'ENJOY NATIONAL POINSETTIA DAY!' ~ POINSETTIA (COCKTAIL) / MIXED NUT SHORTBREAD

~ Poinsettia

(Euphorbia pulcherrima)

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History & Legends

The Aztecs called poinsettias "Cuetlaxochitl." During the 14th - 16th century the sap was used to control fevers and the bracts (modified leaves) were used to make a reddish dye. Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings, would have poinsettias brought into what now is Mexico City by caravans because poinsettias could not be grown in the high altitude.
In the 17th century, Juan Balme, a botanist, noted the poinsettia plant in his writings.
The botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, was assigned to the poinsettia by the German botanist, Wilenow. The plant grew through a crack in his greenhouse. Dazzled by its color, he gave it the botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima meaning "very beautiful."

~ The Poinsettia Pages (University of Illinois Extension)

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POINSETTIA
~ Santa NEVER says "NO" ...
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1/2 oz. Triple Sec or Cointreau
3 oz. Cranberry juice
slash of orange juice
4-5 oz. champagne
cranberries
orange slices

Add chilled Cointreau or Triple Sec to cranberry juice. Add splash of orange juice. Plop 3 cranberries in champagne glass. Fill 1/2 glass with cranberry juice mixture and slowly top with champagne. Serve with orange slice. (Can also be served over cracked ice).

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MIXED NUT SHORTBREAD

~ Autumn, winter, summer or fall ... a favorite easy nibbly with cocktails

(Gourmet Aug 2006)

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1 stick soft unsalted butter

1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup flour

3/4 cup coarsely chopped salted & roasted mixed nuts

• Preheat oven to 375-degrees.
• Stir together butter and 1/3 cup sugar in medium bowl until well combined. Stir in vanilla; add flour and mix with hands until a dough forms.
• Transfer dough to lightly greased baking sheet. spread evenly with fingers to from an 8-inch square. Sprinkle nuts evenly over dough, pressing down to help them adhere.
• Sprinkle remaining tablespoon sugar over nuts. Bake until shortbread is deep golden, 20-25 minutes.
• Cool on baking sheet on a rack for 10 minutes. Cut into 18 (roughly 3x1 1/2-inch) bars.

December 12th is National Poinsettia Day. The day was named in honor of Joel Poinsett who died on this day in 1851, and after whom the plant is named. Joel was the First United States ambassador to Mexico and it was this gentleman who first introduced the bright red plant to his homeland. The traditionally red leaves against the bright green of the plant are a particular favorite in North American homes at Christmas time. Poinsettias now come in a variety of colors as well red as the traditional. Look for ones that are white, salmon pink, lilac or even with spots on the leaves. Occasionally blue and other colors are marketed too, but these are not natural hybrid colors, rather the plants are fed a colored dye to produce unique colors in the bracts (the colored leaves at the top of the plant).

~ Suite101.com