It's time for my library Christmas party--I'm sorry--HOLIDAY Party. Let's be careful about that.
That means it's time for Dickens Punch. Actually, it's not a punch at all. It's technically a "Cup" because it has carbonated water in it. Punch is never carbonated, apparently.
Anywho, here's what Charles Dickens wrote:
"Claret Cup
Put into large jug six lumps of sugar. Add the thin lemon rind as above, and steep in a little boiling water, as in the previous recipies. Add a wine glass of brandy, then a bottle of claret, then half a bottle of soda water. Then stirr well, and grate in nutmeg. Then add ice as above. If borage be used for this cup, half the Cider Cup quantity will be found sufficient."
This recipie is on a sheet with three others--Cider Cup, Champagne Cup and Moselle Cup--but I'm not typing them all in. They're all basically some sugar and lemon peel steeped in boiling water plus cider/wine/champagne and some brandy.
Honestly, it wasn't so great last year so I consulted the Joy of Cooking and I'm going to use way more sugar and lemon juice. Mine will be thus:
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Heat the sugar and water to make a simple syrup, remove from heat and add the lemon.
To this add two 1.5 liter bottles of cheap red wine, half a bottle of brandy and 2 liters of club soda. Top with nutmeg and serve.
Yow.
That means it's time for Dickens Punch. Actually, it's not a punch at all. It's technically a "Cup" because it has carbonated water in it. Punch is never carbonated, apparently.
Anywho, here's what Charles Dickens wrote:
"Claret Cup
Put into large jug six lumps of sugar. Add the thin lemon rind as above, and steep in a little boiling water, as in the previous recipies. Add a wine glass of brandy, then a bottle of claret, then half a bottle of soda water. Then stirr well, and grate in nutmeg. Then add ice as above. If borage be used for this cup, half the Cider Cup quantity will be found sufficient."
This recipie is on a sheet with three others--Cider Cup, Champagne Cup and Moselle Cup--but I'm not typing them all in. They're all basically some sugar and lemon peel steeped in boiling water plus cider/wine/champagne and some brandy.
Honestly, it wasn't so great last year so I consulted the Joy of Cooking and I'm going to use way more sugar and lemon juice. Mine will be thus:
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Heat the sugar and water to make a simple syrup, remove from heat and add the lemon.
To this add two 1.5 liter bottles of cheap red wine, half a bottle of brandy and 2 liters of club soda. Top with nutmeg and serve.
Yow.
So I think you should buy the shirt, then take an arty photo of yourself in it and give copies of THAT out as your Christmas presents! That way, instead of blowing your X-mas budget on one item for yourself, you're really investing in a prop for the gifts for other people!
--l*P