Holiday Traditions and The Best Caramels EVER

With the holiday season fully upon us and the smell of evergreen and hot toddies in the air, it has me waxing nostalgic.  There are so many wonderful memories that remind me of this special time of year with my family.

Our little Christmas went a little something like this:

As soon as the last drumstick was eaten our Christmas traditions would begin, we'd all gather around and watch the greatest of all holiday movies - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  In the weeks leading up to Christmas we'd make my Nana's secret recipe (Betty Crocker) caramels, which we'd give out to friends and family in hopes that they'd follow in our 10 pound holiday gain.  We'd spend nights sledding down our black diamond hill and sharing hot buttered rum with Meme (our other grandma).  My mom would purchase 100s of holiday cards only to forget to send them and in true procrastinator spirit - we'd decorate the tree a week before.

And finally, Christmas Eve would arrive - we'd snuggle up and listen to Mom read "The Night Before Christmas" with holiday music in the background, play some cards and then around 6 pm we'd all run to one of our rooms (because on Christmas Eve we all slept together) so Christmas morning would come early.  We'd lay there too excited to sleep dreaming about all the surprises we'd find under the tree the next day - and usually, I'd try to get the secrets out of my younger siblings.  We'd wake up to my Dad's blueberry muffins baking in the oven and drag ourselves sleepily to the sofa and sit sheepishly waiting for our gifts because even on the greatest of holidays and in the comfort of our own home - we're all incredibly shy.

In The Kitchen: Cranberry Season

It's cranberry season in Washington!  Our little neck of the woods is one of the top producing regions of the tart little berry and it's no surprise that we love them around these parts.  Whether we're making cranberry sauce, tossing some into baked goods or using them in our decor - everyone has their own way of showcasing these crimson berries.  And here are two of mine.

First up is one of my all-time favorites.  I'm not much of a breakfast eater, but a good cup of coffee and a pastry?  Now that'll get my engine purring in the morning.  These Cranberry Almond scones are quick and delicious.  'Nuff said.

Cranberry Almond Scones

Ingredients:

14 Days of Valentines: Day 14 Homemade Valentine Cookies

It's day 14 of 14 Days of Valentines!  I made it!!

It's not a Valentine's Day without sugar cookies.  I have a tradition and it stems from years of attending school in the LSD (not THAT LSD.)  We did our Valentine's Day right.  With Cookies!  And not just your normal cookies, special request cookies that had your very own name or message on them.  Your parents or special admirers would pre-order them and on V-Day you'd be surprised with your very own delicious cookie.  Pretty awesome, if you ask me.

Then, in college my friend and I would spend the weekend before finals at her Grandma's friend's house where we'd study until our eyes bled and ate until our bellies burst.  Among plates of mashed potatoes and gravy, we'd also munch down some deliciously fattening sugar cookies.

DIY // The Best Starbucks Banana Bread Copycat Recipe Ever

It's a food post!  I know I'm swaying a bit away from "homegoods", but this is home related right?  Plus, I just had to share this recipe.

With an abundance of overripe bananas, I set out to find a banana bread recipe using bread flour (what I had on-hand).  And in my search, I found the best banana bread recipe EVER!  It's dense, yet moist, with a slight crunch to the crust.  I. Can't. Stop. Eating. It.

The original recipe came from Copykat Recipes and I made just a few adjustments (butter instead of margarine & added vanilla. I also left out the walnuts.)

Copycat:  Starbucks Banana Walnut Bread