Up On The Housetop...Sip Sip Sip

HO HO HO who wouldn't know how to keep your spirits merry and bright with these marvelous medleys! Fireside sipping and marshmallow dipping can soothe your holiday stresses and bring you some much-needed comfort and joy.

It's The Most Wonderful Wine Of The Year

It's the Most Wonderful Wine of the Year

1 bottle red wine

1 orange, sliced into rounds, plus more for garnish

6 whole cloves

3 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish

3 star anise

¼ cup honey

½ cup brandy

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently over low heat for 10 minutes. Serve warm, and garnish with more citrus slices and cinnamon sticks.

Frothy The Snowman

Frothy the Snowman

1 candy cane, finely crushed

1-1/2 ounces vanilla vodka

1 ounce peppermint schnapps

1 ounce half-and-half cream

1 small candy cane

Wet the rim of a chilled martini glass with water, and dip into the crushed candy cane. Shake the vodka, schnapps, and half-and-half in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until the outside of the shaker has frosted. Strain into the peppermint-rimmed martini glass and garnish with candy cane to serve.

Grandma Got Run Over By A Marshmallow

Grandma Got Run Over By A Marshmallow

4 1-ounce envelopes hot cocoa mix, divided

3 cups milk

1 cup vanilla vodka

6 cups ice

¼ cup mini marshmallows, for garnish

Dip the rims of 4 martini glasses into water and rim with 1 envelope of hot cocoa mix. In a blender, combine 3 packets of the hot cocoa mix, milk, vodka and ice. Blend until smooth. Garnish with the marshmallows and remaining cocoa mixture. Serves 4.

A Hazy Shade Of Winter

A Hazy Shade of Winter

2 ounces brandy

1 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon powdered sugar

3 ice cubes

Cracked ice

Freshly grated nutmeg and cinnamon stick for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, combine the brandy, milk, and sugar with 3 ice cubes and shake until frothy, about one minute. Strain into a old-fashioned glass with cracked ice. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve with a cinnamon stick.