Fa La La La LAAAAAA La Laa Laa Laaaaaa

Winter came to town this week! Not the fake, fool you into thinking it is winter, but the honest to goodness staying until May kind of winter. You can tell because the snow is dry and fluffy, not heavy and wet. That snow gets you in the mood then laughs at you as it melts away. This kind of long term winter puts me in the mood for Christmas!

It has been a very long time since I have felt like celebrating Christmas. I put up a good face, go through the motions for my offspring, but my heart just wasn’t in it. This year something is different, maybe it is because I am so busy. I tend to do more the busier I get. Maybe it’s because I am reading about RAC – Random Acts of Christmas from Aunt Bethany. Maybe its because Chicken Hawk has her Tree up already. Maybe it’s because I went to Christmas on the Square and watch the lighting of the Tree. OR MAYBE its because I have a new tourist attitude!

It doesn’t really matter why, the point is I am itching to start baking! That is a word my family has not heard in a while from me. I must admit, I rock the kitchenaid mixer.

A few years ago Honey broke the #1 Christmas Gift Rule:

NO APPLIANCES FOR YOUR WIFE- NO EXCEPTIONS!

I wanted a Kitchen Aid Mixer. I wanted it BAD! One of my hobbies was watching Food Network, everyone had one. I was mixing everything by hand. Very hard to be Martha Stewart without a Kitchen Aid. I had the best ingredients, the correct methods, even the island where I could pretend I was a cooking show just like my mom did.

Then I got the question, ” do you want your present early or on Christmas Day?” What kind of question is THAT!?!? Christmas Day thank you very much. I don’t get a pile of gifts as it is, so everyone counts! I guess Honey called my mom, told her what it was and she agreed, give it to me for Christmas, early means you must get me a replacement gift. Thanks for having my back mom!

This Black Kitchen Aid was glorious! I loved it more than the offspring. True story. I am going to brag a bit here, but I make fabulous cookies. Kitchen Aid made them better, if that was even possible. I baked up a storm and Genetic Offspring wept with joy, he loves my Chocolate Chip cookies more then me. True Story.  Sadly, Kitchen Aid is sitting in my pantry being lonely. It misses me. To be honest, I miss it too.

I have begun to compile a list of baking I want to do for the holiday season. Grey Cup is coming up and I traditionally kick off the cookie season by baking on that day.

I am blessed with family and friends old and new who are as talented in the kitchen as me. Since I have ZERO time left for a Hen Party Cookie Exchange, I would like to invite you to post your best recipe HERE. It is my new page dedicated to the Best Christmas Food EVER!  I’ll start the ball rolling:

Honey Popcorn

3 qt popped popcorn

1c nuts (almonds, pecans peanuts etc)

1/2 c of butter (no margarine!)

1/4c honey

1 tsp vanilla ( the good stuff – not imitation!!)

Place popcorn and nuts in a shallow roasting pan. Melt butter, sugar and honey. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil gently 5 minutes, without stirring. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Pour over popcorn and nuts, stirring until coated. Bake at 250F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and stir while the Honey popcorn cools. Store in an airtight container.

Try not to let it cool completely in the roasting pan…you’ll be sorry!

I hope you like this idea and share too. This way we won’t end up with 52 dozen shortbread cookies. Bring on the Seasonal Treats!