Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Can you believe we’re only a week away from Christmas? I enjoy celebrating Christmas so much. I’d love to hear about your family’s favorite traditions.
Leave a comment on this post to tell me about your favorite Christmas tradition! I’m going to pick 3 comments on Wednesday and send a $50 Merry Christmas Amazon card to each of those commenters just for the fun of it. Giveaway winners have been notified via email. See the winning comments at the bottom of today’s newsletter.
(Unfortunately, as much as I enjoy your emails, replies via email can’t be included in this giveaway, it’s simply too difficult to track entries that way.)
In case you haven’t seen this yet, I’m still laughing over this elf story. We’ve never had an Elf on a Shelf in our home, but I can imagine my siblings and I messing with each other this way.
ON THE BLOG this week: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Fudge is creamy chocolate fudge filled with salty pretzels and gooey marshmallows. If you’ve ever found yourself going back for just one more (and one more and just one more) chocolate-covered pretzel from the bag in the cupboard, this fudge is for you.
Chewy, sweet, perfectly stretchy, and gooey Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats filled with chunks of Reese’s peanut butter cups are a fabulous new way to enjoy everyone’s favorite treat.
This is a melt in your mouth, smooth and creamy Chocolate Almond Fudge; rich with dark chocolate and almonds.
Layers of toasted pecans, a rich gooey filling, and a flaky, buttery pastry crust make this Sheet Pan Pecan Pie a heavenly dessert. Made with either a homemade crust or a store-bought one, this is a pie that you’re going to love.
Creamy Vanilla Walnut Fudge is this year’s latest addition for your holiday dessert table. Paired with a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, a piece of fudge is one of my favorite ways to take a break during the holiday season.
What I’m CRAVING: I’m all about the peppermint cravings this year and this creamy no-bake Peppermint Oreo Cheesecake that my friend Jocelyn made sounds fantastic. I’ve made Peppermint Cocoa, Peppermint Fudge, Peppermint Bark and last but not least, my beloved Peppermint Ice Cream already this year. I honestly don’t think I could ever have too many peppermint desserts in my life!
My FAVORITE THING this week is the Poetry for Neanderthals game. We gave it to the kids for an advent surprise this week and have already played the game several times. We’ve laughed so much at how much goofy fun it has been. I really love games that can be quickly learned and enjoyed by all ages. This one is perfect for that. We can play a round in just 15 minutes or so and it is always fun.
What I’m WATCHING: Shrek. This movie will never go out of style, will it? We watched the original movie last week and we all laughed so hard. Between Shrek and Donkey, we simply can’t get enough. We picked up the collection of Shrek movies as a family Christmas gift and are looking forward to watching them all again with the kids.
What I’m READING: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce. I don’t know how I missed this book up until now, but I’ve made up for lost time by reading it three times this week. I love it. I mean, I really love it. This is such a sweet picture book, any bibliophile is certain to love it. The art is just lovely and the story is simply charming.
“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa
Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!
Mary
Sabrina says
My favorite Christmas tradition is starting after Christmas reading Christmas themed books.
Dorina Van Guilder says
Thank you for the sheet pan pecan pie recipe! I have been looking for that one for a bit. Can’t wait to try this recipe….and the pecan blonde too. 🙂
Unsweetened Sue says
We have four grandchildren, ranging in age from 13 to 21. Every year since they were born, we have given each of them a sterling silver Christmas tree ornament.
Past ornaments include a wide variety that are classic but still appeal to children, such as a snowflake, rocking horse, angel, toy soldier, reindeer, and ice skates.
Besides being beautiful, the ornaments are unbreakable and easy to store, so we hope they become heirlooms that will remind them of their grandparents every Christmas.
Sally Messoline says
Hi, that almond fudge recipe is so great, just like eating a Hershey with almond bar but soft chocolate. Thank you for sending it.
Deborah W. says
Our favorite tradition is to make homemade cookies and share with neighbors, friends and family. It’s usually the same recipes that I’ve been making for several years. Everyone loves homemade cookies.
Carol says
My favorite Christmas tradition, after having an easy dinner on Christmas Eve, Mom would play the piano, brother his trumpet and me the clarinet and we would take turns playing songs and singing Christmas Carol’s around the Christmas tree. Afterwards, mom made a special drink of grape juice and ginger ale and we finally were able to eat some of the yummy cookies she had made. Then hang the stockings and listen to mom read Twas the Night Before Christmas and off to bed waiting for Santa to arrive.
JoAnn Kropf-Hedley says
My favourite tradition is making “ nuts and bolts” from an old recipe . The recipe came from the mom of a childhood friend . Brings back such wonderful memories ❤️
Kathy Hemp says
For 17 years my friend, Kitty, and I would bake 25+ kinds of cookies over 2 days. We’d laugh, argue, & enjoy our time together. This tradition came to a temporary stop because Kitty had a stem cell transplant in the fall. She is in isolation at home because she is immunocompromised. She is doing much better. We may resume this tradition in 2022 if her health continues to improve.
Christine Zukeran says
Mary, My favorite tradition for the holiday season is celebrating the winter Solstice. With all the frenzy surrounding the holidays, I take this day to celebrate just US. We have whatever something simple for dinner and I ALWAYS order a special busche Noel from a local bakery. No cell phones allowed as we enjoy the company, the special treat, and either the Polar Express or White Christmas movie. My boys know this is Mom’s time with them and they never complain!
Margie Liggins says
A+ to you…
At Christmas time , my family gets together at one of my sister’s houses , there is usually about 25 of us. We enjoy a feast , talk about old times growing up. Talk about our parents, who have passed, and how they so enjoyed Christmas. We open presents, which are many. We enjoy the fellowship of being together, take pictures to enhance the memories. Just a beautiful Christmas get together.
Dawn Chastagner says
I really enjoy reading your newsletter. I enjoy your recipes and love hearing what you read. Great suggestions. My family and I live in Arizona. I think I like Peppermint just as much as you do. We made your Peppermint Hot Cocoa- so good.
Julie Owen says
My favorite Christmas tradition is waking up early to bake cinnamon rolls and coffee for the family and having them wake up to the smell..makes them so happy and gives me all the feels.😊
Vicki Skonieczny says
Mary,
The only comment other than Merry Christmas is THANK YOU for your Cranberry Christmas Cake recipe. I came across it last year and now it has become an annual tradition. Even those who say, ” I don’t really care for cranberries” devoured it. Such an amazingly simple but delicious cake.
Blessings to you and your family,
Vicki
Jennifer Jones says
Hi Mary.
Thank you for your posts…I love reading them and using your tips for what recipes to prepare, books to read and great bargains.
My favorite Christmas tradition began when hubby and I were raising our family of three children. We would complete all Christmas shopping, sending of cards, wrapping of gifts, decorations and food preparations ONE week prior to Christmas. With everything done, that was going to be done, we would pack off for the week to spend time at a resort, go on a cruise, visit Colonial Williamsburg and such. The intent was to spend time together without the stress and distractions of the holiday season. We would laugh together, go bike riding, touring, but just have a wonder-filled time together and return home Christmas Eve to simply enjoy Christmas. We loved it and today ( at 70) I cherish those memories. Up until the pandemic, hubby and I continued our Christmas tradition of completing all the tasks associated with Christmas one week prior to the holiday and went away for the week. And while we are not traveling this year, yesterday I completed this year’s preparations so that we may just enjoy and contemplate a lovely Christmas surrounded by our children and grandchildren.
Merry Christmas!
Jennifer Jones
Christel Goetsch says
Thanks, Mary, for your wonderful posts year-round! There is always something for everyone, and I so enjoy the ideas for miscellaneous things you write about!
The things I enjoy most around the holidays are sitting in a warm and cozy house with my sweet dog, Sophie, (and husband, of course!) and enjoying a cup of hot tea and a favorite home baked treat! The simpler, the better. (Being engrossed in a good book is also an added treat!)
Merry Christmas!!💜
Liz says
My favorite Christmas tradition is the feast of the 7 fishes we do Christmas Eve as an Italian tradition. My favorite meal of the year!
Beverlie S Goodson says
The 12 Christmas Cards-I gave each of my two boys 12 christmas cards for a present. Each one had a different month on the front. They could not open them except on the 1st of the month that was on the card. No one knew what was inside (even me, because I sorted them before I put the month on). I put things in there that they were to receive that month. A day at the beach, their favorite meal, money(not a lot), movies, get out of a chore for a week, trip to the ice cream store, etc. It was like we had Christmas all year long.
Karen says
On Christmas morning we go to mass. I then set the stage with the Christmas tree lights, all three trees, and some Christmas music. My husband and I exchange gifts and then together we cook the wonderful meal for my son, his wife, and two toddler grandsons. We eat dinner early and then exchange gifts with them. We all sit in front of the fireplace and enjoy opening presents with full tummies. The boys are just so excited with all the gifts, music, and food. It is a long tiring day, but one that I look forward to all year. It is so much more exciting now that we have grandchildren. While it was fun before, it is the kids that make it so much more special. It is a small, intimate setting because of our world situation, but we are together. Hopefully we can enjoy other family and friends next year. Have a very Merry Christmas everyone! Joy and Love to all!
Kamille says
I really enjoy these newsletters! One of the only one that actually is read in my inbox!!
One of my favorite traditions is the scavenger hunt the kids have to complete to find and open gifts. One gets to excited to think clearly, another always finds the wrong clue or a siblings gift, one gets so stumped but refuses clues 🤣 the littles ones go on a picture hunt! It’s my favorite, hands down.
Theresa Hale says
My favorite Christmas tradition is, my whole family gathers at my mom’s on Christmas Eve, to eat and enjoy family time together. We have done this forever, my dad has been gone 11 years and this year, my brother passed away unexpectedly, this year will be very hard, but we are still gathering.