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13 December 2008

Christmas Tour of Homes '08

We begin this tour with two recipes that contain chocolate. You gonna wanna get a pen...

Ya may find my photography throughout to be a bit lack-luster [or lustre if you wish you were British, like me] but this recipe is anything but. It is totally with-lustre... have-lustre. Whichever.

Peppermint-Mocha Coffee
6 C freshly brewed coffee
4 squares Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolate
1 1/2 C hot milk
1 tsp peppermint extract
8 peppermint sticks (the soft, melt in your mouth kind)
RediWhip

POUR coffee into large saucepan. Add chocolate; cook on low 5 minutes or until chocolate is melted, stirring occasionally.
ADD milk and extract; stir until well blended. Garnish with RediWhip and a peppermint stick, and maybe some crushed peppermint nestled into your RediWhip waves. The recipe doesn't call for that tidbit, but you want it.

This other recipe I haven't yet tried myself. I will though, because I've had a hankering for this sort of thing for some time now.

So here it is - Put the 'HOT' in your COCOA
Melt a square or two of bittersweet chocolate in a mug of hot milk. Mix in a dash each of ancho and chipotle chile powders and cinnamon, then finish with a splash of vanilla extract (and don't forget the whipped cream).

Now, I don't know about you, but to me, that spells FASCINATING and DELECTABLE.

Now for the tour of my home - comprised mostly of pictures and words.

A few favorite ornaments:
1) The Tree - silky & beaded on the front, velvet on the back. I'm fairly certain my mansion in Heaven will be completely constructed out of velvet.
2) The Mirrored Angel and also a peek at The Red Garland That Warms & Charms
And now, please allow me to introduce you to my favorite penguins...
Joyce & Herschel.
They enjoy spending their days keeping an eye on the coffee pot and talking smack to each other...
(overheard) Herschel, do not get fresh with me...

You see dis slap? [raises eyebrows and widens gaze]
You gon' walk over, but you gon' limp back.
[She's very sassy. Poor Herschel.]

I also have some reindeer, but I prefer to call them reindiers [pronounced: dee-airs].
Now, the tree... Ta Daaaaaa! This is the part where my photography fails me. It's alot prettier in person. I swur (swear) it.
Thank you for coming! Before you go, you must watch this because I am bossy you CANNOT have a "Mady Chrithmahsth" without it! [I already posted this about 2 weeks ago (maybe you noticed?), but I never tire of it... and so, again. More Dave Barnes. You're welcome.]


For more of this kind of Tour-y thing, get yerself to BooMama's House and foller some o' them links down yonder. You'll probably enjoy it. It's always fun looking in other people's houses.

And shopping carts.

But that's a whole 'nother post entire.

Mady Christhmahsth and Happy New Jear's!

14 people love me:

Sara@iSass said...

I love the sassy penguins.How did they get their names? They totally fit them! Thanks for sharing with us and thanks for more Dave...do you know him IRL? He cranks me UP!

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

You have a beautiful home! Are those cranberry and popcorn garlands on your tree? I love the way it looks. The sassy penguins and reindeer are cute too.
Thanks for having me over...
Happy holidays!

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

Oh, I also meant to comment on how much I liked your blogs title, The Sky is Only Dark Between the Stars.

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas!
Your penguins are a hoot!
I think your tree is sweet too. Try taking the photo with the flash turned off if you can (if it has lights).
Come on over and visit my slideshow.

Jessica Turner said...

cute penguins

Unknown said...

Love the penguins! And is the tree behind your front door? How do you get in the house? Maybe if you invited us over some time I would have a better frame of reference? (hint, hint) Love ya', girl!

Jackie said...

Look at all of the pure cuteness. Your decor reflects your personality, I think, or at least how I imagine it to be, and I love it!

Rachel said...

LOVE the penguins!! Too cute! :)

Nicole - Life in Progress said...

I have one of those penguins!! (Or at least mine is very, very similar). My husband put it in my stocking last year, and I just love it!

Thanks for the tour - everything looks beautiful.

Donna @ Way More Homemade said...

Thanks for sharing... You have a loverly tree and Joyce & Herschel are just too funny for words.

:)

Heather said...

After seeing your penguins, I am convinced that I, too, need a set of penguins to talk smack. Merry Christmas!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

I cannot believe I just spent six minutes watching that guy! anyway, loved your penguins and reindiers. Thanks for sharing.

Keetha Broyles said...

I've never seen any penguins nor reindiers anything like yours!!!! They are so cool.

Merry Christmas and thanks for inviting me in!!!

bren j. said...

Your peppermint mocha sounds lovely and your penguins (photographed with much lustre) have intrigued the Husband. He wants to know where you got them.