Before I get to my planned diary, I'd like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of Elizabeth Edwards. Holding she, her family, friends, and all those who loved her in my thoughts tonite.
Below the fold for the diary proper...
It's December, that time of year when all sorts of traditional favorites make appearances. So for the next several weeks, I thought I'd cover Seasonal Favorites. My plan is...
This week: Food and Drink
Next week: Music
And after that: Activities
So without further ado, let us consider those foods and beverages that fill our December holiday seasons..
Perhaps it's cheese: those special Stiltons, aged hard varietals, or delectable fondue staples.
Or could it be candies: the homemade chocolate fudge, minty candy canes, or other special sweets.
Cookies, you say? From sugar-snow covered Mexican wedding cakes to green and red spritz wreaths, to lovingly decorated sugar cookies in the cookie-cutter shapes you've been using since your childhood.
Lest we forget drinks, consider the mulled cider or red wine, mugs of steaming spiced tea or marshmallow-laden hot cocoa, or...
MY personal seasonal favorite, eggnog. Mr. Brillig and I have been known to call each other from the grocery store in the days leading up to Thanksgiving to share one short sentence: It's here. Shall I get some? No identification is necessary, we know our seasonal drug of choice, and its name is Hood Golden Eggnog. Oh we've flirted with other brands, falling for their shiny packaging and their claims of "NO HFCS!" and "Organic", but we always return to our first love.
I am long past the age at which I can drink it straight; I mix it anywhere from half to thirds with milk in order to get the consistency I like. I shun milk AND sugar during this season and use eggnog to replace both in my coffee.
Last year as Eggnog Season wound down, we decided to experiment and froze a carton. We knew it either would work, or fail miserably. I am pleased to report to any Eggnog Aficionados out there that you can in fact freeze it and prolong the joy. I envision a delicious coffee in late February, bringing back memories of this season of Light and Love.
So, while I sip my glass of diluted eggnog and a shot of rum, what are your Seasonal food and drink favorites?
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From Julian Domain:
From this diary, a top comment from diary author salsabob as to why we are not as powerless as we have been led to believe.
From Rick Aucoin:
pelagicray reminds us that yes, it sucks but it’s the boat we have.
From sardonyx:
Pilkington warns against blurring the line between Social Security funds and general government funds.
From Yours Truly, brillig:
From crystal eyes' bathtub reference to the closing game change, this thread was wonderful. Shoutout to diarist Jed Lewison for this line in the story itself: Sure, it would be wildly irresponsible to risk the entire Social Security system. But these are Republicans we're talking about. They live for this kind of stuff.
This one by blue jersey mom says what I feel.
Top Mojo tonite is run by me using the mojo-to-excel magic of cskendrick and sardonyx:
Top 30 Comments excluding tip jars, first comments and stuff:
1) As a staunch Obama supporter, I agree. by political junquie — 254
2) He brought me here, now driving me away. by Ed G — 222
3) Bipartisanship Achieved by JekyllnHyde — 199
4) By gawd, I'd vote for him in a heartbeat! by AntKat — 181
5) Why do you hate America? by Uberbah — 166
6) T&R'd ... this is exactly right. by jmaier — 155
7) I blame Obama by Dallasdoc — 133
8) Bernie Sanders for President by Dallasdoc — 121
9) I will too! by elwior — 119
10) Didn't you love Obama's false choice? by Dallasdoc — 118
11) Another Way to Look at This Deal, Dio by JekyllnHyde — 117
12) I'm sorely disappointed in Obama by blue armadillo — 115
13) RIP Elizabeth Edwards by JekyllnHyde — 115
14) Obama wasn't rolled. He chose cat food comm. by FishOutofWater — 113
15) just call it DKos5 by Lynwaz — 110
16) He has made his choice. by TomP — 105
17) Whether weak, incometetent, malevolent, by TomP — 103
18) Agreed, but... by Diogenes2008 — 102
19) Obama is Republican Lite by FishOutofWater — 102
20) I See it as a Betrayal by CTPatriot — 95
21) She was the first person i ever interviewed by wade norris — 93
22) I've seen this movie many times before ... by Bronxist — 92
23) We have lost by gulfgal98 — 90
24) May her soul rest in peace and her family stay by makesense — 89
25) Bernie Sanders said it last night: by MediaFreeze — 85
26) So he's Keifer Sutherland on "24" now? Too Funny. by Robert Davies — 84
27) I am new here, I am poor and I am disillusioned.. by RainbowGirl — 83
28) The middle class is Drowning and what does Obama by Mr SeeMore — 82
29) And what will he be rolled on next? by MadRuth — 80
30) On the subject of torturers getting a pass, by elwior — 80
Top 30 Comments with no exclusions, aka the Tip Jar & Pooties list :-):
1) Tip Jar by Verbalpaintball — 495
2) Tip Jar by psychodrew — 356
3) Bonus video: by One Pissed Off Liberal — 333
4) Tip Jar by ProfJonathan — 295
5) Tip Jar by LaFeminista — 276
6) Tip Jar by TomP — 260
7) As a staunch Obama supporter, I agree. by political junquie — 254
8) Tip Jar by slinkerwink — 249
9) Tip Jar by Socratic Method — 245
10) Tip Jar by clammyc — 223
11) He brought me here, now driving me away. by Ed G — 222
12) Tip Jar by RepTimRyan — 205
13) Bipartisanship Achieved by JekyllnHyde — 199
14) Tip Jar by Jbearlaw — 191
15) Tip Jar by icebergslim — 176
16) Tip Jar by KelleyRN2 — 170
17) Why do you hate America? by Uberbah — 166
18) Tip Jar by ACLU — 161
19) T&R'd ... this is exactly right. by jmaier — 156
20) Tip Jar by ericlewis0 — 150
21) Tip Jar by Clarknt67 — 138
22) I blame Obama by Dallasdoc — 137
23) Bernie Sanders for President by Dallasdoc — 121
24) I will too! by elwior — 119
25) Another Way to Look at This Deal, Dio by JekyllnHyde — 117
26) I'm sorely disappointed in Obama by blue armadillo — 115
27) RIP Elizabeth Edwards by JekyllnHyde — 115
28) Obama wasn't rolled. He chose cat food comm. by FishOutofWater — 113
29) just call it DKos5 by Lynwaz — 110
30) He has made his choice. by TomP — 105