Starting New Traditions

In case you don't already know this about me...I'm sort of a traditionalist. I am conservative (yet politically liberal), sometimes prim and proper, and there's nothing I love more than having traditions year after year. Maybe it goes back to my hatred for change?

Anyhow, Kimberly did a fantastic post yesterday about our family's holiday traditions and just about all of them are the same ones that I love and look forward to each year. It all kicks off on Christmas Eve morning and lasts until very late on Christmas night. It's a lot of fun, but admittedly for Shaun and me, it all revolves around both of our family's traditions (you can read all about that in last year's how we spend the holidays post)...which doesn't leave a ton of one on one time for the two of us and our own traditions.

So we started a few small traditions for our own family of two to enjoy and look forward to every year.

First, we kick off the season with Christmas tree shopping on the weekend after Thanksgiving. Since we've been married, we get our tree at the same place (the 14th Street Garden Center in Jersey City, which surprisingly always produces a great tree!).

 

We tie it up on the roof of our small sedan and cart it home where we proceed to have a little tift while trying to set it up in the tree stand. We then tag team the lights and decorations, while watching football.

 

As of last year, we started a new tradition of having a holiday date night on Christmas Eve Eve. On December 23rd, we've vowed to keep the night open to doing something fun together, just the two of us. For holiday date night 2010, Shaun took me to a fancy schmancy dinner at Edward's in Jersey City.

 

Unfortunately, I then spent the rest of the evening wrapping gifts and watching The Grinch, while he was locked in the bedroom (since it was his gifts being wrapped!). This year, we're going to an early showing of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (obviously extremely romantic and holidayish, but I don't care! I cannot contain my excitement!) followed by dinner at one of our favorite spots, the Lighthorse Tavern in Jersey City.

 

 

Lastly, we have our own tradition of opening our gifts during the wee hours between Christmas Eve and Christmas morning...usually around 1AM after my family has gone to sleep. Neither of us like to make a spectacle of our gifts, and so we open them on our own, just the two of us, in the quiet, dark house. I love this time of the night!

And that pretty much sums it up! Of course, many of our traditions (ours and our family's) may change slightly once we have kiddos running around - and maybe new ones will be formed! - but for now, I'm happy to bask in all of these things and soak up the season!

Questions of the Day:

What are your favorite holiday traditions?

Do you have any new ones that you are instituting this year?

Cocoa Thumbprints

Mornin'!

I have to admit...I'm really getting tired of this pitch blackness at 6am. I know we have a long way to go before that changes but it makes me want to remain curled up under my big comforter and never come out.

On a more exciting note, I'm happy to announce the winner of the homemade goodies giveaway. I just used a random number generator to choose the winner:

And the winner is: Joanna! Congrats Joanna! Please email me at theavidappetite@gmail.com and I will get your package out to you first thing on Monday morning. Thank you to everyone who entered! I loved reading about your favorite cookies. It seems like chocolate chip was by far the winner of the bunch, and who could blame you? It's one of my favorites as well...but only when my Aunt Janet makes them because she is famous for her amazing chocolate chip cookies!

It was also fantastic to hear from new readers and commenters! You made my day :) I promise I have more giveaways coming up (like in January, to celebrate TAA's 2nd birthday!), so don't go far away :)

Meanwhile, I wanted to share the recipe for the cocoa thumbprints in case any of you would like to make them for the holiday! This was the first year that we added them to our repetoire, and I'm so happy that my cousin Veronica picked them out to make on our baking day.

They are soft, sugary and have an almost brownie-like texture. I also adore that they are simply beautiful! You can really fill them with whatever you'd like! I think the candied cherries are the prettiest, but sprinkles, mini M&M's, marshmallows, nuts, jam, peanut butter, Nutella or Biscoff spread (yum!) would all work beautifully as well! I can't wait to try some new variations before Christmas.

Cocoa Thumbprints
*Adapted from Food Network Magazine, December 2011
1 1/2 C all-purpose flour
1 1/4 C granulated sugar, divided
1/2 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 C confectioners' sugar
sprinkles, candied cherries, M&M's, nuts, jam, mini chocolate chips, or other filling of your choice

In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, 3/4 C granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter and eggs, stirring until combined. Cover the dough and refrigerate, about 30 minutes.

Preheat the over to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or a Silpat. Place 1/2 C of the granulated sugar in a small bowl, and the confectioners' sugar in another small bowl. Roll tablespoons of dough into balls, roll in the granulated sugar and then in the confectioners' sugar. Place the dough balls about 1 inch apart on the baking sheets and lightly flatten each ball with your fingers, making a small well in the center of each ball for the filling. Fill the dough with your filling of choice (note: if you are using chocolate chips, jam, pb or Nutella, you should fill the cookies AFTER baking and cooling).

Bake the cookies about 10 minutes until slightly cracked. Let them cool for 3 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks.

These are definitely going in our permanent collection! Such a fun change up from the traditional chocolate crinkle, and they would be a gorgeous addition to any cookie tray!

So there you have it...my new favorite holiday cookie! I hope you enjoy this recipe and please keep sharing yours with me! My cookie baking is definitely NOT over yet :) Have a great Thursday everyone! I have my office holiday party tonight and if last year is any indication...it should be a fun (and late night) one ;)

Questions of the Day:

Do you wake up in the morning while it's still dark out?

What goodies have you made for the season so far? What's still on your list? I still plan to make salted caramels, a white chocolate peppermint cheesecake and perhaps gingerbread cupcakes for this weekend!

8 Holiday Party Planning Tips

I woke  up this morning to an open window in my living room. Apparently a certain someone who I live with thinks its cool to have open windows in 30 degree weather. Now I'm wrapped in a robe and blanket with frozen fingers. Brrrrr!

Anyhow, thanks for your giveaway entries yesterday! If you haven't entered yet but like cookies and sweet treats, head over to yesterday's post to enter to win a box of homemade holiday goodies! The giveaway is open until tomorrow evening and goods will ship out on Monday.

Meanwhile, I'm now in full-on holiday mode! To prove it, I even painted my nails in Essie's Loophole last night... a sweet silvery color that's perfect for the season. And in addition to enjoying our Christmas tree every evening, we are also hosting a little dinner party on Friday evening with both sets of parents. I'm excited to have them over to not only see our Christmas tree, but to also see our newly renovated apartment! No one has seen the place since we installed lighting or painted the whole thing.

I'm also mildly stressed out since I work all day on Friday and have my office holiday party on Thursday (which means there will be absolutely no work done at home that evening). Luckily, I started planning well in advance and am feeling ok about the situation. Here are my tips for smooth holiday party planning!

My Holiday {or Anytime} Party Planning Tips:
1. Take stock of who is attending, any food allergies or aversions.
For example, my parents do not really eat carbs and I know that my mother-in-law doesn’t like asparagus. I take all of these points into consideration before planning what I will make. Though I may still serve dishes with carbs (most likely) and possibly roasted vegetables (which may include asparagus), I will be sure to have plenty of other dishes and options so that everyone has plenty to enjoy. With this in mind, I start to brainstorm.

2. Think about timing before the party and when you will be cooking for the party.
If you are hosting on a Friday evening after work (as I will be), then try to pick dishes that can be made in advance (like the night before or very early morning of) and seamlessly reheated or baked off before serving. There’s nothing I hate more than cooking after guests have arrived. I simply want to throw dishes in the oven and wait for them to heat while I’m enjoying the party with my friends and family. Same goes for planning appetizers.

3. Figure out how ‘heavy’ you want to go with the appetizer portion.
If you are hosting a cocktail party, then I’d go for some heartier, more filling appetizers, like shrimp cocktail, smoked salmon, a tart cut into bite-sized pieces, small lettuce wraps or tea sandwiches. If you are hosting dinner, I’d keep the appetizer portion light. I feel terrible when someone prepares a huge, beautiful dinner but I’m too stuffed from appetizers to enjoy it.

4. Decide on cocktails.
I think it’s just as important as the food to have a stocked bar. I do not believe in breaking the bank when it comes to alcohol. If you have a few guests whom you know only drink a particular cocktail, then go ahead and have that on hand (for example, I know my Dad really only drinks rum & Coke, so I will be sure to have that for him). Otherwise, I think it’s 100% ok to simply have some wine, beer and a signature cocktail. My favorite is Prosecco (Italian champagne) or sparkling white wine with cranberry-pomegranate juice. I serve it in a white wine glass and garnish with fresh cranberries. It’s easy, inexpensive and completely sophisticated and festive. Oh and make sure to have soda on hand for non-drinkers.

5. Pick your dessert(s).

Again, I don't think you have to go crazy with a veritable Viennese table here. Pick one or two desserts (like my frosted eggnog sugar cookies, which is what I will be serving! or a cake or pie) and that's all that is necessary. For a bigger party, you can request that some guests bring desserts. Also, make sure to load up your coffee maker and tea pot before guests arrive so you can simply turn it on when it comes serving time.

5. Make a detailed list.
I create my menu (including beverages) and then make a shopping list right next to it so that I don’t miss a beat. We’ve all been in the spot where you’re mid-way through a dish and have to run out to pick up that last ingredient. I hate that! A detailed list will get you most of the way.

6. Purchase all food and liquor early.
I like to do this the weekend before, if possible. This way, you are prepped and ready to go well in advance for cooking your food. And it’s an added bonus to not have to worry about it at the last moment before you want to start cooking. Of course, if you are purchasing something like fish or meat, you will want it to be extremely fresh, so I’d leave this one thing until the day of or before to purchase.

7. Make assignments.

Everyone asks what they can bring to your gathering. So tell them! It makes it easier for your guests so they aren't guessing what you might like or want (let's face it, no one shows up empty handed anyway!), and less stressful for you to be responsible for every dish. I don't believe you have to be totally specific, but if you are light on appetizers and dessert, I think you can definitely ask guests to fill in the gaps and let them decide what they want to make.

8. Have a cocktail and/or a cookie!
Relax! It’s just your friends and family and no one expects things to be perfect. And just an added tip? They won’t be. Just make sure to enjoy yourself at your party, otherwise all your hard work is for naught. I like to mix up my own cocktail before guests arrive and take a moment to sit on the couch with my feet up. You just did a lot of work! Reward yourself and enjoy it.

So there you have it. Simple tips to keep you stress free for your holiday parties!

Questions of the Day:

How do you stay sane when it comes to party planning?

What are your favorite dishes to serve at a gathering? I haven't totally solidified my menu yet and am still on the hunt for ideas!

psst...don't forget to enter the homemade holiday goodies giveaway!