Christmas Wreath Cookies

These gorgeous cookies are definitely my favorite cookies for this holiday season.  The garnishes are endless and this is something your family, friends, and children can get in on and decorate with you. I admit I got a bit stressed out on whether or not I was about to get these cookies to look nice enough to serve but I was quite pleasantly surprised when I started decorating them.  It was beautiful and it hid all the imperfections on the cookies.  I got this recipe from Bon Appetit and you can substitute whatever flavor of shortbread you want if lavender doesn't work for you.  It's a great recipe that shortbread lovers will thank you for.

Raspberry Hot Chocolate

Here is a quick and delicious one for everyone! It's the last weekend until Christmas and instead of pushing and shoving for gifts in department stores, why not stay at home with a nice hot cup of raspberry hot chocolate?  That sounds so much better, doesn't it?

stilton blue cheese and apple scones

Dwalin: What is this?

Balin: I don't know. I think it's supposed to be cheese, it's gone blue.

I still have Hobbit fever after watching The Hobbit marathon a few days ago and I wanted to channel some of that into the kitchen.  In a hilarious scene in The Unexpected Journey, Dwalin and Balin raid the shelves of Bilbo Baggins when Balin holds up a wedge of cheese.  Unfamiliar with blue cheese, he tosses it off to the corner thinking it has gone blue. On a side note, who else wants a pantry like Bilbo?

Hobbit or not, these blue cheese and apple scones are amazing.  I find myself typically craving sweet and salty food combinations and this really hits the spot.  Feel free to substitute various dried fruits and other kinds of cheese that you have in you pantry for this recipe.

The Hobbit Marathon

 On Monday, December 15th, I got to watch the premiere of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies!!! As I've said in previous posts, my love for Tolkien and his stories go deep and when I saw the chance to see The Hobbit movies in the IMAX theater, I jumped at the chance.  I was in heaven!  I was surrounded by Middle Earth enthusiasts like myself in the first marathon showing of the three movies.  I'm not going to go into reviews or anything like that because I want everyone to experience the movie without somebody's point of view in the their mind.

Roaring Camp Railroads Holiday Tree Walk

To continue with the Christmas festivities, I went to the Roaring Camp Railroads Holiday Tree Walk this weekend.  This was my first time visiting these railroads located in Santa Cruz, CA and thankfully, I was not disappointed.  Upon arriving, there was already a crispness in the air from the heavy rain showers the day before.  The trees were a lush green and there were still a few dark clouds lingering in the sky.  

Gingerbread Chia Pudding

December is a very difficult month for those on a diet.  Though we might like to believe that Christmas calories do not count, they still do when it comes to those with heath issues. One of the most difficult things to avoid in December are all the sweet treats around us so I wanted to come up with a simple and easy dessert that will satisfy our cravings without leaving us feeling guilty.

This super simple recipe can be made in a variety of ways and flavors.  It does feel kind of silly that I'm actually writing this recipe for everyone considering how simple it is but I hope you enjoy it!

Great Dickens Christmas Fair

For the 6th year in a row, I had the opportunity to attend the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco.  It has been a tradition for us to attend everyday on the first weekend of December to help us get into the Christmas spirit.  For those that are unaware of the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, it's basically a fair set in Victorian London.  The moment you step through the entrance, your senses are delightfully filled with smells of roasting chestnuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  There are Christmas decorations on every surface and storefront.  

Happy December!

Happy December, everyone! I hope those that celebrate Thanksgiving had a great one filled with love and good food.  However, as fast as Thanksgiving came, it has now past and I can't believe we are now in the start of December.  As stressful as December can get, it's important to leave time for yourself this month.  Before writing this blog, I put together a short list of some of the things I'm most looking forward to this month.  Hopefully, this list will pile on and on but it's nice to have a few things to look forward to.  Let me know if anyone has something they're most excited to do for themselves in the month of December!