It really is the most wonderful time of the year. And as I’m fond of saying, Christmastime is absolutely the best time of the year to be Cuban.
Why? I wrote all about that right here: 10 Things That Are Awesome About Being Cuban at Christmas. You’re welcome.
You’ll notice that the very first thing on that list is Crema de Vie. It’s our own fabulous, Cuban version of Egg Nog, which means it’s going to be super delicious. And I promise you, it’s super easy to make.
Watch this:
Every year we make multiple batches of the Crema de Vie and bottle it up to give as gifts. Let the other kids bake cookies to give away. This Cuban family makes Cuban Egg Nog as God intended.
This is one of my very favorite Christmas traditions in our home. I especially love it because it’s a recipe that’s been around since my grandmother’s time.My family has been making Crema de Vie (the Cream of Life, people!) for as many years as I can remember. And now my kids are carrying on the tradition. This pleases me greatly.
I have often gone on a hunt for fancy bottles around this time of year. They sometimes have them at Pier One or at Hobby Lobby. You can also buy corks at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s or your local craft store if you go this route.
And I’ve also visited my local wine shop and asked for their empties and created a label to stick on. That works well, too.
But I’m busier than usual, so I opted for the large, 25 oz. Perrier Sparkling Water bottles. Because 1) I actually drink Perrier – but that’s not important right now. 2) Even if you don’t drink Perrier, you could still get the bottles for a dollar and change. #WorthIt
So, we made the Crema de Vie. I have been drinking Perrier and saving bottles. I found the cutest Christmas Bottle Toppers EVER at Target. Then all that was left was making the tags.
Which is really fun for me. My daughter, Lucy (also a graphic designer) created the tag blank. I added the text and tree design. I printed them right at home on cardstock on my home printer, and punched a hole in the top.
How cute are these!? But that’s not all!
Because I love you, I’ve created a PDF file that you can download and print these totally cute Crema de Vie labels. Of course, they don’t say, love, The Darbys, porque ya tu sabes. You can have them printed (at Staples or Kinko’s), or print them yourself at home. They say, “Feliz Navidad” or “Merry Christmas” so you can spread cheer in two languages!
Here’s the link:
Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas, my friends. I raise my glass to you with a big, fat, Cuban SALUD!
How about the recipe for the Creme de Vie