‘Tis the Season!
I can’t believe it is here! Christmas!
I feel like I am missing something…
I am totally off this Christmas… usually there is soooo much cooking and wrapping and last minute stuff and visiting, and this year…calm.
Christmas without chaos???? Hmmm this is weird.
All the gifts have been wrapped for a week, the shopping is done.
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| A few of HBear’s… this is going to be a crazy morning lol |
We had my cousin’s family over on Saturday. It was a great night.
My cousin is gluten free so I made 2 yummy desserts. They were both good J
The brownies are serious. I mean be prepared. That’s my only warning lol
Gluten free Coconut Macaroons
3 1/3 cups shredded coconut
1 can sweet condensed milk
3 teaspoon vanilla
Combine all ingredients.
Roll into balls roughly the size of an avocado seed and place on a baking sheet topped with parchment paper. (I didn’t have any so I used Pam 🙁 They spread and turned dark around the edges. Don’t do that. LOL)
Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes (or until lightly golden in color).
Remove while still hot.
Cool on wire rack.
Crack Brownies
Adapted from My San Francisco Kitchen
1 batch brownies (mine were Duncan Hines Deluxe, hey whatever works!)
2 cups mini marshmallows
2 tablespoons butter
⅔ cup Belgian chocolate (I had some left over… you could use chocolate chips too)
1¼ cups creamy peanut butter, divided
1½ cups rice cereal (I used the Xmas kind)
Bake brownies in a greased 9×13-inch pan for 20-25 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes.
Microwave ½ cup + 2 tbsp peanut butter in a small bowl, then evenly spread over the brownies in the pan.
Add mini marshmallows to top of the peanut butter layer (can also add peanut butter cups if desired!).
Add butter, chocolate chips and remaining peanut butter to a small bowl and microwave to melt it all together.
Once the peanut butter mixture is completely melted, add rice cereal and stir through.
Transfer rice cereal mixture over the peanut butter layer on the brownies and press down firmly using wax paper.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes before cutting.
I don’t have any good pictures because they didn’t last long enough… and I may have been the one to Hoover them up! LOL They are awesome!
Yesterday we went to visit Santa. HBear asked for a real microphone lol I have a feeling Santa got it for her 😉
When Santa asked if she had been a good helper with her sister, she said, “Yes I help wash her hair on Thursday nights when Daddy and Papa are at bowling. Yeah, You know, it’s no big deal” *aw shucks* LOL she cracks me up LOL
Last night we went to Ninja’s parents for dinner. My F.I.L made an amazing slideshow of their last cruise through Turkey and the Greek Isles. Absolutely stunning pictures of such amazing historic sites, I only dream of visiting J SBean was overtired from being up late the night before but my M.I.L made a nice mulled wine and we had a great dinner.
Today we were in full swing Christmas. HBear and I went produce shopping by 9am. Ninja began the prep work. We are having dinner and fun at our house Christmas Eve and then M.I.L’s are coming over for Christmas morning! It will be fun having everyone there in the morning… all the couches will be full J something so small but was dreading so much. Dinner will be at their house after naps. Easy Peasy Mac and Cheesy!
So, Ninja was my sous chef! I actually put Dad to work too lol.
I have decided that I will post recipes for this dinner throughout the next week as it is just too much for 1 post lol. We are having,
Mandarin & Pomegranate Salad w/ Honey-Citrus Vinaigrette & Sweet and Spicy Pecans, Beef Wellington with Green Peppercorn and Brandy Sauce, Classic Risotto Milanese and a Chocolate Cream & salted caramel tart for dessert.
Don’t make me repeat it, but yeah we are.
J
So today Ninja made the salad dressing and the pecans while I shopped. Then when I got home we cut all the onions, mushrooms, peppers, cheese, we would need ofr all the recipes including breakfast.
Mom made breakfast. Her special Christmas breakfast. We all love it. I can’t believe I didn’t ask her about it. I know that is crazy but we had time and I sat there dumb. It is weird not having her as my sous chef. It is weird not going up to see my Nana and putting up her cards and stuff.
That’s all I have to say about that… Because if I say what I feel I will cry… and I may not stop… and it is Christmas.
So, today we went for a cup of holiday cheer at my BCB’s place! Awesome time! They are so generous and kind and funny, and she doesn’t even read my blog so I am not just saying it lol.
We decided to make their present. We made a Family Movie Night.
HBear painted the mason jar lid red and we filled it with Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa.
Double Hot Chocolate Hot Cocoa
Adapted from Weelicious
Layer in a mason jar:
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
¼ cup mini marshmallows (I had Cinnamon Bun marshmallows that I used)
1 cinnamon stick
Add a tag that reads:
Simply simmer with 8 cups of milk and whisk until smooth!
Ninja wrapped a shoe box and we put some green Easter basket… shit (you know what I mean), at the bottom. We added The Lorax (HBear’s favorite movie), some Orville Redenbacher, Twizzlers, some reindeer candycanes for the girls and the hot cocoa J
We made 1 for my cousin’s family too but with Planes, for the boys J
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| http://www.iheartnaptime.net/link-party-palooza-21 |
Tonight after dinner we piled into the van, all bathed and jammied with our hot chocolate and blankets, turned the Christmas music up and went on a Christmas light tour.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a G’Night!
