Jingle Juice is always welcome the week of Christmas!

Ours is brimming with sparkling Lambrusco, cranberry juice, pomegranate syrup, apricot brandy, ginger ale, sliced citrus (lemon, lime and orange) and pears, frozen cranberries and cinnamon sticks.

Mom made a festive Southern Christmas wreath bread with dried fruits—including apricots, pineapple, raisins and cranberries—laced with apricot brandy.

Jambalaya and Jingle Juice comprised our Christmas feast!

Juicy marinated chicken and shrimp, spicy #chaurice and garlicky mussels as well as the holy trinity (onions, bell peppers and celery) and roasted peppers studded this Creole-style creation lovingly made in my nana’s well-seasoned cast-iron skillet; fire-roasted tomatoes and smoked paprika made a glorious broth.

Crab and lobster will be its seafood stars next year!

Coffee Punch was such a festive, fun finish to our holiday.

The better the chocolate and vanilla ice cream and coffee, the more enjoyable the result. Definitely the time to splurge!

I’m having the time of my life making December cocktails—this one being Peppermint Punch.

My grandmother always made me a crushed peppermint candy cake for my birthday when I was a child—and this creamy, cool cocktail is reminiscent of that treasured cake and nana.

A festive pitcher of Southern Spiced Milk Punch with a splash of brandy and bourbon for the holiday.

Nana’s Peppermint Cake

Christmas Morning Croissant Casserole

Eggnog Waffles

Beignets and Chicory Coffee

Holiday Spiced Pineapple Hand Pies