These are Two of My Favorite Things

Every year after the holidays, I make notes and lists about things I might do differently the following year (if I get my sh*t together sooner): ideas for gift giving, things I might try to make. You know, homemade gifts. Last year, I found a recipe for a cranberry liqueur that I thought looked festive, and much less labor intensive than limoncello. I don't think I saved the magazine, but I had the idea tucked away somewhere in my brain and a note in my journal.

As fate would have it, I went out with friends for a drink after school one day last week and the special "vodka-tini" du jour (du week? du season?) was cranberry. A big jar of cranberry red vodka with cranberries afloat reminded me that last year I thought I might make some this year. So I did my taste test (it only seemed right) and fell in love with the perfect balance of tart and sweet. I asked for the recipe and the next day, when I was out buying ingredients for green bean casserole (I know, I promised a post on that, and promise I will deliver), picked up a bag of fresh cranberries and made a batch.

So easy, so delicious (I had to taste test the first batch, no?), and so deserving of a new glass from which to drink it to make it even more festive, which I just happened to pick up from Crate & Barrel this weekend while I was in Boston. (What? I had a coupon!)

[cue The Sound of Music "Favorite Things"] When your job bites, when the wind stings, when I'm feeling sad...I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad!....Cheers!