Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Getting Ready For Christmas, Part Deux

Getting ready for Christmas at Linderhof this year
Is preparing food and drink for the holiday season
The fruitcake is here and aging
(made not by me but by monks in Ava, Missouri)
The Dundee cakes have been made
(by me -- not my the monks)
and are aging in the freezer

And so it's time to turn our thoughts to 
sips for the Holidays
The French have their Liqueur 44
The Swedes have 
"Beba's 40/40 Sherry"


Not sherry at all but Vodka, orange, coffee, sugar and a vanilla bean


All put together, put in a dark place
(and shaken once a day)
For 40 days and 40 nights.

Beba is the mother of a Swedish friend of ours
Who lived in our little town on the prairie
He shared the recipe for his mother's "Sherry"

It's easy to do and makes for a great Christmas Eve sip

Bebas 40/40 "Sherry"

750 bottle of vodka
40 sugar cubes
40 coffee beans
1 orange with 40 holes
1 vanilla bean

Put coffee beans in the orange holes.    Put vodka in a glass jar, add sugar, coffee bean studded orange and vanilla.    Let it stand for 40 days.    Shake the container from time to time so the sugar will melt. After 40 days, filter and bottle the brew.



Ours should be ready the week before Christmas
Which will make it the perfect for Christmas Eve
With the Monks fruitcake and whatever cookies might be in the larder
after the service of carols and candles.

I love November and these pre Christmas preparations.

Which includes cleaning house form top to bottom!

4 comments:

MarmePurl said...

This I will make. Many thanks.

Beth said...

Hi Martha, You have such wonderful and interesting recipes! I have made your Dundee cakes and enjoyed them. I love making sugar cookies and various candies at Christmas time. I found a fantastic peanut brittle recipe on Rose Chintz Cottage, and a fantastic toffee at Red Couch Recipes. I will be making Fruitcake bars too - easy and yummy, and this wknd I plan to try my hand at a Swedish tea ring.
I love reading your blog, Martha. Happy Thanksgiving!

Canadian Chickadee said...

Good for you! I've tracked down all the ingredients for my fruitcakes, but haven't managed to get them baked yet. Maybe later this week! xoxox

Anonymous said...

Ooh, this looks like fun, Martha. I started my magic potions last week and have one more to go. They sit in darkness for at least a month. I love to purchase pretty bottles to give them away every year. Of course, I keep one or two for me. ;)
Let the festivities begin!
Marcia