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Happy Holidays! Recipes to Share…

24 Dec 2014 By: Diane Gottsman

Wishing you Happy Holidays as you settle into your Christmas Eve, enjoy these festive holiday treats, courtesy of Celebrate Magazine.

Hot Mulled Cider

George Hirsch's Mulled Cider via Celebrate Magazine

George Hirsch’s Mulled Cider via Celebrate Magazine

Ingredients

  1. 20 cloves
  2. 1 navel orange
  3. 2 quarts apple cider
  4. 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  5. 8 cinnamon sticks
  6. 1/2 cup dark rum
  7. 1/2 cup vodka
  8. Garnish: cinnamon sticks

Instructions

  1. Pierce the orange skin with cloves, arranging them in desired pattern; set aside.
  2. In a large saucepan, combine cider, brown sugar, and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
  3. Stir in rum and vodka. Place clove-studded orange in cider. Let orange soak in hot cider for no longer than 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks and orange, reserving cinnamon sticks for garnish, if desired. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Homemade Peppermint Patties (featured on Celebrate Magazine’s 25 Days of Christmas Cookies)

Homemade Peppermint Patties via Celebrate Magazine

Homemade Peppermint Patties via Celebrate Magazine

Ingredients
  1. 2⁄3 cup whole milk
  2. 3⁄4 cup unsalted butter
  3. 2 cups sugar
  4. 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
  5. 3 (4-ounce) bars white chocolate, chopped
  6. 1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow crème
  7. 11⁄4 cups finely chopped soft peppermints, divided
  8. 3 (4-ounce) bars bittersweet chocolate, melted
Instructions
  1. Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, letting foil extend over edges of pan. Set aside.
  2. In a medium saucepan, bring milk, butter, sugar, and salt to a boil over high heat, whisking often. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reads 234°. Remove from heat; stir in white chocolate, marshmallow crème, and 1 cup peppermint. Spread into prepared pan. Freeze 2 hours.
  3. Lifting edges of foil, remove mixture from pan. Using a 21⁄2-inch round cutter, cut into rounds. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using two forks, dip rounds in melted bittersweet chocolate, coating completely. Place on prepared pan. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1⁄4 cup peppermint. Let stand 1 hour before serving. Cover, and refrigerate up to 1 week.

Happy Holidays,

Signature

Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.