December 12, 2017

Modcast #398: Have Yourself a Mary Little Christmas

And now for something completely different. Well, okay, not completely different. The difference-maker this week is Mary Queen of Cosmos who is bringing her sleigh full of Christmas spirits to the modcast. She's delivering an audio essay augmented with all the holiday music you could want. It's a more a true podcast in the style of This American Life, but with the perfect seasonal accompaniment.

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Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin' -- Albert King
Black Christmas -- Rose Graham
Holiday Cheer -- The Martini's
Christmas Threw Up All Over You -- April Smith and the Great Picture Show
It's Cliched to Be Cynical at Christmas -- Half Man Half Biscuit
I Want a Present for Christmas -- J.B. Summers
Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects -- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
My Favorite Things -- The Supremes
Christmas Gift -- Margie Joseph
Soul Santa -- Funk Machine
This Christmas -- Donny Hathaway
A Marshmallow World -- Darlene Love
Santa Claus -- The Sonics
Candy Cane Children -- The White Stripes
The Christmas Song -- The Raveonettes
Happy Xmas (War is Over) John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Fairytale of New York -- The Pogues (feat. Kirsty MacColl)
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day -- Pedro the Lion
That Was the Worst Chirstmas Ever! -- Sufjan Stevens
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) -- Darlene Love


Cranberry Gin Cocktail

1½ ounces Gin
¾ ounce rich simple syrup
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
Crushed ice
7 fresh cranberries, divided
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
1 mint sprig, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, rich simple syrup, lemon juice and 2 to 3 pieces of crushed ice. Shake vigorously, then pour ½ ounce of the mixture in the bottom of a rocks glass. Add 4 of the cranberries to the glass and muddle well. Fill the glass with crushed ice and pour the remaining cocktail into the glass. Top with even more crushed ice then garnish with the remaining cranberries. Dust the cranberries with confectioners’ sugar, then garnish with a mint sprig and serve.