As promised, here is my Kahlua recipe. Easy, inexpensive, and very good. Also not recommended or suitable for children. Try a little Kahlua and cream over ice. Or my favorite way to use it is as a topping for chocolate ice cream. It's also good in coffee or hot chocolate.

Homemade Kahlua
Ingredients:
2 cup water
1 ¼ cup sugar
1 ½ T instant coffee (I use instant espresso powder)
1 ½ T vanilla extract
1 tsp caramel syrup coffee flavoring
1 tsp rum extract (or real rum)
2 cup vodka
Directions:
· Heat first three ingredients over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved
· Stir vodka and flavorings
· Cover until cooled to room temperature (very important to cover to keep the alcohol from evaropating.)
· Store in dark colored, screw-top 750 ml bottle
· Cure for 30 days(If you can stand it)

Warm Bread Pudding w/Bourbon Sauce

Since I confessed to the world that I like bourbon, I probably should share another favorite recipe. This is a New Orleans Style Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce. YUM!!
After typing this out, I'm going to make a batch, just for me, cause I can.

BREAD PUDDING

1 pound of French Bread (the firmer,the better)
3-1/4 cups milk
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup pecans
1/4 cup raisins (raisins and pecans are optional)

Tear the bread into medium pieces (about 1 inch cubes). Add cinnamon and sugar, toss lightly. Mix milk and lightly beaten eggs and vanilla and add to bread mixture. Place 1/2 of mixture in buttered casserole dish. Layer pecans and raisins, if used. Top with rest of mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes of until lightly browned. Serve warm with warm Bourbon sauce. (If you have leftovers, it microwaves great for re-warming).

BOURBON SAUCE

1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon white corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablspoon Bourbon (I must confess, I find a tablespoon rather insipid. I use a good 1/4 of a cup).
What can I say, I like the taste of Bourbon, Also, I usually double the recipe, because the sauce is wonderful. The bread pudding is good, but, just something to pour the sauce on.

This is also not necessarily recommended or suitable for children. While the alcohol boils away, it still has the wonderful bourbon flavor.

In a sauce pan, mix all the ingredients. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Serve warm over warm bread pudding.

Cold Weather Thoughts

With the onset of the Holiday Season and colder weather, I'm thinking fireplace and warm drinks. One of my favorite warm drinks is Irish coffee. There is nothing like sitting by the fireplace, with a warm Irish Coffee, watching 'Miracle on 34Th Street', or 'A Christmas Carol'. Yep, you guessed it, I'm a Christmas junkie. I start listening to Christmas music on Thanksgiving Day and watching my collection of Christmas DVD's until my husband threatens to demolish the TV. But, I remind him it's only one season of the year and what a glorious Reason for the season, and pass him another cup.

I want to share my recipe for Irish Creme for those of you who enjoy a warm pick me up on occasion.

IRISH CREME

14 oz Eagle Brand milk
4 whole eggs
1 cup dark rum OR brandy OR bourbon (I like bourbon)
2 Tablespoons strong, cold coffee (I have used 1 tablespoon of instant coffee powder)
1 Tablespoons chocolate syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons almond extract

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine all ingredients in blender. Mix 30 seconds on medium. Bottle and refrigerate - keeps up to 3 weeks.

Add for strength desired to cup of hot coffee and enjoy. Also good over ice with a little milk or cream added. This is NOT suitable or recommended for children.