slide show

December 2, 2010

Vivo brings Disney home for Christmas!



Christmas arrived early at the Walt Disney World Resort.  November 8, 2010 marked the kick-off the annual "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" a magical Holiday celebration unlike any other. I will refer to this event as "MVMCP", an anagram adopted by Disney enthusiasts and trip planners.

The Magic Kingdom Park is appropriately host to this magical party.  MVMCP begins at 7pm, after the park has closed to regular guests.  Interact with your favorite Disney Characters dressed in their festive Holiday Attire as Cinderella's Castle gleams in the backdrop with it's "Sugar-Dipped" appearance, thanks to the Holiday Dream Lights.  As you walk down Main Street, you may even notice the snowflakes tickling your nose... YES, snowflakes!

There are parades to be seen, music to be heard, and yummy holiday goodies to enjoy.  I've been a little bummed that we will be missing the festivities this year, so I have put together a few recipes from Cafe Vivo, my restaurant,  to help bring MVMCP home for the holidays!  Hopefully those of you who are unable to make it to Walt Disney World this year will consider throwing together some of the following snacks and popping in some classic Disney holiday movies and enjoy some of my favorite Disney holiday specials at home!  Mickey's Christmas Carol is my favorite and is available from Amazon.com.

Disney Animation Collection 7: Mickey's Christmas Carol 

At Cafe Vivo, my restaurant in NC, I like to feature Pixie-Dusted Sugar Cookies, Vivo's signature Hot-Chocolate, and of course Vivo's Homemade Spiced Cider, this time of year...and appropriately, you can find similar treats at MVMCP.  If you're not up for the challenge, stop by Cafe Vivo and we'll do all the work!
 


MVMCP Pixie-Dusted Sugar Cookies

What You'll Need:


  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


  

What To Do:

Cookies:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
  3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Vivo's Old-Fashioned Hot Chocolate

What you'll Need:

1 tbsp. DARK cocoa powder
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. water
1 c. milk
a bit of vanilla or peppermint extract, if desired
What To Do:
Combine cocoa, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Heat it on low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the paste from sticking to the pan. After about 1 to 2 minutes, add milk and vanilla. Mix it all together until it reaches your preferred temperature.  Be sure to top with Whipped Cream or Marshmallows.
Vivo's Spiced Apple Cider:
What You'll Need:
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
  • 2 quarts apple cider
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 1 orange, thinly sliced
What to Do:

Combine water and spices in a large Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Strain mixture discarding spices, return water to Dutch oven. Add apple cider, lemon and orange; cook over low heat until thoroughly heated. Serve warm.                                                                                                                                                      

No comments: