Italian Holiday Dinner

If you have a Holiday Dinner to throw and you have a budget and time constraints your best bet is to go Italian. To keep things easy and stress free, keep your menu super simple and mostly assemble course. You don't want to do a lot of cooking and fiddling in the kitchen when you have guests that want to see you and chat with you. 

When you assemble the key is to buy your quality ingredients from a really fantastic source. I love the Italian Store in Arlington.  The plan is to make the meat lasagna the night before. On day of, we are going to go to the Italian Store and picking up Anti Pasta Platter and some Italian treats to put on the table after dinner. I am also going to serve a Caesar Salad, but it is super easy. I use Trader Joe's pre-made bag, un-apologetically. Here is the menu: 

Appetizers

Antipasti Tray of Cheese, Olives, Artichokes and Bread Sticks

Served with Prosecco

Dinner

Lasagna with meat sauce

Cesar Salad

Chianti 

Dessert 

Italian Cookies and Chocolates 

Limoncello or Vin Santo 

Should be lovely. I can't wait. As always, much love, many blessings and happy hosting!

A Christmas in Washington DC Tradition

There are wonderful things to do in Washington DC at Christmas Time. But one of my favorites, is going to brunch at Old Ebbitt Grill and seeing Santa at the National Christmas Tree. I have been visiting the National Christmas tree since I was 12. I have only missed it a couple of times when I was in the Navy. Now, my son gets to visit every year. They have the best Santa. He has a real beard, and is super nice. The Christmas Elf Workshop is just darling, the National Park Service does a fantastic job.

This year we are expanding the tradition to include my son's grandparents and our good friends who always come are bringing their sister and her family. I can't wait! I pray it is just as nice as last year.

I am also going to dress us up a little bit. Here are the outfits of planned for the family...

It probably seems ridiculous to plan outfits, but I find it a real stress reliever to have at least an idea of what I need clean and ready, so we are not all running around like chickens 10 minutes after we are supposed to be at the restaurant... 

That's the plan. I hope whatever your Saturday plans are they are wonderful. As always, much love, many blessings, and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Cookies!

I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends, and sometimes your wonderful friends invite you to be part of their family. When I was in high school my best friend and her mom were always there for me, encouraging me to be my best self. They still are. I am so thankful for them and thankful for our annual Cookie Baking Extravaganza. 

This year we made Peanut Butter Blossoms, Fudge Crinkles, Cherry and Citrus Cookies, Chocolate Covered Pretzels and many many more. I thought I would share some recipes from our day. 

Peanut Butter Blossoms (Dave and Freddy's Favorite) 

48 HERSHEY'S KISSES 

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Additional granulated sugar (Christmas colored optional)

What you do: 

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates (this is an excellent job for friends chatting, or little children, if you can get them not to eat all of them).

2. In your standing mixer, beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie. Don't worry the cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 48 cookies.

Recipe Source: Hershey

Fudge Crinkle Cookies (Leslie Cookies) 

1 box devil's food cake mix

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Powdered sugar to roll the cookies in

Parchment Paper

What you do: 

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Set up your cookie sheets with parchment paper. In smallish bowl add the powdered sugar.

2.  In standing mixer or a large bowl, stir dry cake mix, oil, eggs and vanilla with spoon until dough forms.

3. Refrigerate the dough so it firms up, overnight is fine, or if you only have 10 minutes pop it in the freezer.

4. Scoop out 1 inch balls, or the small cookie scoop, and place on the parchment paper about 2 inches apart. Give these balls a chance to dry out a little.

5. Roll the chocolate dough balls in the powdered sugar and get into the oven just after the last ball is rolled on each sheet, or the powdered sugar will be absorbed.

6. Bake 10 minutes; cool the cookies on the parchment paper completely about 30 minutes.

Recipe Source: Betty Crocker 

Christmas Cherry Cookies (Belly Button Cookies)

2 sticks Butter, Soft

1/2 cup Sugar

2 whole Egg Yolks

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

 Zest and juice of 1 Lemon

 Zest of 1 Orange or 2 Clementines

2 cups All-purpose Flour, Sifted Twice

 Candied Green and/or Red Cherries

What you do:

1. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.

2. Add egg yolks, vanilla, orange peel, lemon peel, and lemon juice, and mix until combined. Use rubber spatula to scrape bowl, then mix again.

3. Add sifted flour and mix until combined. Place dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour, or until firm.

4. When ready to make the cookies, preheat oven to 300 degrees. 

5. Roll dough into small balls and set on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a baking mat. Gently press the cherries, into each ball.

6. Bake for 20 minutes, removing from oven before they start to brown.

Recipe Source: The Pioneer Woman (I HEART YOU, REE)

As always, much love, happy baking and Merry Christmas!

The true meaning of Christmastime

Like all working moms, with little kids and heart to share, I am usually overwhelmed by the month before Christmas. I am always trying to pack too many parties, cookies, niceties, traditions, and family outings into an already overloaded month. It is so easy to be just too busy to do any "heart work" or spiritual growth. This year, I am trying to be a little counter-cultural. I am loving my devotional The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp. I love thinking of the Christmas tree as Jesus's Family Tree and learning more about Jesus and how He became our greatest gift. It has given me a completely new perspective on Christmas. Instead of rushing to run upstairs and wrap presents or write Christmas cards, I find myself stopping, to breathe and be thankful in prayer. Actually, I feel like my heart and mind are quieter, no to-do lists on repeat constantly burdening me. 

Growing up Orthodox, we always had a secular holiday celebration on the 25th of December and a religious celebration on 6th of January. We fasted, or chose not to eat meat before Christmas, as a mean of spiritual preparation. As a young person, I always found this fasting to be more of distraction than anything. But, now I find December to be an incredible opportunity for spiritual growth. It is so very simple, but I am truly astounded at how many years it took me to realize this. 

Don't get me wrong, there will be cookies, and parties, and celebrations, presents and more food than we know what to do with. But in the heart of me, my focus is different. Instead of trying to give the best gifts, or throw the best parties, I'm focused on learning ways to be quieter and kinder. I'm gifter, that is how I love. But this year, my focus is on showing kindness and affection in a way that is not focused on the materials but more gentleness and being present. 

If you are thinking about doing this with your family, Ann Voskamp also has a family read-aloud version Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas. 

Whatever your holiday preparations are, I hope they are joyful. Merry Christmas. I wish you and your family a peaceful and spiritual Advent.