The Skepchick Xmas Xtravaganza!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when your favorite Skepchicks gather ’round the fire to exchange presents, booze recipes, and sloshy wit. This year, we even have two pregnant Skepchicks who have graciously offered to share drink recipes for those who prefer to face the holidays sober, for some reason.
So here it is: the Xmas Xtravaganza. Enjoy our holiday-themed skeptical drink recipes and our 2009 gift guide, both of which we’ve included below just in case you’re unable to take notes and listen to a podcast at the same time.
Listen on iTunes or in your browser! Notes are below.
Holiday Drink Recipes
Masala Skeptic’s Sparkle Tits
It’s 2 oz dark creme de cacao, 2 oz half and half blend with ice to frappe. I actually added some chocolate syrup in there as well. Then it’s poured into a mounded pile inside two cocktail glasses and you add some Chocolate Syrup or more creme de cacao if you want more chocolate/more alcohol. then there’s a hershey’s kiss on top, in the center. and cupcake Sprinkles around the edges.
(Courtesy of Sasha Pixlee)
The Chupacabra
1-1/2 oz puerto rican rum
1 oz half and half or cream
1/2 oz amaretto
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top with a dusting of shaved chocolate.
(Courtesy of Sasha Pixlee)
Whiskey Quack
1 1/2 oz Scotch whiskey
1 oz green ginger wine
1 frozen cube of homeopathic medicine of your choice
Friedrich Ferdinand Runge Flip
4 oz. coffee
1/2 oz. port
1 oz. cognac
1Â eggs
Pinch Nutmeg
Mix all ingredients, except ground nutmeg, with cracked ice in a shaker or blender, pour into a chilled Squall glass or wine goblet. Add additional ice, if necessary. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
(Courtesy of Sasha Pixlee)
The Ray Comfort
2 parts OJ
1 part Malibu banana-flavored rum
dash of SoCo
On the rocks with line and cherry
The Black Hole
0.5 oz Jagermeister
0.5 oz Rumplemintz
Make certain that the Jager is as cold as possible. Pour 1/2 ounce of jager into shot glass and top with 1/2 ounce of Rumpleminze. The rumpleminze will sink to the bottom giving a Black Hole effect.
The bah rumbug
1 oz spiced rum
2 oz half and half
1 cube sugar
serve hot, sprinkled with cinnamon
2009 Skepchick Gift Guide
Anatomically Correct Human Heart Locket by Peggy Skemp
Give someone your anatomically correct sterling silver heart locket. It’s even correct on the inside! This is a fantastic gift to give if you, like most heathens, have only a cold black space where your heart used to be.
It’s the trolley scooter from Samsonite and Micro Mobility. This is a suitcase that turns into a scooter. So, the next time you’re trying to catch that connection in Singapore, you don’t have to run, you can gliiiiide!
Says Maria, “Christian said that we had better be careful because considering [Rebecca’s] record with vehicles this year, we may want to wait until they install a version with airbags.” So funny. HA HA.
20th anniversary MST3K box set
Includes First Spaceship on Venus, Laserblast, Werewolf, Future War DVDs + Crow T Robot figurine
Unleash a whirlwind of screeching monkey justice upon any evildoer who crosses your path, like a homeopath or maybe Sylvia Browne.
Official Licensed Doctor Who Coat
Speaking of fighting crime, don this fabulous coat the next time you go after metal trashcans with plungers attached to them. We like to wrap up in it while pretending David Tennant is already wearing it.
The Rookie
“It’s Steve What’shisname’s book,” says Carrie, even though she damn well knows Scott Sigler is the man. In fact, he’s the only man who can get a bunch of sci-fi lovers reading a book about football.
Sterling Silver Smiley Necklaces
Classy, elegant emoticon jewelry. Jen really likes the “Devilish” one, but there are lots of others just in case you have a non-satanic emotion.
Get your baby started now, and maybe in 40 years she won’t have you thrown into the pit of mechanical bears that protects her evil lair.
Light a candle and ask your favorite dead scientist or freethinker for a miracle. It’s at least as likely to work as praying to some religious saint, and twice as educational.
Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People
The sell-out event from 2008 is happening again this year, but if you can’t get to London by next week then you can enjoy the magic at home with this swell DVD!
The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas
Super essays from positive freethinkers who love Christmas even if they’re not big on the Baby Jesus.
Watch something evolve just by flipping through the pages! Try to avoid creationists asking “WELL THEN WHO IS FLIPPING THE FLIP BOOK AND WHY ARE THERE MONKEYS?”
Koala Adoption from the Koala Preservation Society and Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie NSW Australia. This organization helps injured Koalas and releases them back into the wild! Amy adopted Tuffy Tuffins for Carrie.
The first XKCD Book, Volume 0 features selections and fan favorites from the first 600 comics (mouse over text included)! A portion of the profits will go to build a school in Laos through the charity “Room to Read.” Rad.
Surlyramics, awesome jewelry from our very own Surly Amy. Get your science, nerd, and skeptic jewelry fix here.
Finally, don’t forget to buy Tim Minchin’s song White Wine in the Sun so that it hits the Christmas charts, which is apparently something big that matters here in jolly ol’ England. Regardless, it’s a fab song that should be on your holiday playlist.
I want that friggin coat.
Wow, I was totally expecting the Ray Comfort to be some kind of Banana + Southern Comfort drink, although that would probably be disgusting… Actually, just like the real Ray.
I guess drinkability trumps funny.
Damn, I’m such a dork. I didn’t realize SoCo was Southern Comfort. :P
Awww, I didn’t make it this year. :(
If you’re going to get the MST3K box set with Crow, you’ll need to add the newest box set, Volume XVI. It comes with a Tom Servo figure!
@kookbreaker2: Sorry! You should send us a heads up on your coolest stuff when the season’s kicking off…
Will do. This year’s gift guide was much later than previous years and so it would not have had much impact on sales in any case.
Next year…
I’m listening to the mp3 right now.
Adding to the gift list, there’s some great science sculpture stuff at Bathsheba Sculpture. I’ve seen the star map up close and it’s awesome, especially when it’s on a lighted base.
Also (shameless self-promotion alert), there’s a bunch of science/skeptic/geek stuff available through Tree Lobsters.
The one thing I’m looking for isn’t on the list:
The 2010 skepchick calendar …
I was busy being an irresponsible whore and I forgot to give my drink recipe to Rebecca:
The Virgin Elyse Anders (courtesy of Sasha Pixlee)
1 oz Cinnamon Simple Syrup (recipe below)
1 oz Lime juice
4 oz Grapefruit Juice
Shake and strain into a cocktail glass
Top with your favorite bubbly beverage
Cinnamon Simple Syrup
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
shitload of cinnamon sticks
Put all ingredients in a pot on the stove on high. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Bring to a boil. Let cinnamon steep for at least 3 hours, then strain, bottle and refrigerate.
Crackerjack list. I love all the cheeky skeptical cocktails.
$300 for that coat? Well, if your money to sense ratio is anything like mine, you might prefer to check out your local army surplus shop. For example, a passable immitation is the French great coat, available for £30 here. They weigh a bloody ton though! http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/army-surplus/clothing/military-clothing/military-clothing-2/french-army-olive-drab-wool-m47-219197.html
That Ray Comfort drink sounds disgusting, certainly not an intelligently designed beverage.
I do like that the typo seems to be suggesting that it be accompanied with cocaine though.
I want someone who I could give an anatomically correct heart locket to. And who could in return give me a black monolith pendant.
Sparkly tits would be an appreciated bonus.
Although there sure are a lot of cream-based cocktails. I didn’t know skepticism involved so much violent vomiting.
Drop Bears!
I’m sorry to have to refute your theory, but not all alcohol can be mixed with orange juice.
Creme de Menthe
Just think about what it’s like to have a glass of orange juice just after brushing your teeth and you kind of get the idea.
Banana flavor = yuck. I’m with Maria.
@Kaboobie: You are a person of taste and discretion, I can tell.
I hatez bananaz
Just got round to listening to the podcast. I can let Rebecca know that you can get “half and half” in the UK – we call it half cream.