Holiday Mocktails

Years ago, I started a Christmas village.  Every year, I would buy unpainted buildings at the craft store and spend evenings painting them and applying “snow”.  I even completely “geeked out” and took a class where I learned how to use styrofoam to form a base for the village complete with sidewalks, lakes and mountains; me and ten other retirees with too much time on our hands.  It was better than bingo, or so I heard.

I set up my own Santa’s workshop in the basement where I could leave it set up till Christmas and then bring the pieces upstairs and arrange them under the tree. I cut, carved, and dug at that styrofoam till I was covered in enough of that stuff to look like a Yeti. It trailed after me all over the house like Pigpen’s dust cloud.

I have now passed this labor of love (and messy styrofoam) onto my niece, since I don’t trust the dog not to tromp through the village like Godzilla.

What she doesn’t know is that there are some missing pieces and people  to the village.

Years ago, Tim decided to help me carry the village upstairs.  As I painstakingly removed each and every building, tree, person and animal from its styrofoam base he watched in disbelief.

“That’s going to take forever,” he grumbled.  “Just pick up the whole thing and carry it up as one piece.”

“No, no,” I protested.  The styrofoam will break with the weight of the houses!”

“I’ll be careful,” he promised, grabbing the east end of the village and starting up the stairs.

Two seconds later, I heard a loud crack, followed by a crash, followed by lots of cursing.  I ran to the stairs to find shards of ceramic everywhere. It was like a tornado had met up with an earthquake and they decided to tango.

There was no longer a village hospital, hotel or flower shop.  One poor man had half his face blown off while trying to feed the birds and a small boy lost an arm while making snow angels. Some people and places just disappeared into a pile of tiny, glistening smithereens, never to be seen or heard from again.  The tragedy would take quite a toll on this little village.  Where were the people going to stay for the holidays? With the hospital gone, where were the man and little boy going to go for help?   It was a disaster of epic proportions!

As I sat on the bottom step trying to salvage what was left, Tim appeared with a peace offering: a glass of wine and a dustpan.  Fortunately, he made the right decision about which one was for me and which one was for him.

I have the feeling my village is in way safer hands with my niece.

Ingredients for Mocktail #1

• 1 cup water
• 1 mint tea bag
• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• 1-2 teaspoons honey

Directions:

1. Brew the tea with the honey and allow to cool.  Remove the teabag.
2. In a cocktail shaker or glass jar with a tight lid, combine the honey tea with the pomegranate juice and ice.  Shake well to chill and combine.  Pour through strainer into a glass and add garnish like pomegranates or maybe some lemon peel or mint leaves.

Ingredients for Mocktail #2

• 1 cup water
• 1 orange tea bag
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• fresh ginger

Directions:

1. Brew the tea with the honey, then allow to cool.  Remove the teabag.
2. In a cocktail shaker or glass jar with a tight lid, combine the honey tea with the pomegranate juice.
3. Peel the ginger and either grate 1/4-1/2 teaspoon into the tea and juice mixture, or for a more mild taste, shave 3-4 pieces off and add to the jar.  Add ice and shake to chill and combine.  Pour through a strainer to remove ice, but you might want to add the sliced ginger to the glass as a garnish.  You can also garnish with a slice of orange  and some pomegranates.

Ingredients for Mocktail #3

• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker or jar with a tight lid.  Add some ice and shake until thoroughly combines.  Pour into glass to serve.  You can garnish with cinnamon stick, slices of apple or even some pomegranates.

Enjoy!