Poinsettia Spritz: The 3-Ingredient Christmas Cocktail That Looks Like Magic in a Glass

 

Let’s be honest: December is exhausting. Between the shopping, the wrapping, the cooking, the cleaning, the endless entertaining, the last thing you need is a complicated holiday cocktail that requires 17 ingredients and a chemistry degree.

Enter the Poinsettia Spritz: three ingredients, ten seconds, and such a gorgeous, seasonal color. I served this at a Christmas ladies luncheon that I hosted not too long ago, and everyone loved it. With the bright cranberry red at the bottom, fading into a soft rosy blush at the top, finished with a rosemary sprig that looks exactly like a tiny Christmas tree. It is so pretty, and there’s absolutely nothing to it.

This seasonal wonder tastes light, bright, and just festive enough without being cloying. It’s about the same strength as a glass of wine so everyone can have two and still drive home. It is one of the easiest cocktails to put together. It, seriously, took me longer to open the bottle of Prosecco than it did to assemble the cocktail. Read to the bottom of this post for a non-alcoholic version of this that looks just as pretty and tastes equally good.

Poinsettia Spritz Cocktail
(Makes 1 stunning cocktail)

    ½ oz. (1 T.) cranberry juice
½ oz. (1 T.) Grand Marnier
3–4 oz. chilled Prosecco or any dry sparkling wine
Garnish: 2–3 fresh cranberries + a small fresh rosemary sprig

  Pour the cranberry juice and Grand Marnier into a champagne flute.  Slowly top with chilled Prosecco (tilt the glass and pour down the side for the prettiest ombre layers). Give one gentle stir with a spoon or swizzle stick. Drop in the cranberries and perch the rosemary sprig on the rim or let it float like a festive little raft. 

 Be sure to chill everything beforehand; warm Prosecco is a crime against humanity and also ruins the color gradient.

Zero-Proof Version (Still Gorgeous)
Swap the Prosecco for sparkling white grape juice, lemon-lime soda, or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Same red-to-pink magic, same rosemary garnish, zero hangover. Kids and designated drivers will fight over these.

 Set Up a Poinsettia Bar
Put out: 
- An ice bucket with mini Prosecco bottles (the 187 ml ones are perfect)
- A small pitcher of cranberry juice
- A tiny bottle of Grand Marnier with a pour spout 
- A bowl of fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs 

Guests assemble their own drinks, you get to sit on the couch pretending you’re “just checking the oven,” and everyone thinks you’re a holiday entertaining genius.

If your Christmas spirit animal is “looks expensive but is secretly cheap and easy,” this drink was made for you. Make it once and I promise it will become your signature move every December until the end of time.

 Cheers to surviving the holidays in style — one ruby-red bubble at a time.

 Save this recipe, screenshot it, tattoo it on your forearm if you have to. You’re going to need it all month long.

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Snowy with a Chance of Murder: A Chilling, Captivating Return to Cabot Cove

 

As a lifelong fan of the “Murder, She Wrote” series — I raised my kids watching this series — I can say with confidence that Snowy with a Chance of Murder, the 60th installment (And another is on the way! Woot! Woot!) is one of the best yet.

 

 The story kicks off with Jessica taking a nasty spill on the ice, confining her to a wheelchair. Unable to join a Mystery Lovers cruise, she’s forced to stay home, where she’s drawn into an intriguing mystery right across the street. A new neighbor, Mr. Rymer, moves in and immediately stirs up Cabot Cove with his risqué snow sculptures—naked figures that spark debates over art versus public decency. When the sculptures are vandalized at night, Rymer shrugs it off, rebuilding them with fresh snow as a blizzard looms. But the morning after the storm, Jessica peers out her window to find a chilling sight: Rymer’s body half-buried in the snow, next to a new sculpture. From her chair, Jessica must unravel whether a cold-blooded killer is lurking in her beloved town.

 

 Cabot Cove is my favorite setting for Jessica’s adventures. The familiar cast—Seth, Loretta, and more— the atmosphere, all shine brightly, with delightful moments like a spa day at Loretta’s Beauty Parlor that had me smiling ear to ear. The nod to Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” is brilliant! It captured Jessica’s sharp sleuthing from her confined vantage point without ever feeling derivative. There is a terrific balance of cozy charm and suspense, pulling in all of Jessica’s friends for a story that feels both intimate and expansive.

 

 What sets this book apart is how Barbara Early nails the “Murder, She Wrote” formula, something recent writers struggled to do after the passing of Donald Bain. Early’s Jessica is pitch-perfect—witty, warm, and relentlessly curious—while the quirky snow sculpture mystery feels fresh yet quintessentially Cabot Cove. The addition of a likable young helper hired by Seth adds a new layer of heart to the story, making Jessica’s world feel vibrant and lived-in.

 

  I’ve been hooked on this series since Bain’s era, and Snowy with a Chance of Murder recaptures that magic with gusto. It’s a fun, atmospheric read that kept me guessing until the end, and it’s easily the best since Bain’s time. I’m thrilled Barbara Early has taken the reins and hope she pens many more. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this is a must-read. Five stars without hesitation!

 You can grab your copy here.

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Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Baked Boursin Salmon

 

Let me be clear: the garlicky, herby Boursin mixture is addictive on its own, but when mixed with the additional ingredients as suggested here, it is positively swoon-worthy. I could (and maybe did) eat it straight from the bowl — don’t judge. This dish is effortless, stunning on the plate, and delivers restaurant-level flavor with zero fuss. It may not be the most photogenic entrée, but one bite and you’ll be hooked.

It’s astonishing how fast an elegant, company-worthy meal can come together, especially when your freezer is stocked with premium salmon. I’m a loyal subscriber to Wild Alaskan Company’s seafood delivery service – no compensation here, I’m just a fan –, and they’ve never disappointed. Craving coho salmon but wanting to switch things up, I stumbled across a gem of a recipe on ovensavors.com. Boursin cheese + salmon? Sold.

 Baked Boursin Salmon

4 salmon fillets (5–6 oz each), skinless
1 5.2-oz. pkg. Garlic & Fine Herbs Boursin cheese

2 T. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 Melissa’s garlic cloves, minced 
1 T. fresh lemon juice 
1 t. fresh lemon zest 
½ t. kosher salt (adjust to taste) 
¼ t. freshly ground black pepper 
2 T. chopped fresh parsley (optional garnish) 

Lemon wedges, for serving

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish or line with parchment paper. 

In a small bowl, combine Boursin, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1 Tbsp olive oil. Stir until smooth. 

Pat fillets dry. Drizzle with remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil; season with salt and pepper. 

Place salmon in the baking dish. Spoon Boursin mixture evenly over each fillet; gently spread to cover. 

Bake 15–20 minutes, until salmon flakes easily and reaches 145°F internally. 

Let rest 2 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges. 

Candy Cane Vodka: The Easiest 3-Ingredient Holiday Infusion You’ll Make This Year

I am a fan of minty deliciousness, so when I read an article on how to make candy cane vodka, I had to give it a try. Now I am not a vodka fan, per se. People like to assert that vodka has no taste, but it definitely does have a taste. If you've done any traveling out of your immediate surroundings then you have become aware that even water has a taste, so vodka certainly does as well, and not a particularly good one from my standpoint. So, in my opinion, flavored vodkas are genius.

 

This is a fun little project. It is also unbelievably easy, immensely practical, and a great little seasonal gift.

 

A clean, empty bottle, box of candy canes, and bottle of vodka is all that you need. 

I used an 8-oz. spring-top bottle and about a dozen miniature candy canes.  You can use fewer candy canes if you want a more subtle taste. The dissolution process takes about three hours.

 

I watched intently for the first twenty minutes or so as the candy canes began to dissolve, creating a bit of a head at the top of the bottle in the process. 

Thereafter I'd give the bottle a bit of a shake every half hour or so.  That is all you do. No straining. No nothing.

Just tie on a tag and add it to your gift basket, take it to a deserving host or hostess, or do what I did, pour some into a steaming cup of hot cocoa. Marvelous! 

 

Serving Ideas

- Straight up or on the rocks for peppermint martinis

- Mixed with cream soda for a peppermint creamsicle cocktail

- My personal favorite: a generous splash in steaming hot cocoa. Instant holiday perfection.

  

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My 2025 Christmas Card

 

I’ve been writing letters and sending cards for as long as I can remember—literally since the day I could hold a pencil. There was a time when every big department store had a proper stationery department, and little paper shops dotted the Main Street: places filled with beautiful writing paper, postcards, note cards, fountain pens, colored inks, and envelopes that felt like small treasures. Those shops are still everywhere in Europe, but here in the United States they’ve almost vanished over the past twenty years. I miss them terribly.

Every holiday season I feel the pull again. This year the urge was especially strong, so I made my own cards (as I always do), decorated the envelopes, and sent out about fifty of them. I create one “general” design for most friends and a special one for my fellow Sherlockians. I was so excited to mail the Sherlock Holmes cards that I forgot to photograph the card itself—typical!—but I did capture the envelope, which I’ll share below. The main card this year was inspired by a lovely blog photo I stumbled across. I thought it would make a perfect seasonal greeting, and be the perfect choice for the inclusion of a recipe.

For the past several years, sharing my cards here has become my way of sending a little extra Christmas cheer to all of you. So whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, the solstice, or just the joy of a new year, please consider this post my handwritten note to you:

Wishing you light in the darkness, warmth in the cold, and a 2026 filled with good post.

I use Tim Holtz rubber stamps every year for my envelopes. You can find the ones I used here, here, and here.

 

If you’d like to take a look at what I’ve done in the past, here are cards from 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

 

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Death at the Village Christmas Fair by Debbie Young, a Review

 

Yet another book that fulfills my mystery trifecta – Christmas, a cozy mystery, and an English location (Cotswolds) — I quite enjoyed Death at the Village Christmas Fair by Debbie Young. It is the third in the series of Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries. Reading it in July didn’t dim its festive magic; the Santa Run and bustling Christmas Fair in Little Pride wrapped me in that warm holiday glow I love. The Cotswolds setting felt like a dream, making me yearn to revisit those charming villages. Coming from a family of knitters, crocheters, seamstresses, and button collectors, the story’s focus on a button-adorned scarf hit so close to home. I could almost feel myself rummaging through my grandmother’s button tin, each one sparking memories, just like Alice’s mum’s nostalgic biscuit tin of buttons did for me.

 I found Alice Carroll, the Curiosity Shop owner and amateur sleuth, so relatable, though I’ll admit her naivety annoyed me a bit at times. Still, her heart and determination won me over, and I loved how her romance with Robert Praed felt real rather than cloying. The mystery, involving a murdered Santa and a stolen scarf with a valuable netsuke button, was straightforward but fun, perfect for when I’m craving cozy vibes over a tricky plot. Learning about netsuke was a delightful surprise, like finding a hidden gem in my family’s crafting stash.

 This book’s charm lies in its blend of humor, heart, and holiday spirit. Alice’s mum, with her quick knitting and witty remarks, felt like she could join my family’s crafting circle. Little Pride itself is so vivid it’s practically a character, making me long for that village life, murders aside. While the mystery isn’t the twistiest, it is the kind of story that feels like a warm blanket. As a Debbie Young fan, I’m torn between her Sophie Sayers series and this one, but Death at the Village Christmas Fair is a new favorite. For now, I wholeheartedly suggest this to anyone craving a festive, cozy escape, especially if you love Christmas and a good button jar memory.

You can order your copy here.

 Disclaimer: I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Espresso Chocolate Cheesecake: A Show-Stopping Dessert

 

The trees were up and sparkling beautifully, my stacks of Christmas cards ready for mailing, so it was time to host my first party of the season: a ladies’ luncheon on a crisp Sunday in December. A table full of wonderful women, a beautiful setting, and the star of the afternoon—an Espresso Chocolate Cheesecake that disappeared faster than the prosecco.

I’d spotted a version of this recipe in Garden & Gun magazine and immediately started tinkering (because who can resist the marriage of espresso and dark chocolate in creamy, dreamy form?). The result was rich, silky, and just caffeinated enough to keep the conversation sparkling all afternoon. The beauty of it is that it’s make ahead, so you can dazzle guests at your own holiday party without being frazzled when they arrive, so here it is—my slightly adapted, thoroughly tested, guaranteed-to-impress version.

Espresso Chocolate Cheesecake
(Serves 12–16, depending on how generously you slice)

For the crust
12 sheets graham crackers, finely ground (about 1½ c. crumbs)
2 T. sugar
⅛ t. cinnamon 
6 T. unsalted butter, melted

For the filling
3 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened 
2 8-oz. pkgs. mascarpone, softened
1 c. sugar 
3 shots fresh espresso (about ⅓ c.), cooled 
2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t. pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, at room temperature

For the dark chocolate ganache
8 oz. Ghirardelli 60% chips
1 c. heavy cream
1 t. light corn syrup (optional, for shine)

 For garnish
1 c. heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks
Chocolate-covered espresso beans (Melissa’s are my favorite)

Preheat oven to 325°F. Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside. 

In a food processor, blend cream cheese and mascarpone until smooth. Add sugar, espresso, cocoa powder, and vanilla; process until silky. Add eggs one at a time, pulsing just until incorporated—don’t overmix. 

Pour filling over crust. Place springform pan into a larger roasting pan and add hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides (classic water bath).

Bake 1 hour. Turn off oven, crack the door slightly, and let cheesecake rest inside for 1½ hours. This slow cooling is the secret to a crack-free top. 

Chill at least 24 hours (yes, really—patience pays off). 

Make the ganache: Heat 1 cup cream until tiny bubbles form around the edge. Pour over chopped chocolate, wait 2 minutes, then whisk until glossy. Whisk in corn syrup if you want extra shine. Spread over chilled cheesecake and refrigerate 1 hour.  Whip remaining cream, pipe a pretty border, and scatter chocolate-covered espresso beans like edible jewels.

 Slice, serve, and watch your guests swoon. This cheesecake is holiday magic in a springform pan—rich enough to feel celebratory, but with that subtle espresso kick that keeps everyone coming back for “just one more tiny sliver.”

 Happy baking, and may your season be filled with good friends, full glasses, and zero cracked cheesecakes!

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