This morning started off as Holiday Hell…and, it wasn’t just me. A close friend called at 8:00 am to share that she was in Holiday Hell, too. “Why is it that I just can’t get in the mood for all of this? I hate Christmas!”

Now she was talking my language. You see, I still work as a hairstylist, and by the time Christmas rolls around our clients all look gorgeous, but we are the exhausted, bedraggled, people you see trying to pull together a dinner while shopping for presents on the afternoon of December 24th. Ho, ho, ho indeed!

We’ve listened to everyone’s plans to travel to exotic places, and to be with their family, (whether they want to or not) and their fears about meeting in-laws, seeing out-laws, ex-husbands, or ex-wives, and blended families, and immersion blender families, out-of-the-teflon-coated-frying-pan….and wait, I’ve segued over to cooking.

And that’s a great place to be, because it’s cold, which always makes me think of snow.  Which makes me think of Dr. Zhivago – the most beautiful, snowy movie of all time…and that leads to Russia, and to making Moscow Mules! Something I’m sure no comrade would ever drink, (put what in the wodka??)) but it’s an icy cold, gingery, sensory experience of a cocktail just the same.

Have all of these ingredients on hand, and when you’re in the throes of Holiday Hell, mix up a batch…and as quickly as you can say Putin, everything will be better!

(Note: this is usually served in a copper mug, which Santa can bring you if you don’t already have a set.  And the following proportions are mine.)

Per drink:

• One 2 oz. jigger of Vodka
• 1 oz. of fresh squeezed lime juice (1- 1 1/2 limes)
• 1/2 oz. of simple syrup (mixed 2 parts sugar to 1 part water)
• Place in shaker with ice and shake, shake, shake!
• Pour into copper mug, fill to top with Ginger Beer (try Reed’s)
• Add a slice of lime. (You can add mint, but I hate it)

Now, if you don’t get in the Holiday spirit after a few of these, all you’re going to get in your stocking is a lump of coal. So, cheers!  Say it with me,  nah zda-ROVH-yeh!

XO Donna