Sorry, this post is so late. The Thoroughbroads have been very busy having Christmas fun.

It started when Robyn arrived at Scarlett’s house. Robyn planned her trip to coincide with events happening in Bardstown for the holiday. Bardstown is repeatedly voted one of the most beautiful small towns in America, especially during the holidays.

The fun started with lunch at home, including a friend and Scarlett’s son, Paul. A delicious crock pot pork chop dish, tiny roasted potatoes with garlic butter, and a mixed green salad were prepared. The conversation was lively, and it was great to catch up. That evening, they planned on being at home as Robyn and Scarlett are fans of the Voice television show. When apart, they text each other while watching the show and choose their favorite contestants.

The next day was a big party at a famous bourbon distillery. The theme was a roaring 20s Christmas, and guests were encouraged to dress appropriately. The Thoroughbroads did not dress in costumes but did have some sparkle and shimmer on for the occasion. The distillery was decorated from top to bottom with beautiful trees and arrangements. Food was spread out on various floors of the facility, and each table was decorated in the theme. A menu of Bourbon holiday cocktails was presented. Scarlett chose the Polar Espresso, Bourbon, white chocolate liqueur, peppermint simple syrup, whipped cream, & peppermint sprinkles. Robyn decided to have the Giggle Water. Ha! Ha! a drink made with Bourbon, cider, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, blackberry simple syrup, and prosecco. The secret ingredient was a sprinkle of edible glitter. The Thoroughbroads closed the place down as the party ended at 8 pm. However, the Food and beverage manager escorted them out at 11 pm.

The next day, they enjoyed a trip to Louisville to the Derby Museum. The Derby will be 150 years old in 2024, so the museum will have 150 days of special events. Receiving several gifts upon arrival, including a commemorative pin and a slice of Derby pie, the museum showcased the completed remodel since Robyn was there last. All displays and information, along with the services, were excellent. When you go, do not miss the Derby Day movie in the round; it is spectacular! After viewing the movie, we went to downtown Louisville for lunch at the Brown Hotel. Robyn was determined to have a REAL Kentucky Hot Brown. An open-faced sandwich that consists of turkey, cheese sauce, bacon, and tomato originated there. It did not disappoint.

The next day, Scarlett volunteered at a local food bank. Robyn had lunch at a new friend’s home, where she was served an easy-to-prepare broccoli soup with crusty French bread. Perfect for a chilly day.

They had the next day free. They accepted a last-minute invitation to join a friend at the Talbott Tavern to listen to the band Big Black Cadillac. The band was fantastic! Robyn and Scarlett rocked the night and sang along to all the songs from their younger days. Robyn met an ex-mayor who bought them a round of drinks. It was decided that they still “got it”!

They stayed home the next day. Scarlett cooked two different kinds of bean soup and a pan of cornbread. Afterward, they watched a movie and called it a night.

A party engagement was canceled, and a dinner out was put in its place. They met friends at a local steak house and later returned to the friend’s house for birthday cake, which included gifts for the hostess.

Now, they needed to recoup from all this fun. It was a day at home and tuning in to the Voice again in the evening. Both still couldn’t decide on their favorite contestant.

Scarlett invited some neighbor ladies for light appetizers and drinks the following evening. All offered to bring something. The next-door neighbor owns a food truck featuring barbecue meats, so Charlie brought a pan of smoked brisket and hot wings. Another brought a veggie tray with dip. There was a dessert table full of candies, cheesecake, wines, a homemade cocktail, and coffee. The group stayed longer than usual since it had been months since they had seen Robyn and missed her stories. The next day, Robyn and Scarlett had tasty sandwiches from the brisket on fresh sourdough bread the following day.

The following evening, they attended My Old Kentucky Home Park for the Chamber of Commerce networking cocktail party. A signature cocktail with Bourbon, orange juice, pomegranate juice, ginger beer, and hot and cold appetizers was served. Attendees were dressed in festive holiday attire. Robyn won the first door prize drawing, a $25 gift certificate to a local small business.

The next day was spent preparing for the Christmas party of their writing group – Words of Women, or WOW for short. Robyn was in charge of choosing and bringing a seasonal cocktail. She decided a large batch cocktail would be easier than mixing individual ones. The small town lost its charm that day as she had to go to three liquor and three grocery stores to find the ingredients. It came together and was a hit. All admired the hostess’s home, beautifully decorated for the holiday. The hostess prepared numerous hot appetizers with an assortment of Christmas cookies and candies for dessert. They got to know each other better while eating. A guest speaker told them how she came to publish three books of her own about Bardstown even though she does not consider herself a writer. The group enjoyed her easy way of talking and hoped she might join them again. Each writer shared a piece they had written about memories. Some brought tears, while some brought laughs. All were a little glimpse into the life of their fellow writers.

Another day, another party, another distillery. This one was very contemporary in design with an industrial look. The decorations were in bronze and chocolate browns. The open house event served a signature Bourbon cocktail called a Cranberry Mule and a delicious buffet. A couple of local musicians played guitars in a combination of rock and country songs. The distillery sits high on a hill with a fantastic winter sunset view. The perfect setting for a cocktail and conversation.

They wrapped up their time with dinner at another friend’s home and watched the Barbie movie together. Scarlett talked about her Barbie and all the clothes that her mother made for the doll. Robyn had the same experience with her mother making Barbie clothes.

All good things must come to an end. Robyn had to head back to Alabama. But this had been the most fun holiday season in a long time. Maybe a story for WOW (Words Of Women) would come from this. In any case, she knew that she and Scarlett would be reliving this time together for many years to come.

White Christmas Margarita

6 ou. Coconut rum

10 ou silver tequila

8 ou orange liqueur

8 ou lime juice

8 ou coconut water

8 ou coconut milk

6 ou cream of coconut

6 ou simple syrup

18 frozen cranberries, garnish

Sprigs of rosemary, garnish

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Whisk to combine. Garnish each drink with cranberries and a sprig of rosemary. Serves 6.

Green Cauldron Broccoli Soup

Olive oil for pan

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

Salt & pepper

2 cups of chicken stock

1c half & half

4 small heads of broccoli, chopped

1 package soft herbed cheese, such as Boursin

1c grated Monterey Jack cheese

Drizzle oil in a heavy bottom pot set over medium heat. Ad onion, garlic, some salt & pepper, cook till tender, 3-4 minutes. Add chicken stock and half & half, bring to a simmer. Add the broccoli, cook till tender. Using an immersion blender, purée until smooth. Add the cheeses and stir until melted. Serve warm. Note: I process batches of soup in a Vitamix blender instead of immersion blender.