The Den of Debauchery's Subannex

Sounds of the Season:

I know a man whose name is Lang
And he has a neon sign.
And Mr. Lang is very old,
so we call it Old Lang's Sign!



Merry Moments:


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So we've reached the end of another Yuletide Youtube and another year. I hope you've enjoyed it. Thank you for bearing with me. Some days, this was the only thing that kept me out of depression. let me know if the format worked for you and what you'd like to see next year.

From all of us here at Chez Mudd, to all of you and yours, May your 2016 be better than 2015.

Sounds of the Season:


Merry moments
With Cats and Geekery


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Tuesday Make-it.

Many people end up in 12th Night gift exchanges. These spoons are great and inexpensive, if you have any woodburning skill.



And save this for when it really gets cold.

Sounds of the Season



Merry Moments, Gingerbread edition:

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Kitchen Witchery:

Gingerbread comes in three style: cake, cookie and building material. My mom always did the cake, with whipped cream.

Cake:
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup hot water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch square pan.
In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the egg, and mix in the molasses.
In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Blend into the creamed mixture. Stir in the hot water. Pour into the prepared pan.
Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan before serving.

The cookie recipe is Mary Todd Lincoln's (we're related via the Custis side) and from 1841.

Cookie

Take a pound and half of flour, and rub it into half a pound of butter, add half a pound of brown sugar and half a pint of molasses, two tablespoons of cream, a teaspoon of pearlash [potassium carbonate], and ginger to the taste. Make it into a stiff paste, and roll it out thin. Put it on buttered tins, and bake in moderate oven.

Notes:
I wrapped my dough and put in the fridge for a couple of hours (you can also leave it overnight)
Instead of the pearlash, you can use ½ tsp baking soda.
Bake the gingerbread men in a 350F oven for 10-12 minutes

Decorate to your heart’s content.

Building Material

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup light molasses or dark corn syrup
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons water

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda together until the mixture is smooth. Blend in the flour and water to make a stiff dough. Chill at least 30 minutes or until firm.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut out the following paper patterns for the gingerbread house template:

Two rectangles, 3 by 5 inches, to make the front and back of the house. Two rectangles, 3 by 5 1/2 inches for the roof. Two pieces for the ends of the house, 3 inches wide at the base, 3 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 5 1/2 inches from the bottom. Four smaller rectangles, 1 1/2 by 1 inch for the roof and sides of the entryway. And one piece, 2 inches wide at the base, 1 1/2 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 2 1/2 inches from the bottom for the front of the entryway.

Roll gingerbread dough out to edges on a large, rimless cookie sheet. Place paper patterns onto the rolled out dough. With a sharp, straight edged knife, cut around each of the pieces, but leave pieces in place.

Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15 minutes until dough feels firm.


Story Time:
From "Still House"


ebook: https://squareup.com/market/inkstained-succcubus/winter-shivers-pre-order
paperback https://squareup.com/market/inkstained-succcubus/winter-shivers-paperback-preorder
10% discount if you order from the Square website

Amazon

Sounds of the Season:



Merry Moments:


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From all of us at Chez Mudd, to all of you and yours, Brightest Blessing and Welcome the Sun!

Sounds of the Season



Merry Moments:

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Story time:

From "long Time Gone" collected in Candle in the Dark

Amazon
Square ebook
Square paperback

Potions, Lotions and Motions had always burned their Yule log from the first day of the festival. It was a tradition that went back to Colby's great-grandfather, who'd owned the shop for forty years before he passed everything—the stores, the building, and most importantly the traditions—to Colby's grandmother, and then to his mother, and then to him, almost five years ago on his thirtieth birthday. Kayden always asked, after that, what motions even meant in that context, because it sounded like something that belonged in Parliament, not on a store front, but the name was a part of the history and tradition of the shop.
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Because paganism is a nature religion and we're ALL about fertility. (well, some of us are some of the time) Today is naughty Thursday.

Sounds of the Season:




Merry Naughty moments:


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A bit more naughtiness from "Frosted Hearts"

Josh helped Anthony out of his clothes and into bed, then fed him another pain pill. "All I had to do to win your father's approval was break your arm. Who knew?" Anthony swallowed the pill. "I'll call Mom in the morning and tell her what's going on. You just rest." He kissed Anthony and curled around him, pulling the covers up over both of them. "Love you, babe. Go to sleep so Santa can come," Josh teased.

Anthony kissed his nose. "Night, Santa."
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Sounds of the Season:


Merry moments:


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Tuesday Make-it:



These ornaments are made by taking 1/2 c applesauce and dumping cinnamon, the cheap, dollar tree stuff, into it until it forms a dough. Roll it out, cut it with hearts and gingerbread people cutters. Let it dry until solid. String and hang.



This is an easy and cute way to geek up some plain green balls for your tree. A scrap of felt, a couple googly eyes and some hot glue.



To do this, you need to soak the cinnamon sticks in hot water for a couple hours, until they bend a little. Then dry them off and glue in the shape of a pentacle. This pne is decorated with star anise, mini pine cones and some greenery.

Story Time:

From "Rerun" by Edward R Rosick


ebook: https://squareup.com/market/inkstained-succcubus/winter-shivers-pre-order
paperback https://squareup.com/market/inkstained-succcubus/winter-shivers-paperback-preorder
10% discount if you order from the Square website

Amazon

The remains of a 1950’s-style drive-in stood in the middle of a large clearing of weeds and scrub pine trees. Like a misplaced ancient Greek monument, its white rectangular screen torn and yellowed from years of rain, wind, and snow. Rows of rusting speakers branched away from the screen in long straight lines like ancient soldiers standing at mute attention awaiting their next command.

“This is crazy,” Gary said as he carefully drove the Mustang on the rutted path leading into the drive-in. “Let’s turn back and enjoy the rest of the evening at the cottage.”

“What’s the matter with you?” asked Kathy. “First you don’t say more than two words during dinner, and now suddenly you don’t want to be out here.”
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Sounds of the Season:

Celtic Thunder has a nice sound, but they're only doing the chorus. (Latin Praise Choruses, what a concept!)


Steeleye Span gets the verses in.



I am informed by reliable sources that this is Gaudete Sunday or the Sunday to rejoice. Christians add the pink advent candle to the wreath today. (my Episcopalian friends joke that the purple vestments bled in the wash and made the pink ones)

Holiday Information

It is also St. Lucia Day. Lucia was martyred by Purity Culture Taken To Extremes. She's celebrated especially in Scandinavian countries because of the darkness and her association with the light. In Sweden, Lucias (teen girls dressed for the holiday and wearing a candle crown) are often accompanied by "star-boys" or "star girls" who help distribute gifts at hospitals.

Merry Moments, Trek Edition:


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Sunday Sweets:

A couple of my grandma's best candy recipes

Rice-Krispies Balls
1 stick melted oleo
1 egg, well beaten
1 c. sugar
1 pkg. (8 oz) dates

Stir all together, bring to boil. Boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in 3 c. Rice Krispies, 1 c. finely chopped nuts. Stir. Wet hands, roll into small balls, roll in flaked coconut. Chill. Makes 24.done (about 10 minutes).

Nitey-nite Cookies
2 egg whites
2/3 c. sugar
1 c. chopped nuts
1 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°. Beat egg whites until fluffy, gradually add sugar. Beat until stiff. Stir in nuts and chips.
Drop by teaspoons into foil-covered cookie sheets. Put in oven, close door, and turn off. Do not open door. Then
go to bed and awaken to a great treat in the morning. Make 24.


Golden No-Bake Nuggets
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. corn syrup
1 c. peanut butter
3 1/2 c. corn flakes

Stir sugar and corn syrup over low heat until sugar dissolves. Add peanut butter. Stir until hot and well blended. Remove from heat. Stir in corn flakes. Blend until well coated, try not to crush. Cool slightly. Moisten hands, take portions size of egg and form balls. Or just drop from teaspoon onto wax paper.