Gingerbread House 2015

Thanks aunt Amy! We had so much fun decorating our gingerbread house. Turned out super cute. Perfect family night activity. 

Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes

Um, so I know this isn't exactly a picture of peanut butter banana pancakes. But that is what was on the plates a few minutes before this pic. My kids love them (minus Greta who's allergic to bananas). I love lazy mornings over Christmas break!

Pain au chocolate

Nothing quite like a chocolate croissant. Ok, maybe eating it in France would improve the experience a bit. But these were good. Christmas morning tradition (when I can find them!) with omlets. Everyone was happy :)

Merry Christmas Santa!

Santa was pleased with our cookies. Ate them all gone :) And Rudolph ate 2 carrots. Well done. 

Cranberry Bundt cake

This cake is one of my absolute favorites. And I only make it once a year, because you can only buy fresh cranberries at the store for a few select weeks each year. Did u know that? Right before Thanksgiving through part of December. Then they're gone. For 11 more months. So I savor this cake every time I make it. It's a dense pound cake, with tart spots of fresh cranberries. Not too sweet. Alone it's just "muhh". But, you don't eat it alone.....

This is the sauce you drizzle on top, in lieu of frosting. But it's a million times better than frosting. 4 ingredients: butter, sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. I use the word "drizzle" very loosely. It's really more like I bathe the cake in the sauce. There is something about the tart cranberries mixed with the sweet, buttery, creamy sauce, that turns to magic. Trust me. Call me for the recipe :) But hurry- we only have one week left to buy cranberries!

Cranberry sauce

Nothing quite like homemade cranberry sauce. I'm in love with it, no matter what the skeptics say. See that vibrant, deep red color?! It's beautiful. 

Sweet potatoes

I was in charge of making the sweet potatoes for thanksgiving this year. I have to make a different recipe depending on which family we are eating with. This year we had EVERYONE at my husbands parents. So I made 3  9x13's of these. Plus this little extra to keep at our house :) It's the butter/brown sugar/pecan topping that makes it what it is. 

Bread

I never tire of homemade bread. Ever. 

Mint Ice Cream Pie

My little one brought home a cookbook from school. She really wanted to make something out of it. A month went by. Life was busy. She kept asking. Kept renewing the book. We FINALLY made it happen :) And it was divine! She had to be very patient, as the recipe had many steps. First, graham cracker crust. Bake. Cool. Freeze. Smooth in the mint ice cream. Freeze. Make the hot fudge. Drizzle on top. Freeze. Eat! Fun times :)

Carving

After much deliberation, we decided on a Mickey Mouse pumpkin. It took way longer than expected, but the kids loved it.