Christmas Cookie #2!!! I loveeee thumbprint cookies! When our neighbor gave us some homemade blackberry jam, with blackberries handpicked from Oregon, I only had thumbprint cookies in mind. I dont eat pb&j so jam is of no use to me unless it is in pastries or cookies! These are also awesome for any occasion, making it a delectable year round cookie!!!
There really isnt any place like home for the holidays! I love all the warm smells and holiday baking that goes on in my house! I think as I get older I feel like being at home and spending time with my family more and more. Maybe its the ‘getting old’ thats getting to me haha. I think it’s also the traditions that my family has – stuff we do every year – like put up the Christmas lights right after Thanksgiving, decorate the fresh tree the same way since my sister and I were born, presents under the tree, all the baking we do, nightly walks around the neighborhood to see our neighbor’s lights, drives around Lodi to check out Christmas lights… the list goes on and on! What are your family traditions during the holidays? On top of those regular traditions, we add new traditions every so often – for example, this year I baked some baklava and gave it to our neighbors to spread some good holiday neighborly cheer! I love how I live in Lodi and you can just walk to anyone’s house. Ever since our house got burglarized last year all of us neighbors have watched each others backs and have really stepped up in helping each other. I really hope when I get out into the real world and have my own house that I would live in a community just as friendly and welcoming as my own in Lodi. With all that said, what are you up to for the holidays and what are some of your traditions?
I had pistachio baklava at a Lebanese cafe in SD last week and didnt realize it was a holiday treat! Baklava is made of nuts and syrup and this thin phyllo dough! It lasts a long time without going bad and it’s easy to pack and cut. I hope you enjoy making it! It really isnt that hard! 🙂
Christmas cookies ROUND 1!!! I love love LOVE Christmas cookies and I love baking with the Andes mint chips that they sell during this time of year. You can find them at Walmart or Target in the baking aisle! I usually make the normal Andes mint cookies which are a crowd favorite, but really wanted something fudgy and chewy and rich for my craving. This recipe uses Greek yogurt instead of eggs which I find super wonderful! Hope this makes it onto your Christmas cookie list!!!
Today has been a wonderful day. It’s finally a week before Thanksgiving and I am super duper excited to go home and get my holiday on! I even packed yesterday, which is so unlike me because I scramble at the last minute haha. I began today finally logging into my student loan account and found out that I owe a tad bit less than I thought – I mean it’s still an atrocious amount, but it’s not unmanageable either. I learned from my friend that I can peg it to my future income which is exciting!!! All in all, I am just super stoked about my adult life and really planning for the future. In addition, Venmo launched an awesome promotion where you win money by clicking on leaves that is falling off a money tree. And it spread like wildfire and everyone was totally spreading it that probably overwhelmed the servers. It truly is so exciting and fulfilling when you know you will be working for such an awesome, fun company that people love and get excited about. 🙂 I also had Thanksgiving lunch today at the school’s gourmet restaurant – La Gran Terraza. It is totally a hidden gem inside our school and only a walk across the street for me. I have come here several times now and I have loved every bit of it. Their unlimited buffet lunches are only $14 – it’s such a good deal given all the gourmet food and desserts you get – I had pumpkin creme brulee and pecan pie. YUMMY! So feeling festive, I came home having the itch to bake. I don’t like sweet things and I don’t have too many people who live near me I can drop them off to, but I just felt the urge. I came across this recipe a few days ago and became consumed with the thought of making them. I hope you will too 🙂
I have got quite a few cheers and inquiries on the spaghetti squash ‘pasta’ I made last week!!! Roasted spaghetti squash is a great substitute for carby pasta and to get your daily veggie intake. One squash is about 4 servings, which is quite a lot for about $2.29! You can also throw it into chicken soup if you would like! It really is versatile and so good – get them while they are in season!!!
Recently I have discovered the art of roasting vegetables and how it gives it a subtle smoky, charred flavor to it. It’s SOOOO EASY!!! You just toss the veggies, ANY kind of veggies, with olive oil and some pepper, stick it into a 375-425 deg oven, and let it roast until it’s brown! It is easy for a quick meal and you can store roasted veggies for a few days in the fridge too! Toss the veggies with some garnishes or sauce and you have a fancy side dish! It’s awesome. And I think you should try it out, and maybe make a beautiful roasted veggie side dish for Thanksgiving!
As much as I wish San Diego would turn Fall, it doesn’t seem close to possible. It’s still 75 deg and sunny! But the nights get chilly, so I have been dreaming about warm spiced drinks for the holidays. But I do have to go on a rant about people skipping Thanksgiving now. What the hell. Thanksgiving is a grand holiday that gets people excited for Christmas but it seems like people are forgetting about it. Friends are decorating for Christmas already, stores are open on Thanksgiving, Christmas decorations are sold before Halloween now. It is getting utterly ridiculous. Like what happened to Thanksgiving ya’ll? What happened to giving thanks for what you have, not the latest TV you can buy on Thanksgiving for $100 cheaper -_-. And this is coming from a person who LOVES Christmas. I swear I will be the perfect mom because I am festive, loves Santa, and actually decorates every single year (lights all over my house, a REAL Christmas tree, day after Thanksgiving dedicated to decorating for Christmas, baking cookies, etc.). I am just mad that Christmas has become so commercial – there isn’t that slow, sweet anticipation for Christmas anymore. WE EVEN SKIP THANKSGIVING NOW. I just want everyone to take a moment and remember those times when we were kids and slowly waited for Thanksgiving to pass and then have a whole month to get ready for Christmas. I want Christmas to be cherished during that special time of the year, not make it a 4th quarterly thing. Let’s all just step back and enjoy the holidays the last quarter of the year : Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years in this order.
In the meantime, I will sip my spicy hot drinks in anticipation for Thanksgiving, and then bring out the peppermint for Christmas. Anyone care to join me?
Delicious delicious pad thai! My favorite thai dish!!! Despite my love for food, I don’t eat coconut and eat things if coconut milk is used sparingly. However, that all changed when I went to Portland!!! Portland has such delicious food and for so cheap. There are food carts all over the city, and cute little restaurants line each district. It is truly amazing how small town it feels, no matter where in Portland you go. Most businesses are family owned, with unique offerings from food to houseware. They have so many of these local businesses that its really hard to find a chain store around Portland. I LOVED IT. I highly recommend anyone to go- I am already thinking about my next trip to Portland! Here are some lovely fall pics from Portland!
 
Put a Ring on Annie 