The tipsy holibirthuation days continued after graduation as we prepared for the Christian holiday, which I do not celebrate but which my other half does, and of course I always appreciate a day that involves me not having to work.

One of the interesting things about growing up in Austin is that at this moment in time a lot of the people who live here aren't from here. So during the holidays the friends I have made since high school take off to their respective homelands and many of my old friends from school come back home from wherever they have moved off to. There are a lot of impromptu reunions during this time. One night a couple of vagabond classmates came over on a particularly cold evening and we decided to build a cozy campfire in the backyard and enjoy a tipple

In the current issue of Edible Austin magazine there is an article about a woman who lives in East Austin and finds comfort in building a fire out in her backyard, relaxing with a glass of wine, and taking a little mini retreat right in the middle of her urban environment. Inspired by this story, we decided it would be nice to make a little boozy adult hot chocolate: bring milk to a simmer in a heavy-bottom sauce pan, stir in chocolate chunks until melted, to taste. Let the mixture cool slightly and add Patron XO (tequila-based coffee liqueur) and Praline liqueur to taste. Pour into a cute earthenware pitcher and mugs. We were feeling particulary luxurious, so we topped the cups with whipped cream, then took our pitcher outside and sat by the fire and talked about old times and future times. It wasn't too long before the highway noise dropped out of the background and all we could see was the fire and the almost full moon in the clear sky. And the Festivus lights on my patio cover.