I’ve been a cookie-making machine this weekend! We hosted our annual beer and cookie exchange Saturday, then I went to a cookie exchange at Two Sticks Bakery last night. Needless to say, I’m still riding a bit of a sugar high.

The great thing about having a weekend revolving around cookies is my holiday baking is already done! I made eight different types of cookies, and stuck most of them in the freezer. Now all I have to do to get ready for celebrating with family next week is pull them out and put them on a plate. It couldn’t get easier!

I like trying a couple new recipes every year, but I’m big on tradition. I always make almond cut-out cookies with buttercream, pretzel cookies, bourbon balls, and lemon pistachio biscotti.

And, an old favorite returned to my baking list this year. I started making potato chip cookies in college, when my infatuation with baking started.  I brought some home for Christmas break one year, and my brother and his friends went crazy for them. So, I started making them every year.

But I swapped these out for other cookies the past two years — and my family never let me hear the end of it! My brother was especially bummed not to have any potato chip cookies during the holidays. So, I brought them back this year. After having one this weekend, I don’t know why I stopped making them! I’m a sucker for the salty-sweet combination, and these cookies are addicting.

I’ve tested a few different brands of potato chips in this recipe, but I find Ruffles have the best texture and perfect amount of salt. I’ve had problems with some other chips not staying crunchy once mixed into the batter.

I highly recommend only baking one sheet of these cookies at a time. It’s good to do with all cookies to ensure they cook evenly. I still use two cookie sheets, prepping one with dough while the other bakes in the oven. This makes things go more quickly. If you do put two cookie sheets in the oven at the same time, switch which oven rack they’re on halfway through baking.

I want to know what’s on your holiday baking list every year. Tell me in the comments!

Potato Chip Cookies

modified from My Baking Addiction

[ingredients title=”Ingredients”]

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup Ruffles, crushed
• 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• sea salt, for sprinkling

[/ingredients]

[directions title=”Directions”]

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet (or two) with parchment paper.
2. In an electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Add potato chips and pecans to butter mixture and beat on low until combined. Add vanilla, then flour, and mix on low just until the dough comes together.
4. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out heaping Tablespoons of dough. Roll them into balls, and place them about two inches apart on the cookie sheet.
5. Dip the end of a flat-bottomed glass in the powdered sugar, then lightly press down on each a ball of dough until flat. Repeat with remaining dough.
6. Bake cookies for 12 to 15 minutes, until edges are just starting to turn golden brown. Remove cookies from oven and let sit at least one minute before transferring to a wire cooling rack. Cool completely.
7. While cookies are cooling, place chocolate chips in a small, microwave safe bowl. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Continue heating chocolate in 15-second increments and stirring until it’s smooth. Use a spoon to drizzle chocolate over cookies. Top each cookie with a light sprinkling of sea salt. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
   [/directions]

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As a kid, my favorite holiday cookies were among the sweetest. I always gravitated toward sugar cookies and peanut butter blossoms, which I still love. But, my tastes have definitely matured since then. I now find myself reaching for cookies that aren’t quite as sweet during the holidays. My favorites are those that let simple, high-quality ingredients shine.

My mom started making this lemon pistachio biscotti when I was a kid. While it wasn’t my favorite cookie growing up, it definitely is as an adult. I’m a big fan of lemon in just about everything, and the addition of pistachios gives this biscotti a rich, nutty flavor. I like to dip the biscotti in white chocolate around the holidays, which makes for a beautiful presentation.

Biscotti is also among the easiest types of cookies to make. It’s supposed to be dry, which makes it foolproof. The cookies are also pretty durable, which makes them great hostess or office gifts.

I like to double this recipe, then throw half of the biscotti in the freezer to have on hand when we’re hosting guests. They’re great to pull out in the afternoon to enjoy with coffee.

[ingredients title=”Ingredients”]

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup suggar
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 Tbsp. lemon zest (from about one lemon)
• 4 Tbsp. freshly-squeezed lemon juice (from about one lemon)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup roasted pistachios, crushed
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

[/ingredients]

[directions title=”Directions”]

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pepper and salt. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, lemon zest and lemon juice. Add lemon mixture and pistachios to the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir until combined and a stiff dough forms.
4. Spread the powdered sugar on a clean work surface and place the dough on top. Divide the dough into four equal portions. Roll each piece into a log, about 1-inch in width. Place two logs each on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper, making sure the logs are at least two inches apart. Bake for 15 minutes, until the cookies feel firm. Place the cookie sheets on a cooling rack and lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees.
5. Once the cookie logs are cool to the touch, use a serrated knife to cut the logs into 1/2-inch thick, diagonal slices. Place the biscotti back on the cookie sheets and bake for an additional 13-15 minutes, until slightly browned and dry. Place on a cooling rack to bring down to room temperature.
6. While biscotti cools, place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir chocolate chips, then continue microwaving at 15-second increments until the chocolate is just melted. Dip each piece of biscotti in the white chocolate, so that half of each piece is covered.

[/directions]

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1. Visiting Chicago’s Christkindlmarket

Nothing gets me more into the holiday spirit than visiting the German Christmas market in Chicago every December. There are three locations this year, but we always go to the original location at Daley Plaza. It’s conveniently located downtown, which means it’s easy to hit up before seeing a Broadway show or when you need a break from shopping. The market is full of little huts selling everything from beautiful, wooden ornaments to hot, mulled wine. We always get a glass or two of the wine to sip while we stroll around and window shop. We often buy an ornament for ourselves or as a gift for others at one of the market’s shops, which has just about every ornament you could imagine! The crowds here are always large, but it’s worth braving the masses.

2. Lunch at The Walnut Room

This is another Chicago tradition you have to partake in at least once! My parents visited the Walnut Room with their families when they were kids, and it’s a tradition they’ve passed on to us. The Walnut Room is located inside the former Marshall Field’s on State Street, which is now a Macy’s. People are willing to wait hours to get a table during the holidays because of the amazing decorations. There’s always a breathtaking tree in the center of the room that serves as the backdrop for many families’ holiday photos. It’s decorated with a different theme every year, which makes the annual trip all the more exciting. The Walnut Room offers a special menu during the holidays, which includes my favorite holiday drink ever: Eggnog Brandy Alexander. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations during the holidays, so expect to wait about two hours for a table. But, don’t worry — you can shop while you wait! We’ve also learned that going at odd times during the day makes it easier to get a table. And, if you don’t have anyone under 21 in your group, you can sit in the bar. We’ve opted to snag a table in the bar section the past two years and haven’t had to wait more than 20 minutes.

3. Taking in the decorations at West Baden Springs

If you’ve never visited West Baden Springs hotel, Christmas is the time to go. The domed atrium of the hotel is impressive year-round, but the giant tree that stands in the middle of the room makes it even more beautiful. We like to grab a drink and dessert at the atrium bar while taking in the amazing view. It’s also worth hopping on the trolley and visiting the French Lick Hotel, which is also extravagantly decorated for the holidays. Check ahead of time to see what events are happening when you plan to visit. There is often live entertainment on weekends and plenty of family-friendly activities to check out. I highly recommend taking the historic, guided tour of the hotel if you haven’t visited before.

4. Drinking lots of Krampus

You knew there had to be a beer-related activity on this list, right?! We’ve been huge fans of Bloomington Brewing Co.’s seasonal Imperial Black IPA since we moved to Bloomington. It’s become a tradition of ours to not only grab a few pints during December, but also fill a growler or two with Krampus. We almost always have a limited amount to share with guests during our annual craft beer and cookie exchange. BBC is hosting its Krampus release party this Thursday, and my dad will conveniently be in town for the event. I can’t wait for the first sip of the season!

5. Tubing at St. Patrick’s County Park

While I don’t miss the lake-effect snow that came along with South Bend winters, I do miss some of the snow-related activities we enjoyed while living in the northern part of the state. I’m dying to get back to our old stomping grounds to go snow tubing at St. Patrick’s County Park. You pay to rent a tube for the day and then slide down a giant hill. You can go on your own or create a train of people, which makes you go even faster! St. Pat’s also offers great cross country skiing, including some special guided nighttime programs throughout the winter. James and I actually got engaged at this park, so it will always be a special place to us.

6. Cheering on the Hoosiers

Our favorite time to go to Indiana University basketball games is during winter break. All of the students are gone, so it feels like a ghost town — which we love! While the games may not be the most competitive, that means it’s usually easy to snag decent seats for pretty cheap. We’re really excited to be taking my family to their first game this December.

7. Stopping by the Hovey house

There are few things that bring me more joy than driving past this house on Hovey Avenue in my hometown of Normal, Illinois. Seeing the yard and roof packed full of illuminated holiday figurines is something that I’ve looked forward to since I was a kid. The display’s grown over the years. Last year, it included 1,000 figurines, which also spill into the neighbor’s yard. When we went home for Thanksgiving last week, the display was already ready to go.

8. Hosting our craft beer and cookie exchange

We love throwing parties, but our craft beer and cookie exchange is by far our favorite of the year. Everyone brings a dozen cookies or a six pack of beer to share, and we spend the evening sampling all of the goodies. It’s a great excuse to get together with friends before the craziness of the holidays really settles in. And, can you really go wrong with cookies and beer?

9. Making tortellini

When we get together with my cousins over the holidays, we often end up making some of my grandpa’s famous tortellini to enjoy for a meal. Having a large group of people to help fill and fold the tortellini makes the process go much more quickly. And, there’s something extra special about preparing a meal together. Spending time in the kitchen with loved ones is one of my favorite parts of celebrating Christmas.

10. Feasting on appetizers

My favorite meal of the entire year comes on Christmas Eve. My family started a tradition years ago of having an appetizer buffet. Each of us makes two to three appetizers, and we always have more than enough food for a meal. The dishes are usually a combination of family favorites and new recipes. It’s a great way to have a delicious, memorable meal without spending all day in the kitchen.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? Tell me in the comments below!

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Our holiday weekend kicked off early when James’ parents came to town Thursday night. We took them to their first IU game of the season and had an absolute blast. It was fun to see how excited they got with every basket. You can’t beat the atmosphere inside Assembly Hall!

My parents got to town on Christmas Eve and we spent much of the day relaxing and preparing for my favorite holiday tradition, our annual appetizer buffet. Every year on Christmas Eve everyone makes a couple of appetizers to contribute and we have so much fun sampling finger foods and dips.

Our spread was quite impressive for just the six of us! We served a couple of old standbys, including two-ingredient creamy salsa dip, lightened-up jalapeno poppers and crockpot turkey meatballs.

My mom and I also decided to test out a couple of new dishes this year. She made a warm reuben dip and the best pimento cheese spread. Dips are always my weakness, which is why I never make them when it’s just James and me — we could knock out an entire bowl by ourselves. The dips definitely stole the show, but I was also a big fan of the Chinese chicken salad I made from Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings cookbook. It made a giant batch and the leftovers are great!

Of course, there was also festive beer included in the meal. We got another growler of Krampus from Bloomington Brewing for my dad to finally try and he was a big fan. We’re hoping to grab more before we head down to Nashville to visit my brother and sister-in-law this weekend.

After stuffing ourselves with multiple plates of delicious food, we all opened presents before James’ parents hit the road. Growing up we always opened presents from family on Christmas Eve and did stockings and gifts from “Santa” on Christmas morning. This year we decided to open everything on Christmas Eve. James and I have just done stocking stuffers for each other the past few years, but last year he went over the top by sneaking a Fitbit in there. I had to get him back this year and got a Nest thermostat that he’d been eyeing for awhile. It was installed less than 24 hours later!

Opening presents Christmas Eve made for a relaxing Christmas morning. I prepped egg casserole and skinny french toast casserole the night before, so I just popped them both in the oven when I woke up. We watched Gilmore Girls while waiting on breakfast and I’m pretty sure I got my parents hooked on the show. My mom kept asking to watch more episodes. We enjoyed breakfast and sipped coffee for a while before heading out to see the latest Star Wars movie. We’ve been going to movies on Christmas since I was a kid and it’s another tradition that’s become a favorite over the years!

My parents left town yesterday just as some of our friends were arriving for a quick reunion. Now our house is empty and we are exhausted! I head back to work for a couple of days tomorrow and then we’re back on the road to continue our holiday celebrations with the rest of our family. I hope your weekend was equally amazing and that you’re finding time to rest amidst the holiday madness!

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There are only three days left until Christmas — ahhh! December is going by so quickly and I honestly feel totally unprepared for the holidays. I have all of the presents bought and wrapped, but I still need to clean the house before family arrives tonight and make a big trip to the grocery store. We can’t wait for our parents to arrive. It’s fun to be able to host them so they can relax for once.

There are a of couple of holiday traditions we’ve continued from our childhoods and some of our own that we’ve adopted over the past few years. One of our newer traditions is cooking a big breakfast for Christmas morning. It gives us an excuse to stay in our pajamas a little longer and helps stretch out the morning. I try to make dishes that can easily be prepped the night before so all we have to do is pop them in the oven Christmas morning. I’m not a huge egg person (over easy or poached only!), but I usually make some type of egg casserole and then something on the sweeter side. Here are a few of my favorite recipes for Christmas morning:

Cookie Butter Scones

In order to make these scones you have to resist eating the entire jar of cookie butter with just a spoon — not an easy task! Scones are easy to throw together ahead of time and these are a real treat. Serve at room temperature or pop them in the toaster oven for a minute to warm them up.

Crepes

For whatever reason, kids go crazy for these crepes! My parents always made them when we had sleepovers as kids and I’m pretty sure that’s why friends kept coming back. You can cook the crepes a day ahead of time and heat them in the microwave for a few seconds on Christmas morning to make life easy.

Almond Butter Coconut Granola

This granola is delicious on its own, but I plan to serve it as part of a build-your-own yogurt parfait bar on Christmas morning. It’s also a great topping for smoothie bowls and fruit!

Honey Oat Bread

This bread makes the best toast I’ve ever had. Top it with jam, cinnamon sugar or just a little butter. You can also use it as a base for some pretty amazing French Toast!

Coconut Citrus Upside Down Cake

This cake can pass for breakfast because it’s covered in fruit, right? It’s simple to make and the candied citrus is stunning. If you aren’t a grapefruit fan, substitute another orange or lemon instead.

What’s your favorite Christmas tradition? Tell me in the comments!

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Have you started your holiday shopping yet? I haven’t bought a single thing and I’m a little stressed about that. I’m one of those people who ends up at the mall December 23 frantically searching for gifts and vowing never to wait until the last minute to shop again. I’m hoping to knock out some shopping this week!

Today I’m sharing another gift guide, this time for the guys in your life. They can be hard to buy for sometimes, right? James and I are just doing stocking stuffers for each other for the second year in a row. We would rather spend our money on home improvements or trips than expensive gifts. This gift guide features ideas for every budget.

Milwaukee M18 Compact Drill Kit

My parents lent us this drill when we were tackling a few projects around the house and it quickly rose to the top of James’ Christmas list. It’s powerful, rechargeable and cordless. You can also opt to buy the drill without the kit for about $80 less.

Grilling Apron

This is something a lot of guys would never spend their own money on, but it comes in really handy if you know men who love to cook. I’m a big fan of the aprons from PCBHome, which feature fun plays on words. Williams-Sonoma is also running a sale on aprons, which you can pay a little extra to monogram. I plan on gifting a few of these this year!

Bose QC35 Wireless Headphones

If you’re looking at the price of these headphones and thinking, “Why would you spend that much on headphones?”, I totally get it. I’ve been using the same pair of beat up earbuds that came with my iPhone for two years. But, many of my friends and family members have much higher standards when it comes to headphones. And they all swear by Bose. These headphones are noise canceling and wireless. A great gift for music enthusiasts!

Sporting Event Tickets

I’ve said this before, but I think gifting experiences is the best way to go. It’s one of the most personal gifts you can give. And, it doesn’t have to be expensive! If you can afford to get your guy tickets to a NFL or NBA game, that’s great. But seeing a development team like the Mad Ants play can be a ton of fun. You can also snag relatively cheap balcony tickets for a few IU games in December and January.

Slippers

Slippers are another item I don’t think most guys would buy on their own but love getting as gifts. I bought James some fleece-lined moccasins a couple of years ago and he wears them nonstop around the house. There are so many varieties out there, but I always look for slippers with a thick sole so they can be worn outside for quick chores like taking the trash out.

Beer of the Month Club

Many of the guys I know are big craft beer enthusiasts. My dad, brother and husband love perusing liquor stores in different places to try and find new, unique brews to try. There’s a Beer of the Month Club that will ship recipients a variety of microbrews to try. I love this idea because you can choose how many shipments you want to gift and what kinds of beers you want included. Is there anything better than coming home from work to beer on your doorstep?

Stitch Fix

This is the perfect gift for a man who loves fashion or just needs a wardrobe update. Stitch Fix is an online styling service that sends you a box of five hand-picked items based on the preferences you indicate in your profile (you can read more in my review from a fix last year). You pay a small styling fee, which can be used toward any of the items in the box you keep. It’s so much fun to see what stylists pick out and I’ve always kept at least one item from each box. James hasn’t tried the men’s services from Stitch Fix, but I’ve heard good things from friends!

Professional Massage

Who doesn’t have this on their Christmas list? Most people I know spend so much time focusing on their careers, families and friends that they don’t take enough time to focus on themselves. A gift card for a professional massage is a present that everyone appreciates.

Zip Lining Tour

This is another experience that would be so fun to gift to the adventurous guys in your life. You’ll have to research the options available in your area, but I know Explore Brown County offers tours for those in South-Central Indiana. Many of these businesses are seasonal, so the recipient of this experience may have to wait a few months before cashing in.

Leather Boots

Men’s boots have come so far over the past few years when it comes to style! I live in leather boots every winter and snagged James a pair at the outlet mall last year that he loves. I especially love this pair from Bass because they’re stylish and practical. You can’t go wrong with L.L. Bean’s classic boots, either.

What gifts do you get for the guys in your life? Tell me in the comments!

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Hi, friends! I’m sorry I disappeared on you this week. Work got hectic with President-elect Donald Trump coming to Indiana and then I tweaked my back on Friday, which interfered with my plans. But, I have a fun weekend recap for you today!

We are on the train headed back to my hometown after a quick visit to Chicago with my parents. We planned the trip earlier this year when my mom managed to snag some tickets to see Hamilton.

We drove over to Illinois Friday night and took the train up to Chicago early Saturday. It’s so nice not having to worry about parking or driving. Once we got to the city, we dropped our bags off at our hotel and headed to the Walnut Room for an early lunch.

My family’s been going to the Walnut Room during the holidays for years. It’s a tradition I introduced James to when we started dating and now we look forward to making the trip every December. There’s a giant tree in the middle of the room that gets decorated differently every year and makes for a fun photo opp. Lots of other families have the same tradition, making the wait to get a table over two hours most days. But, you can also sit at the bar area. That’s what we did and there was no wait!

After a delicious lunch, we did some window shopping before heading to the theater for Hamilton. Like just about everyone else in the country, I’ve been dying to see the show. It absolutely lived up to the hype. The singing and dancing was nonstop, making the 2.5 hour show seem much shorter. I didn’t want it to end! I have a feeling I’ll be listening to the soundtrack and mix tape on repeat all week.

Shortly after the show we headed to Labriola for dinner. We tend to go to the same restaurants every time we are in the city, so it was fun to try something new! Our friend Debbie recommended the restaurant and we all had great meals. They offer a variety of salads, pastas and pizzas and everything was delicious. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and the portions were HUGE. You could easily spilt an entree. I’d recommend this restaurant if you’re staying in the Mag Mile area and looking for hearty portions.

My parents turned in for the night while James and I met up with a friend of ours at Watershed for drinks. The bar is in the basement of Pops for Champagne and only features beers from the Great Lakes region, which I loved. It’s laid back and a good spot to grab a casual drink.

Our trip to the city was a quick one, but so much fun. There’s just something special about Chicago at Christmastime.

We’ll be back in the city in two weeks to reunite with some friends, so I’m looking forward to hitting up more new spots. If you have any recommendations, send them my way!

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Are you still nursing your Turkey hangover? We are headed to Thanksgiving number two today to celebrate the holiday with James’ side of the family. Our house smells amazing because I threw together some pumpkin bars last night and the scent is lingering. That’s a smell that never gets old! I’ll have a full recap of all the Thanksgiving festivities for you on Monday.

It’s hard to believe, but we are now less than one month away from Christmas! I love everything about this time of year — the traditions, food, sounds. And, I love hunting for unique gifts for family and friends. I think the best gifts are those that are most personal. It’s easy and appreciated when you get someone a Starbucks gift card, but there’s just something special about hand-selecting a present.

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be sharing a few gift guides to make the hunt a little bit easier. Naturally, this first one is for the foodies in your life.

Cravings: Recipes For All The Food You Want to Eat

This is my favorite cookbook of 2016 because I use it at least once a week. I love that there are recipes I can easily throw together on weeknights, but also more elaborate meals I can cook up for a special occasion. The coconut rice, chili and Pad  are among our favorite recipes. I can’t wait for her second cookbook!

Le Creuset Dutch Oven

I’ve been lusting after these dutch ovens ever since I used one while cooking at a friend’s house. She’d had her dutch oven for more than ten years and you’d wouldn’t ever know — there wasn’t a single chip or scratch. These pots are extremely versatile and perfect for making winter comfort foods. I’ve never cooked with a Lodge Dutch Oven, but my cast iron skillet is the same brand and my all-time favorite pan.

Local Cooking Classes

I’m a huge fan of gifting experiences and cooking classes are so much fun! Locally, Bloomington Cooking School and Muddy Fork Bakery offer some great workshops that give participants the chance to learn new techniques and cuisines. I’ve also seen some Groupons in larger cities for sushi making courses!

Penzey’s Spices Gift Boxes

My family’s been buying spices from Penzey’s for years. Someone gave my parents one of their gift boxes years ago and it came along with a catalog that featured recipes and stories from home cooks, which made me fall in love with the company. You can also find the recipes online, and even nominate a cook you know to be featured! You can’t go wrong with any of Penzey’s gift sets, but I think the extract box and grill and broil pack look especially good.

Williams-Sonoma Wood Spoons

Anyone who cooks often knows you can never have too many wooden spoons! These are tools used everyday in many kitchens and this set from Williams-Sonoma holds up especially well.

Crate & Barrel Small Ramekins

These small, classic dishes are an inexpensive but extremely useful gift. Some friends gave us a set of these for our wedding and I use them at almost every meal. They’re perfect for serving appetizers or condiments, but also a great size for making portion-controlled desserts.

Gold Medal Wine Club Subscription

Is there any gift that’s better than wine? I do get nervous when it comes to choosing wine for other people because tastes vary so much. A girlfriend of mine has a subscription to one of the Gold Medal Wine clubs and says she’s discovered dozens of new, amazing wines as a result. Local wineries in your area may also offer clubs, similar to Oliver Winery’s program.

KitchenAid Stand Mixer

This is the Cadillac of kitchen tools. KitchenAids are expensive, but worth every penny in my experience. I’ve had mine since graduating from college and my mother’s had hers much, much longer. The mixer itself makes doubling recipes, kneading bread and many other baking tasks so much easier. And, there are lots of attachments available to help with other cooking needs.

Unique Dining Experience

You’ll have to do some research if you’re outside of Indiana, but getting a gift card for a special dining experience is a great gift for any food lover. Many local breweries host dinners that feature a gourmet menu paired with different beers. I’ve always thought dining at Table One, the chef’s table at West Baden Spring’s Hotel would be a real treat.

Personalized Apron

An apron is one of those things I’d never buy for myself but use nonstop ever since receiving one as a gift. My mom had a blue apron embroidered with the name of this blog on the front and I get so many compliments from people when I take it along to cooking classes. I find aprons especially useful around the holidays, when you’re trying to balance hosting duties with looking nice for the celebrations.

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We had a wonderful time with our parents this week and it was so special to host them for our first Christmas as a married couple. I planned the menus and prepped food ahead of time so we could spend as much time relaxing and visiting with each other as possible.

Christmas Eve has always been a bigger event for my family than Christmas day. When I was growing up and our extended family would come together for the holidays we had several relatives who left Christmas morning to go spend the day with their kids, so our big traditions always took place on Christmas Eve. We spend the day getting dishes ready for a big appetizer buffet. Everyone contributes a couple of dishes and it’s so much fun to try out new recipes. This year I put together a pretty epic cheese plate and made Southwestern egg rolls — they were a hit and I highly recommend the recipe!

Christmas Day was unseasonably warm, so rather than going to see a movie like we’ve done most years, we took advantage of the sunshine and headed out to McCormick’s Creek State Park. My dad visited the park with his family when he was a kid and it was fun to hear him talk about all of the fun they had there. We took a short hike to the waterfalls and back before heading home and getting some food ready for Christmas dinner.

The rest of our time together was spent huddled together in the living room talking or watching Christmas movies. We’ve been so busy the entire month of December that Christmas felt like more of a whirlwind than normal this year. While it was wonderful having family here, I’ve really enjoyed having the weekend after Christmas with no plans but to relax.

My goal for 2016 is to do that a lot more often.

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