New jobs started in November mean limited vacation time. So this year I was unable to trek to Georgia and instead was welcomed into the fold at The CEO's home in Pennsylvania. I know I've said it before and I am going to say it again. Having his family nearby and so good to me is an incredible blessing. Nobody wants to spend Christmas alone...well, nobody I know anyway.
Making Christmas cookies is a tradition in The CEO's home. The Sunday before Christmas found us making cookies most of the day. I didn't take pictures. I was too caught up in the joy of everything. The CEO watching the Eagles lose again in the living room while his mother and I made cookies. The smell of dinner cooking away in the crockpot while Christmas music played. And, of course, The CEO's amazing stepfather, who is always there to lend a hand in the kitchen. And those two little dogs of mine playing under everyone's feet. It was perfect and so lovely.
In my family, chili for dinner on Christmas Eve is a tradition. So I made Frank's Four Bean Chili...with some alterations...of course...for dinner on Sunday night and we had some on Christmas Eve for lunch as well. In addition, for FOOTBALL FOODZ! I made a Chipotle Chili Cheese Ball from a mix we picked up at Cracker Barrel. It was really good. Really, Really good.
But I know you want to know about the cookies. I will link to the recipes, but please note that with the exception of one, the recipes are similar but not exactly the same.
We made chocolate chunk/chip cookies. The Tollhouse version. Delish.
The CEO's mom made Mexican Wedding Cakes. I have never had these homemade before and they are yummy. Plus, rolling them in the powdered sugar is really fun. The story of how these got introduced to the family, when The CEO was a kid and had to take a Mexican dessert to school, is equally fun. I am thinking this should be a Christmas staple for me.
I made Peanut Butter Gingerbread Chocolate Chunk Cookies, a recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie. These were...not my best work. The taste wasn't bad...although peanut butter and ginger is an interesting combination. But they were gooey like they weren't done. The recipe says that they will look uncooked but they aren't. Well, mine were. Thank goodness for The CEO's mom or we would have been cookieless.
Perhaps my favorite part of this day was watching The CEO's mom make Spritz cookies. I had never had these little butter cookies before. The CEO's mom has a little device that squirts out tiny Christmas trees, which we decorated with green, silver, and gold sugar. They were delicious and beautiful. Here is a recipe that I think does it justice but the book this recipe came out of was absolutely captivating and had wonderful cookie recipes from around the world. These were my favorite.
The cookies were dessert on Christmas Eve. It was wonderful. Just wonderful.
As for Christmas Eve, we entertained some of The CEO's family's friends. Wonderful people who brought even more light and laughter to the holiday. One of these friends is a rather incredible chef who is opening a restaurant in NYC this winter. So we were a little nervous about making sure he was well fed. My advice was to go home cooking. We were going to Haute Cuisine anything well and so The CEO's mom served thinly sliced Delmonico steaks, green beans, The Barefoot Contessa's Roasted Beets, and I contributed The Pioneer Woman's Twice Baked Potatoes (a particular favorite of The CEO). For appetizers, she served Paula Deen's Sugar and Nut Glazed Baked Brie and an artichoke dip that was beyond excellent.
For me, the MVP's were the roasted beets. Honest to goodness, I do not love beets. But these were earthy and soft without being mushy. The citrusy tang made them perfect. I might love beets. I kind of want some of these beets right now.
The night was a success and I so enjoyed being The CEO's mom's kitchen assistant.
Christmas Day brought glad tidings of great joy indeed. First thing in the morning, we were able to watch The CEO's children open their presents. The culmination of so much shopping, wrapping, and shipping was a delight. I hope they liked everything.
We took our time opening gifts. That was nice. At around noon, I called my mom and brother. Being without them was really hard. But then The CEO's extended family arrived and the fun began anew.
We opened gifts, shared laughs and stories and had Christmas dinner. The CEO's aunt made ham that was perhaps the best I've ever had. I ate 3 pieces! We also had the family's very own mac and cheese. I have never had a recipe like it (which is saying something with as much mac and cheese as I eat) and, judging from what I tasted and observed, the recipe is something like this one. It is a simple way to make a family favorite and a real sensation in The CEO's family. I was glad to finally try it! The CEO's mom made a pineapple stuffing that was great. I can't eat much stuffing (thanks lapband) but what I had was delicious.
We had an amazing time with incredible food and warm, loving family. I am so thankful to have been included.
Happy Holidays to you and yours from Teddy and Simon (and The CEO and me)!
NoM
~ EK
Up Next: Chicken Provence
Making Christmas cookies is a tradition in The CEO's home. The Sunday before Christmas found us making cookies most of the day. I didn't take pictures. I was too caught up in the joy of everything. The CEO watching the Eagles lose again in the living room while his mother and I made cookies. The smell of dinner cooking away in the crockpot while Christmas music played. And, of course, The CEO's amazing stepfather, who is always there to lend a hand in the kitchen. And those two little dogs of mine playing under everyone's feet. It was perfect and so lovely.
In my family, chili for dinner on Christmas Eve is a tradition. So I made Frank's Four Bean Chili...with some alterations...of course...for dinner on Sunday night and we had some on Christmas Eve for lunch as well. In addition, for FOOTBALL FOODZ! I made a Chipotle Chili Cheese Ball from a mix we picked up at Cracker Barrel. It was really good. Really, Really good.
But I know you want to know about the cookies. I will link to the recipes, but please note that with the exception of one, the recipes are similar but not exactly the same.
We made chocolate chunk/chip cookies. The Tollhouse version. Delish.
The CEO's mom made Mexican Wedding Cakes. I have never had these homemade before and they are yummy. Plus, rolling them in the powdered sugar is really fun. The story of how these got introduced to the family, when The CEO was a kid and had to take a Mexican dessert to school, is equally fun. I am thinking this should be a Christmas staple for me.
I made Peanut Butter Gingerbread Chocolate Chunk Cookies, a recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie. These were...not my best work. The taste wasn't bad...although peanut butter and ginger is an interesting combination. But they were gooey like they weren't done. The recipe says that they will look uncooked but they aren't. Well, mine were. Thank goodness for The CEO's mom or we would have been cookieless.
Perhaps my favorite part of this day was watching The CEO's mom make Spritz cookies. I had never had these little butter cookies before. The CEO's mom has a little device that squirts out tiny Christmas trees, which we decorated with green, silver, and gold sugar. They were delicious and beautiful. Here is a recipe that I think does it justice but the book this recipe came out of was absolutely captivating and had wonderful cookie recipes from around the world. These were my favorite.
The cookies were dessert on Christmas Eve. It was wonderful. Just wonderful.
As for Christmas Eve, we entertained some of The CEO's family's friends. Wonderful people who brought even more light and laughter to the holiday. One of these friends is a rather incredible chef who is opening a restaurant in NYC this winter. So we were a little nervous about making sure he was well fed. My advice was to go home cooking. We were going to Haute Cuisine anything well and so The CEO's mom served thinly sliced Delmonico steaks, green beans, The Barefoot Contessa's Roasted Beets, and I contributed The Pioneer Woman's Twice Baked Potatoes (a particular favorite of The CEO). For appetizers, she served Paula Deen's Sugar and Nut Glazed Baked Brie and an artichoke dip that was beyond excellent.
For me, the MVP's were the roasted beets. Honest to goodness, I do not love beets. But these were earthy and soft without being mushy. The citrusy tang made them perfect. I might love beets. I kind of want some of these beets right now.
The night was a success and I so enjoyed being The CEO's mom's kitchen assistant.
Christmas Day brought glad tidings of great joy indeed. First thing in the morning, we were able to watch The CEO's children open their presents. The culmination of so much shopping, wrapping, and shipping was a delight. I hope they liked everything.
We took our time opening gifts. That was nice. At around noon, I called my mom and brother. Being without them was really hard. But then The CEO's extended family arrived and the fun began anew.
We opened gifts, shared laughs and stories and had Christmas dinner. The CEO's aunt made ham that was perhaps the best I've ever had. I ate 3 pieces! We also had the family's very own mac and cheese. I have never had a recipe like it (which is saying something with as much mac and cheese as I eat) and, judging from what I tasted and observed, the recipe is something like this one. It is a simple way to make a family favorite and a real sensation in The CEO's family. I was glad to finally try it! The CEO's mom made a pineapple stuffing that was great. I can't eat much stuffing (thanks lapband) but what I had was delicious.
We had an amazing time with incredible food and warm, loving family. I am so thankful to have been included.
Happy Holidays to you and yours from Teddy and Simon (and The CEO and me)!
NoM
~ EK
Up Next: Chicken Provence
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStupid thing made it look like there were two comments. What I said was:
ReplyDeleteIt warms my heart to read this. You deserve every bit of the love you are receiving. The fact that his family is so good to you also is icing on the cake. Love you!!!
Thanks Heather. They are incredible people. Then again, you've met The CEO. Behind most amazing men is a great family.
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