). Then top with champagne, pouring slowly to not get too much foam.

Cut a lemon with a wedge knife or a vegetable peeler and squeeze it over the top so there’s just a hint of lemon oil. Serve immediately!

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This time of year we are making so many cookies it’s unreal. Lars made a batch last night for his scout troop today- I made a batch today for friends - last week I think we went through 12 pounds of butter just making and frosting cookies.

These are ones you will want in heavy rotation. They are in heavy rotation at our house - this is literally what Lars made last night, they are a huge favorite in our house. Jud told me today that he waits all year for these! Who knew?

Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 3/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

8 candy canes

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crush up the candy canes until they are very small pieces.

STEP 2

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs, vanilla and cocoa powder and blend until light and fluffy.

STEP 3

Blend in flour and baking powder until the dough comes together. Roll a scoop of dough and dip the top into the crushed candy canes. Place candy side up on a lined baking sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes. The cookies will seem cake-y. It’s ok. Let them rest on the pan for about five minutes before moving to a rack to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container for up to one week!

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Nothing says holiday like a champagne cocktail. It’s the perfect cocktail for breakfast, brunch or dinner! Which means I’m pouring them all the time. Literally, all the time.

This one is a perfect combination of holiday flavors with the cranberry and the orange. And if you’re just making two, then you can buy a split of champagne or prosecco and not have any waste. It’s not like I’ve ever reached a point when I “wasted” champagne, but still…

cran-orange Mimosa

1 ounce cranberry juice

1/2 ounce orange liquer

champagne

twist of orange for a garnish

Pour all ingredients into a champagne flute and garnish.

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Christmas morning - or the two weeks before Christmas morning when the kids are home and you have literally nothing to do with them in the morning - deserve something delicious and festive for breakfast! We sure do love gingerbread at our house. Basically because it’s cake. Which means these taste like cake and who doesn’t love cake for breakfast?

Also, they sound super festive, so despite the fact that they are really easy - they give you the illusion of being a real Christmas elf. Even if you’re exhausted because the kids are home for way too many days before the holiday even starts!

Gingerbread Waffles

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup molasses

3 tablespoons melted butter

STEP 1

Combine all of the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl (or giant measuring cup) combine all of the wet ingredients.

STEP 2

Carefully blend all of the ingredients together and let them rest for 3-5 minutes. While they are resting, warm up the waffle maker.

STEP 3

Spray the waffle maker with cooking oil and fill the waffle maker about 1/2 full. Cook slightly longer than usual - mine went an extra two minutes - until crispy. The trick is to test the first one and see how much longer you need to let the rest of them cook. They will take extra time!

Serve hot with whipped cream and syrup.

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Espresso Martini

A little something for the parents on Christmas morning - or the week before?

🍸

2 ounces vodka

1.5 ounces espresso

.5 ounce coffee liquer

Pour all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake well. Strain into a martini glass and top with three coffee beans. Cin cin!

Is anything more decadent than Beef Bourguignon? Probably. But it still sounds super elegant and fancy. Basically we’re talking about slow cooked beef stew with red wine. By using a good quality of steak this traditionally long cooking French stew cooks in just 20 (-ish) minutes making it perfect weeknight comfort food. All you end up actually waiting to cook is the potatoes. Once they’re done - you’re basically there.

But, good news, it can also cook as long as you need. Kids at practice? It will be fine when they get home. PTA meeting? Make it first and everyone can eat when they’re ready.

Also, it’s nice enough that you can make it for company with a green salad on the side.

The trick for everything is to use GOOD RED WINE! Do not skimp. Buy the good stuff. Drink the good stuff. Serve it along side this stew and all of you will be tickled.

Quick Bourguignon

Serves 4

1 cup pearl onions

1 cup sliced carrots

1.5 lb sliced sirloin steak

2 cups chopped potatoes

1 ½ c red wine

4 cups beef stock

6 sprigs fresh thyme

salt & pepper

STEP 1

In a large dutch oven, brown meat, carrots and potatoes until browned on all edges and a little crispy.  Season with salt and pepper.

STEP 2

Pour red wine into the pan and boil for two minutes until reduced by half.

STEP 3

Pour stock in the pan and bring to a boil.

STEP 4

Add pearl onions and thyme.  Reduce heat, cover and cook until meat is cooked through – about 15 minutes.

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It’s an epic debate in every household - canned cranberries or fresh? Our house does both and we get made fun of by the fresh contingent that we love our jellied cranberries. Those of us that love the canned berries can’t believe you’d choose cranberries over a vintage, retro, delicious jello dish!

Making your own canned cranberries is maybe the best of both worlds. It’s jello. But it’s also homemade. You can add any flavors you prefer into this. I like the brightness of the lemon and the texture of the pineapple. Jello salad with no texture is just a giant jello jiggler.

Cranberry Jello Mold

4 cups 100% cranberry juice, divided

4 envelopes plain gelatin

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon lemon zest

8 ounces crushed pineapple

STEP 1

Pour one cup of cranberry juice in a bowl and sprinkle the top with the gelatin. Try to get all of it touching the liquid. Let it sit until the gelatin looks like it’s absorbed the liquid.

STEP 2

Bring the remaining juice to a simmer on the stove with the sugar. Pour the hot juice over the gelatin and whisk until combined. Stir in the pineapple and lemon zest.

STEP 3

Spray down a bundt pan, a jello mold, or a circular bowl with spray oil. Pour in the cranberry mixture and carefully transfer to the fridge. Let sit for 24 hours.

STEP 4

To unmold the jello, fill a large bowl or a small sink with hot water - just three to four inches deep with water. Dip the mold into the water to warm up the jello. Invert the jello onto a plate and serve!

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I have been making a type of chocolate cookies that my kids love. Last year I decided to amp things up and added candy canes to the mix. It was a hit. These cookies were such a success I’m making them again this year. The only secret I learned is that the don’t keep well. You need to eat them within one week - or freeze them. That shouldn’t be a problem if you’re in the right company!

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Makes 2 dozen

1 ¼ cup room temperature butter

2 cups sugar

1 tbs vanilla

2 eggs

¾ cup cocoa powder

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cream of tartar

¼ cup crushed candy canes

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a bowl of a stand mixer, blend butter and sugar until creamy.  

STEP 2

Add egg, vanilla and cocoa powder.  Slowly whisk and combine completely until the mixture is fluffy.  

STEP 3

In a separate bowl, blend flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar.  Add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture and stir to just combine. 

STEP 4

Add the candy canes!  Stir them in completely.  

STEP 5

Scoop cookie dough onto a baking sheet leaving at least 3 inches between each cookie.  Bake 8-10 minutes.  Let rest on the baking sheet 5 minutes (or so) before moving them to a cooling rack.

Serve immediately or keep in an airtight container for up to a week.  These freeze nicely too!

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Can you tell I’m feeling nostalgic for our own house? Soon we’ll have a great new house that will be amazing - especially at Christmas - but until then, I’m posting these darling photos from our old house and how cute we were.

Our original house was a 1940’s with a few “mid century” architectural details. I leaned into the vibe and hosted a little family cocktail party with champagne cocktails and a really delicious fondue. Even without a mid century home, you can still host a fun little cocktail party with mid century vibes.

RASPBERRY CHAMPAGNE

1 scoop raspberry sorbet (about one ounce)

1 tablespoon chambord

champagne

raspberries

In each glass, pop a scoop of sorbet and a tablespoon of chambord. Top with champagne until full. Drop a raspberry in each glass.

THE BEST FONDUE

The trick with this fondue is that you need to keep it warm. It will set up if you let it get cold as we’re basically just dealing with warmed cheese.

8 ounces shredded gruyere cheese

8 ounces shredded swiss cheese

2 tablespoons flour

1 cup white wine

1 teaspoon brandy

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 cloves garlic

Toss shredded cheeses with flour until totally combined.

In a large pot, bring wine, lemon juice, and whole garlic cloves to a low boil. Slowly add the cheese, whisking the entire time. Continue whisking until smooth. Stir in brandy and transfer to a fondue pot. Serve with sliced bread, cooked red potatoes, and honey crisp apple slices.

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Usually I would post a boozy punch, but there have been loads of reasons why we need a punch with no booze recently. Mostly because I have children who feel the need to participate in every party. It would be so much easier if they didn’t think I was cool. We’ll get there soon - my 10 year old is already starting to be embarrassed by me.

If you aren’t looking for a booze free situation, then add 1 cup of whiskey and 1 teaspoon of bitters. Cheers!

GINGER CHRISTMAS PUNCH

4 cups orange juice

1 cup pomegranate juice

1 bottle DRY Sparkling Ginger

Mix everything together in a punch bowl or a pitcher and serve iced.

Every year my mom hosts a little brunch/ coffee hour for her friends at Christmas. For years I rolled my eyes every time she tried to get my friends to come to the party too. I mean really? My cool friends - or worst, people I wasn’t 100% sure were friends - to come rub shoulders with some of her weird old birds?

But then last year my friends were there - my actual friends - and they liked some of her weird old birds. We had coffee and cookies and chatted and it was actually fun. So I decided you should all host one too. Brew some coffee. Invite every weird friend you know and celebrate the season together. It’s totally worth it.

Here’s how to pull it off:

1. Send your friends an email or write a note at least one week ahead of when you think you’re planning the party.

2. Aim for a weekday at 10am if most of your friends are at home during the day. A Sunday at noon is usually best if they are at work during the day.

3. Buy or make at least three kinds of cookies. A small variety in large quantity makes the biggest impact.

4. Brew a pot of coffee, a big one. And bring out the good china mugs to serve it in.

5. Prep everything the night before - like platters for the cookies, mugs, napkins - then just set out the cookies in the morning!

PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Yes, these take a bit of time but it is so worth it. Homemade marshmallows are nothing like store bought. These are so much better. And nothing is better in hot cocoa than a peppermint marshmallow. Unless of course that’s peppermint schnapps. And the marshmallow on top.

4 packets unflavored gelatin

3 cups sugar

1 ½ cups water

1 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

½ cup crushed candy canes or other peppermint candies

Powdered sugar

Butter the bottom of an 11x17 sheet pan and top with parchment paper.  Butter parchment paper and dust with powdered sugar.  

In a stand mixer, combine gelatin and ¾ cup water.  Let stand.

In a medium sauce pan with a heavy bottom combine sugar, remaining water, corn syrup, and salt. Slowly bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue to cook until mixture reaches the soft ball stage on a candy thermometer (about 240 degrees).  

Turn on stand mixer and pour in sugar mixture in a slow steady stream.  Leave mixer running on high speed for 15 minutes until mixture is light and fluffy.

Blend extract into marshmallow mixture and pour marshmallow onto prepared pan and smooth out to the corners. Evenly coat the top with crushed candy canes and dust with powdered sugar.  Let sit uncovered for 12 hours.  

Turn out onto a cutting board dusted with powdered sugar.  Butter and dust a knife with powdered sugar.  Cut marshmallows into 2” squares and dip each cut edge into powdered sugar.  Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.  

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