How We Spend the Holidays

I'm so excited because today is my last day in the office before Christmas and before all the craziness of the holiday sets in. Since we got married on a beach in Aruba 2 and a half years ago, Shaun and I have had to make up some new strategies for how we spend the holiday. So today I'm sharing it with you! We are lucky that our parents live very close to each other, so the extravaganza usually goes off without a hitch!

We're approaching my favorite day of the year...Christmas Eve! Yes, I love Christmas Day, but Christmas Eve has always been 'the big night' in the Cannon Family, which works out nicely since the Humiston side has a big celebration on Christmas Day. Not only is Christmas Eve the one holiday that my mom hosts her family, taking over after her mother - Grandma Mary - passed away, but it also marks Grandma Mary's birthday. Since there's 2 days to play with at Christmas time, Shaun and I have the festivites pretty much down to a science.

My parents gorgeous living room

It all starts early on Christmas Eve morning. When my sisters and I were young children, Dad started the tradition of taking us out for breakfast and to the mall for any last minute shopping while Mom got the house ready for the big night. Now that we're grown, Mom joins us for breakfast. We go to a local spot and it's nothing fancy, but it's a tradition that I love and look forward to so much since it kicks off the fun and always brings back a flood of memories from Christmases past. I love that it's something my dad started.

Dad, Christine, Kimberly and me many years ago!

After breakfast, we head home to finish cooking and cleaning and get ready for the evening! Shaun usually works on Christmas Eve, so he meets me at my parents house after work. Aunts, uncles and cousins come over and we eat lots of delicious things, starting with a table full of appetizers (our family's favorite!)

I love spending time with my sisters...

cousins, and my favorite guy

After dinner, Shaun heads to church with his dad and brother for a beautiful midnight mass. If we are all done at my parents house, I join him. Since we stay at my parents house on Christmas Eve night, he heads back to the house and the two of us exchange our Christmas gifts. It's pretty late at this point!

The next morning, we wake up, eat Christmas breakfast and open gifts with my parents and sisters. There is some Christmas pajama wearing going on...

Yep, those are smooching frogs you're looking at! Or Mistletoads, if you will :)

And one of my favorite things is watching Chloe search in her stocking for t-r-e-a-t-s while watching 24 hours of A Christmas Story in the background.

Once we hurry up and get dressed and ready, we head over to Shaun's parents house for Christmas Day. It's another fun-filled day of family and food!

Shaun's aunts, uncles and cousins all head on over and I love this day because there are little cousins running around! One thing that I am excited for when we become parents (down the line) is celebrating Christmas. Christmas with kids is just the best ever. Their excitement and innocence just makes the entire day! It's so fun to hang out with all of them on such a special day! (Sorry I don't have more photos to share! My sisters and Shaun don't have a choice but to be plastered all over the blog, but I haven't cleared photo issues with Shaun's family yet...perhaps a good topic to broach this Christmas ;))!

After spending the day with the Humistons, we are tired. We are full. We trudge back to Jersey City and collapse from food-induced coma and lack of sleep.

Meanwhile, I want to share one very funny photo of my sisters and me when we were kids, in front of the Christmas tree.

Embarassing, right? I'm not sure what I'm doing (or wearing, for that matter) but I love this photo. It captures such a moment!

In addition to all the running around and family time, Shaun and I also try to do the New York touristy thing and visit Radio City and Rockefellar Center! Somehow it never loses its luster :)

Nothing like Christmas time in New York City! 

Throwback! Not sure of the exact date, but I think this was back in our college days!

In fact, we have a big holiday date night planned for Thursday to kick it all off. I can't wait!

So that's how we split our time during the Christmas season. It's busy, exhausting and fattening, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

How do you spend Christmas?

Christmas Breakfast: Baked French Toast Casserole

It’s Tuesday and I only have 2 more work days until my own personal Christmas Vacation! I am so excited for the holidays. Last night I left Shaun at home and met up with Lindsey (of Two Girls, Two Pies) for a little ladies night to celebrate her newly engagedness! We did a little shopping on Fifth Avenue and then had a low key dinner at Chat ‘n Chew at Union Square, complete with macaroni & cheese and red wine. Perfection, no?

L and me, circa 2007

It’s no secret that I love breakfast (Don’t believe me? See this, this and this.). While Shaun is of the savory mind (read: he only likes eggs for breakfast), I don’t mind getting a little sweet. And since Christmas just isn’t decadent enough on it’s own, I felt it necessary to introduce a Christmas morning breakfast tradition a few years back (you know, in addition to all of the cookies). It’s the one time of year that I can justify this absolute glutton of a dish. It’s a baked French toast casserole, inspired by the Queen of All Things Butter herself, Ms. Paula Deen. After the first year that I made this dish, a bonafide Christmas morning tradition was born.

Hearty, nutty, sweet, it’s everything a good French toast should be. It’s moist but not too eggy. The buttery topping is rich, but hey, it’s Christmas. Am I right or am I right? This is all not even to mention that since you prepare it the night before and pop it into the oven to bake on Christmas morning makes it a snap to put together on the big day. You know, so you don’t miss a second of present giving and opening.

Baked French Toast Casserole with Praline Topping
*Adapted from Paula Deen
For the casserole:
1 loaf French bread, sliced
2 C half and half
1 C milk
8 large eggs
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
Butter, for baking dish
For the praline topping:
2 sticks butter, softened
1 C light brown sugar (I used Splenda blend)
1 C chopped pecans
2 tbsp light corn syrup
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg

In a 13x9 inch buttered baking dish, layer the slices of French bread until the entire pan is filled. (Note: For this version, I used a combo of French bread and special bread that my mom and dad eat - it works just as well).

In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, half and half, eggs, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Whisk altogether, breaking up the eggs and incorporating the entire mixture together. Pour all over the bread, making sure to get it in between the slices.

Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, quickly make the topping. You can also make it the night before, but it may be cold and more difficult to spread over the casserole. Mix together the butter, brown sugar, pecans, corn syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg. I threw it altogether in a stand mixer, but if the butter is soft enough it can easily be done by hand. Spread all over the top of the casserole. Bake for 45 minutes. Serve, enjoy and smile because it’s Christmas!

Though it’s so not necessary, I serve mine along with some real maple syrup. Why stop at cream, eggs and carbs?

So there you have it. A little peak at one of our Christmas traditions. Now tell me some of yours! What are your favorite Christmas traditions?

DIY Peppermint Hot Cocoa with Whipped Cream

I love a good fun-filled weekend.

I love good friends and family.

I love delicious holiday eats, sitting by my pretty Christmas tree and hanging out with this guy...

I don't love settling in for the Giants game (which I look forward to all week) only to have them suck wind in the 4th quarter and lose terribly to their rival team. It's not a fun way to end the weekend. I just don't love it.

And though I'm still reeling from the Giants collapse this afternoon, I'm now hoping that the Jets can pull it through with a win for my man. One of us should be happy, right?

Meanwhile, I'm drowning my sorrows - and keeping warm - with a few drinks DIY hot cocoa and I'm loving every sip. Minty, chocolatey and (of course) whipped creamy, this is my favorite holiday drink to date!

Peppermint Hot Cocoa with Whipped Cream
*Adapted from Hershey’s
For the cocoa:
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ tsp salt
1 C milk
¼ tsp vanilla extract
splash peppermint extract
For the whipped cream:
1 C heavy cream
¼ C confectioners sugar
¼ tsp vanilla extract

Get out your festive holiday mug. Mine is from last year’s Target holiday collection and I simply adore it.

Mix up the sugar, cocoa powder and salt.

In a glass measuring cup, heat the milk in the microwave (about 1-2 minutes). Pour into the mug of sugary, cocoa goodness and mix it all up. Add the vanilla and peppermint. (Note: the teeniest bit of peppermint goes a long way. The first time I made this, I really overdid it on the extract and let's just say that I no longer had a stuffy nose...)

For the whipped cream, which I made in advance, place the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer. Mix at medium high speed until peaks form and it’s smooth and whipped cream-like. Don’t over mix!

Place a large dollop of cream in the hot chocolate and take a couple of rogue spoonfuls to sample while you’re at it. You know, just to make sure it tastes good.

Enjoy! Isn't this a great DIY solution to expensive hot cocoas? I personally am loving it! So with that i n mind, I want to know, what is your favorite beverage?