Welcome to
The Morning Star Update!
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Finally, I feel like I am all prepared for the holiday season. I have finished my shopping, mailed my packages, written my cards, and planned my Christmas menu. Ahh! Now it is time to start enjoying the time of year. I hope that you have time to relax and enjoy the holidays as well!
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 Tips for Planning a Special Holiday Meal
Preparing a special holiday meal for family and friends helps to make the occasion memorable and is a lovely gift to share. Here are a few things that we do to make our holidays special ...
* Make the table pretty by using fresh flowers, candles, and nice dishes.
* Use place cards to assign seating giving thought to how to make everyone feel included in conversation.
* Consider dietary restrictions, so that everyone has at least one dish that he or she can eat at each course, including dessert.
* Offer variety. Have something hot and something cold, something spicy and something not so spicy, something light and something rich.
* Have at least a few dishes that can be prepped ahead of time.
* Make a schedule of what needs to be made when, and what needs to go on the table when, in order to stay organized.
* Don't rush the meal.
* Consider having a theme for the meal and carry that theme throughout the food, wine, music and decorations.
* When serving cocktails, offer a mocktail as well for those who don't drink alcohol.
* If serving wines, put thought into choosing ones that go with the foods served.
* Express appreciation.
Shown above, Regaleali Bianco - a crisp, light, blended wine from Sicily - with smoked salmon canapes. (Read my article, Getting to Know Italian Wines.) Shown below, Vendela roses with alstroemeria.
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A variation on traditional Anisette Christmas Cookies
Makes about 36 cookies
3/4 c. + 2 T. all-purpose flour
2 T. Dutch process cocoa
3/4 t. ground aniseed
1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/2 c. vegetable shortening
1/2 c. confectioner's sugar
1 lg. egg
1 t. orange extract
Anisette Glaze
nonpareils to decorate (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, aniseed, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In large bowl, beat shortening and confectioner's sugar until well combined. Beat in egg and then orange extract. Beat in dry ingredients.
4. Scoop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls and place 2" apart on baking sheets.
5. Bake for about 14 to 16 minutes or lightly browned.
6. Place baking sheets on a wire rack when you remove them from the oven. Working one cookie at a time, immediately glaze cookies with Anisette Glaze and then sprinkle cookies with nonpareils.
Tip: If using nonpareils, it is helpful to have two people - one to glaze cookies and one to decorate.
Anisette Glaze
A citrusy, licorice-flavored glaze.
1 1/3 to 1 1/2 c. confectioner's sugar
1 t. orange extract
1/4 t. anise extract
2 T. boiling water
Place 1 1/3 c. of confectioner's sugar in a small bowl. Stir in extracts. Gradually stir in just enough boiling water to make a thick pourable glaze. Stir in more sugar if needed and keep stirring until perfectly smooth.
Working one piece of baked goods at a time, spoon glaze over warm baked goods. If decorating with nonpareils, immediately sprinkle them over glaze. Repeat with remaining baked goods.
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As always, thank you for reading The Morning Star Update! I hope that you have a wonderful December!
Sincerely,
Laurie Pieper
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Little Apple Manhattan Cocktails
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We served this apple variation on the classic cocktail on Thanksgiving and it was such a hit that we'll be serving it again around Christmas. 2 oz. Four Roses Bourbon 3/4 oz. Travis Hasse's Apple Pie Liqueur1/2 oz. Vya Sweet Vermouth Dash Angostura Bitters Apple Slices Maraschino Cherry Place ice in an old-fashioned glass. Add bourbon, liqueurs, and bitters. Stir well. Garnish with apple slices and cherry. Cheers!
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Bourbon & Baker
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Downtown redevelopment is bringing a lot of exciting changes to the neighborhood. Part bar, part bakery part restaurant, Bourbon & Baker recently opened on Poyntz Avenue, giving our guests yet another fun choice for where to go out when they are here. Specializing in Southern food - served as small plates or family style - bourbons and baked goods, this restaurant/bar/bakery is truly unique.
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Dates to Remember
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December 13th, 14th, 20th: Horse-drawn Carriage Rides, Aggieville
December 17th: Holiday Lights Trolley Tour
December 31st: New Year's Eve Ball Drop in Aggieville
December 31st: Mad Hatter's Ball, MAC
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Social Media
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Ways to follow us ... * The Morning Star Update ( email us to suscribe to the newsletter) * A Taste of Morning (click on follow link on blog) * Morning Star Weddings (click on follow link on blog) * Facebook (click like on FB) * Twitter: @MorningStarMHK
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