All dressed up for the holidays

Princeton loves the winter holidays. The town is all dressed up and finds a variety of ways to enjoy and celebrate the season.

Small World Coffee put on its Christmas finery early, offering its “Tiny Tim” peppermint-vanilla milk drink topped with whipped cream and crushed candy cane. Add a shot of espresso and it becomes a “Scrooge.” The drink returns each season when “A Christmas Carol” hits the stage at the McCarter Theatre. Small World’s Gingerbread Cream Cold Brew is another seasonal favorite with a layer of spiced housemade gingerbread cream on top. (smallworldcoffee.com)

Wine pairs well with ugly sweaters

Wear the ugliest holiday sweater you can find for the Ugly Holiday Sweater Party & Competition set for 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 21 at Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Hopewell Township. The annual event features light fare, wine, of course, and competitions for the ugliest, funniest, and most festive holiday sweaters. Visit hopewellvalleyvineyards.com for more information.

The new year brings brunch

The Peacock Inn and the Perch at the Peacock will offer brunch to celebrate the new year. You can register now for the special New Year’s Day Brunch at the Peacock. Seatings begin at 10 a.m. on Jan. 1 and cost $50 for adults and $25 for children. Choice of buffet or a la carte mains.

Patriots Week includes food events

When Trenton celebrates Patriots Week Dec. 26-31, there will be tours, demonstrations, and re-enactments leading the way. But there also will be events to celebrate the foods of Colonial times, beginning with a Revolutionary Pub Crawl at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 26.

This year’s pub crawl starts at the Lobby Club, then moves on to the Station Tapas & Bar, McManimon’s Monument Pub, Coopers Riverview, and the 1911 Smoke House BBQ. There is no fee; participants pay for their food and drinks as they go. Dress in Colonial garb if you like. The crawl is hosted by Taste Trenton and this year’s Patriots’ password is “Adam’s Ale.”

On Dec. 27 from noon to 1 p.m., author Michael C. Gabriele will give a talk via Zoom on “Colonial Taverns of N.J.: Libations, Liberty & Revolution.” To pre-register: https://www.njstatelib.org/event/virtual-author-talk-colonial-taverns-of-new-jersey-libations-liberty-and-revolution/

It’s not Boston Harbor, but it’s Revolutionary Tea

At 2 p.m. on Dec. 27, the Trenton Free Public Library at 102 Academy St., will hold “Revolutionary Tea” with certified tea specialists Deborah and Michael Raab. Visitors will learn some of the history and rituals connected to “revolutionary tea parties,” complete with tea tastings.

A taste of Scotland and Hogmanay

At 2 p.m. Dec. 28 “Hogmanay! A Scottish Celebration of the New Year!” will take place at the 1719 William Trenton House at 15 Market St. This Scottish celebration of the new year is held in honor of William Trenton, who founded the City of Trenton. Hot cider will be served as bagpipers play and the library will share a Colonial recipe for shortbread.

Cookies sweeten the holidays

What would December be like without homemade cookies to brighten parties and gatherings? Just about everyone who bakes makes at least a few batches of chocolate chip cookies and maybe some cut-out cookies to add color to the table. For those who only have time to make one batch, we offer this recipe from Emmymade.com, which explains how to make five kinds of cookies from a single batch of dough:

5-in-1 master cookie recipe

1 cup butter at room temperature
1 cup superfine sugar (To make superfine sugar, pulse granulated sugar in food processor for 30 seconds).
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
1 egg yolk, large
1 egg, large
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Jam cookies

5 teaspoons strawberry jam (use any jam you like)

Spiced cookies

½ teaspoon molasses
pinch of cloves
¼ teaspoon powdered ginger
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon turbinado sugar (any chunky sugar will work)

Cut-out cookies

2 teaspoons nonpareil sprinkles

Double chocolate cookies

1 tablespoon cocoa powder (either Dutch-processed or natural or a combination of both)
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Peanut butter cookies

2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter

Master dough

In a large bowl use a hand mixer to cream together the butter, salt, and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add one egg yolk and mix well.
Add one whole egg and vanilla and mix well.
With the mixer on low speed add the flour in a couple of batches or use your hands to work the mixture into a dough.
Divide the dough into 5 equal parts. Add the add-ins of your choice.
Wrap the dough and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Baking

Preheat oven to 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes.
Cool for a few minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely.

Notes:

This recipe was inspired by The Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, and Ethan Becker.