Holiday Party Punch

My mom likes to throw these big, informal, everyone-come-on-over get-togethers, especially around Christmas. She’ll set out a bunch of food, while Dad gets the firepit going.

One perennial favorite of her holiday buffets is a delicious hot punch with spiced cranberry and citrus flavors. It tastes like the holidays and makes the house smell amazing. It’s particularly excellent for sipping around the fire on a chilly night.

The recipe makes enough for a crowd without requiring a lot of fuss, so you can focus on decking the halls and whatever else you need to do.

Mom makes it (by the gallon) and serves it in her crockpot to keep it hot all evening. She’ll put a ladle and a stack of festive mugs next to it, so guests can help themselves.

Although the title on her recipe card says “cranberry tea,” the tea part is actually optional. Most of the time, she leaves it out. Then you have an equally delicious hot cranberry punch.

Hot Cranberry Tea (or Punch) Recipe

1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1/4 cup loose black tea (omit for punch)
3 cups sugar
2 cups orange juice
1/2 gallon cranberry juice
1 cup lemon juice (or substitute a 12-ounce can of frozen lemonade and reduce sugar to 2 cups)
10 cups + 6 cups of hot water

Optional: orange and/or lemon slices and cinnamon sticks (for garnish).

Wrap the spices and tea in a piece of cheesecloth or place into a tea infuser.
Steep in 10 cups of hot water for 20 minutes.
Add sugar, juices, and 6 more cups of hot water.
If desired, garnish with orange or lemon slices and cinnamon sticks.
Serve hot.

Makes about 7 quarts of punch. (Invite a lot of people over.)

Cheers!

Thanksgiving picnic with family — Phillip, me, Dad, Mom on Thanksgiving Day a few years ago.

December 12, 2019May 23, 2023

Mesa’s Merry Main Street

Mesa’s annual holiday celebration, Merry Main Street, includes concerts, an arts and craft market, food trucks, visits from Santa, and – most surprisingly in an Arizona desert city – an outdoor ice skating rink.

O Christmas Market

While there are Merry Main Street activities throughout the downtown, the centerpiece of the celebration is the 40-foot-tall Christmas tree and market that takes over Macdonald on the north side of Main Street.

What you’ll find here…

Mesa’s official Christmas tree – this is where you can see Santa Friday and Saturday evenings.
Mesa Christmas Market – 30 local vendors selling handcrafted items, food and gifts in booths set up around the Christmas tree.
Concert stage with free performances on Friday and Saturday evenings.
“sELFie” Station photo backdrops. (Turns out, you can’t spell selfie without an “elf.”)
Extended store hours — Some downtown shops stay open late, so you can browse antique furniture or comic books while you’re in the neighborhood.

There are additional, ticketed holiday concerts and performances of The Nutcracker Ballet nearby at the Mesa Arts Center.

When Phoenix Freezes Over

Most of the time, you’ll only find an ice rink in Arizona inside a large, air-conditioned building. So, the temporary Winter Wonderland Ice Rink installed for the holidays in Mesa City Plaza is a downright novelty. It’s really fun to watch people skating around there, even if some of them are wearing shorts.

Speaking of Arizonans’ winter apparel (or lack thereof), Winter Wonderland just assumes you don’t own ice skates (and you probably don’t), so they automatically include skate rental in the ticket price.

Free Rides

You can ride the mile stretch of the Light Rail between Country Club and Mesa Drive free on December weekends from 5-10pm.

This weekend (December 13-14), there will also be special decorated “Polar Express” light rail trains with Santa, elves, cookies, and singing on board. Pajama-wearing is encouraged. No tickets are required.

Pioneer Park

The weekly Mesa Feastival Forest in Pioneer Park turns into Jack Frost’s Food Truck Forest on Friday and Saturday nights during the holidays. Check their Facebook page for updates on the food truck lineup.

Also in Pioneer Park…

The Mesa Farmers Market and Flea will continue to be held in the park on Saturday mornings – with a few extra festive touches like additional vendors and photos with Santa from 9-11am.
Kiddos can ride the trackless Main Street Express Train there for free during food truck or farmers’ market hours.

mesa mini train — Merry Main Street’s little train (at its old City Plaza location).

In past years, you could sometimes hear the choir singing outside the LDS Temple across the street. This year, however, the annual Christmas Lights display and concerts have been suspended due to major renovations of the buildings and grounds, which are scheduled to be completed in 2020.

The Space Between

Like a microcosm of the City of Mesa itself, Merry Main Street is a bit sprawling (although it’s gotten less spread out than in previous years).

Activities are just close enough together that you’re not sure you want to wait for even a free light rail ride, but far enough apart that you have time to regret it as you traverse the vast, vacant expanses of sidewalk between things.

How to Merry Main Street

The the best approach might be to enjoy different parts of Merry Main Street throughout the season, instead of thinking of it as all one event. Stop by the food truck forest before heading over to a performance at the MAC. Have an ice skating night. Do some holiday shopping and take some photos in front of the tree (or in the selfie stations or with Santa).

Why not go multiple times? There’s no admission cost, parking is free, and each time the weather will probably be so nice you could wear shorts to go ice skating.

July 6, 2019July 5, 2019

Independence Days

Sit-in Closet

I’m hanging out with Quijote, who has decided the safest place to be is in our closet.

Initially, he played it cool – like the noise of the 4th of July fireworks wasn’t going to bother him. Then, all of the sudden, it was too much, and he began scampering wild-eyed around the house in a panicked search for the best hiding spot.

Even before Quijote, we didn’t always go to see fireworks. In the middle of the sweltering Arizona summer, it’s a good day for brunch with friends or swimming or barbecue or staying inside and crafting.

San Diego

Of course, we were way out of the house when we had our first Independence Day with Quijote on our San Diego trip a year ago.

It was a similar story, where he started out unfazed, and then suddenly switched to terrified.

We were staying at the Hawthorne Historic Inn, which has a deck that’s great for watching fireworks. Phillip found us a couple chairs and brought up some wine and snacks. It was so sweet and lovely until we realized Quijote was not going to be able to deal with noise after all.

We gathered up our stuff and climbed back down the wooden steps.

Phillip and I propped up pillows and sat drinking wine and watching tv in bed, while Q burrowed under the comforter.

Indiana

On the other hand, Phillip and I began one 4th of July on a red eye to Indianapolis.

We arrived, caught a few hours sleep, stopped by a square where there was a music festival we were too early for, and then drove to Madison County to see my extended family.

We ended the day outside a different hotel, watching fireworks and fireflies and mysterious orange lights that were floating across the sky.

When you’re with ones you love, you can have a good time whether you’re standing in an open field or hunkering down in a closet.

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December 17, 2018

15 Holiday Ornaments You Can Make Today!

A Christmas ornament can trim a tree or grace a garland, be a gift topper or the gift itself.

Here are 15 DIY ornaments, most of which you probably already have the materials for and/or are simple enough to make that even kids can join in!

1. Cardboard Tube Ornaments

These super colorful ornaments are made from painted paper towel tubes strung with ribbon and beads! / via Vesna Taneva-Miller

2. DIY Gold Leaf Ornaments

Transform clear glass ornaments by swirling colorful paint inside and gluing gold leaf outside. / via The Sweetest Occasion

3. Quick Clay Owls

These cute ornaments start from a circle of clay that you fold to create the shape of an owl. If you don’t happen to have modeling clay around, Paging Fun Mums has a recipe for making your own with cornstarch, baking soda, and water. / via Paging Fun Mums + 4 Crazy Kings

4. Simple Felt Tree Ornament Tutorial

Basically, you just use Handmade Charlotte’s PDF template to cut out felt circles of increasing sizes, stitch up the sides, and stack them up. I can’t decide which I like more: the trees with different colored layers or the ones that are just a single color! / via Handmade Charlotte

5. Upcycled Fabric Ornaments

Braid scraps of fabric to give old ornaments a new look! / via Simply Notable

6. Jar Ring Map

An old map and the ring part of a mason jar lid make a keepsake for remembering a trip or celebrating your hometown. / via Happy Mothering

7. Modern Leather Ornament

Delia (of Delia Creates) took leftover pieces from a leatherwork project to create this lovely minimal ornament. She mentions that you can substitute grosgrain ribbon for the two smaller (contrasting) strips. / via Delia Creates

8. Kusudama Paper Ornament

While Japanese kusudama balls were traditionally made from real flowers, you can make a paper version by folding origami petals and gluing them together. Robin (a.k.a. Robayre at Inspiration Junkie) makes a new one every year before Christmas. She has made them from old catalog pages, origami paper, and paper she’s decorated with herself with gelatin prints. / via Inspiration Junkie + Full tutorial at PlanetJune.

9. Pet Photo Ornament

Make a mini-plush pet ornament with a favorite photo and some iron-on transfer paper. You can use a complementary cotton fabric for the back — check your stash for those random extra pieces! / via Live Free Creative Co

10. Woven Cookie Stars

Super easy project using thread wrapped around cardboard! To mix it up, use variegated string or multiple colors. / via Aesthetic Outburst + Full tutorial at The Crafty Crow.

11. Watercolor Ornament

You get this watercolor look by dipping the ornament in nail polish and warm water. / via Unexpected Elegance

12. Wood Burned Christmas Ornaments

Use a wood burning kit to decorate thin wood slices cut from a tree branch. / via Simply Notable

13. Cinnamon Stick Himmeli

Gwen McKenzie (for Jojotastic) created this project based on the geometric shape of traditional Finnish himmeli ornaments, except using 12 cinnamon sticks instead of straw. I bet it makes your house smell like the holidays! / via Jojotastic

14. Hoop Ornaments

This is actually a series of 8 different ornaments designed for various people on your gift list — including grandmas, Goths, teachers, and teammates! They make use of small (3-4″) embroidery hoops and require little to no sewing. / via Crafts Unleashed

15. Resolution Time Capsule

I shared this one in the Violet color stories post, but such a fun idea is worth repeating! You fill a glass bulb with confetti and rolled up pieces of paper with your New Year’s resolutions on them and then, a year later, you can see how things turned out! / via The Crafted Life

Each image links to its source.

November 21, 2018November 21, 2018

11 Cranberry Recipes for the Holidays and Beyond

It’s the time of year for all things cranberry!

The fruit’s tart taste is an excellent balance to the creamy and sweet foods the holidays are heavy on. And they just happen to be that deep red color that goes perfectly both with Thanksgiving’s fall palette and the merry shades of Christmas.

Whether they’re in a centerpiece or a serving dish, cranberries instantly make a table look more festive.

Here’s a scrumptious compilation of cranberry recipes, so you can get cooking!

Mama Stamberg’s Cranberry Relish

Every year NPR Correspondent Susan Stamberg shares her mother-in-law’s recipe, a surprisingly controversial twist on the classic side dish. The relish was originally meant for Thanksgiving, but she also recommends it putting it over latkes for Hanukkah. / via The Salt

Cranberry Balsamic Roasted Chicken

This is a gluten-free, paleo, single-dish entree with a one-minute video showing the simple prep. I imagine you could use the same recipe for turkey breasts, as long as you adjust for a longer cook time. / via Cotter Crunch

Sugared Cranberries

Candying cranberries adds sweetness and gives them a little extra sparkle. You can then use them to top desserts or garnish drinks. / via Fork and Flower

Sweet Potato Bake with Fresh Cranberries and Apples

Memories of a friend’s Thanksgiving table – and of the sweet potato and apple dish that was served on it – inspired Marlee of I Just Make Sandwiches to create her own version for family members trying to eat healthy. / via I Just Make Sandwiches

Cranberry Hazelnut Pear Tart

A unique addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table, I’m pretty sure that both #TeamCake and #TeamPie will be fans of this tart. / via The Everyday Mess

Cranberry Pistachio Baked Brie

Ali at Gimme Some Oven has a great tip: choose a “go-to appetizer” for the entire holiday season that you can whip up every time you need something to take to a party or serve to guests. This 7-ingredient, 20-minute recipe for a melty wheel of brie topped with cranberry sauce, pistachios, and orange zest looks so pretty and festive! I’d be curious to know how well it travels, but it certainly sounds delicious! / via Gimme Some Oven (h/t Jenny Collier’s Friday Favorites)

Holiday Cocktail

Vodka, rosemary syrup, tangerine and cranberry juice make up this Warhol-inspired cocktail, which you can garnish with a sprig of rosemary and sugared cranberries (use the recipe above or the less-sugar version in this post.) / via Fork Knife Swoon

Chiltepin-Cranberry Relish

Another unusual take on cranberry relish uses wild chiltepin peppers to spice it up and either honey or agave syrup for sweetness. Try it with peppers that grow where you are! / via Savor the Southwest

Mixed Nuts & Cranberry Magic Bars

Great idea for a holiday season snack! / via The Kitchen Is My Playground

Fig and Cranberry Compote

This recipe calls for fresh or frozen cranberries, dried figs, cardamom, and honey. You can make it up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate, and then just bring it back up to room temperature before serving.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Greek yogurt standing in for mayonnaise is the secret to lightening up this chicken salad. While it isn’t just for the holiday season, I could also see it inspiring a new take on Thanksgiving leftovers! / via Damn Delicious

Photos via their respective sites.