Christmas Time Spent in the Kitchen

This year is a landmark year for me in the kitchen. Last year when we were in our transitional state: waiting for our house to sale in St. George while living in a small apartment in Salt Lake...I learned to love cooking. We were on a tight budget and I had to get creative and become the chef I never wanted to be. But while I was in the midst of resisting my culinary talents I discovered that I did ENJOY COOKING. Especially for my family. It is just one more way I felt I could serve them. And as the old saying goes, "You love who you serve". My love grew and grew, I tell you!! Now that we are in our house there are two rooms that I just adore: My loft/library/music studio AND my kitchen. This Christmas was so amazing for me, I was healthy and I was able to cook and bake like a mad woman!!

I made my first gingerbread. We made little gingerbread men...

Chester and Ivy decorated them. (notice how Ivy patterned them after her and put one blue eye and one brown eye!) We plan on starting a tradition next year where we will design our own ginger bread houses. Now that I know how to do the gingerbread dough it should be a lot of fun!!

I made Peanut Butter Blossoms

Sugar Cookies

Ivy and I frosted them with Cream Cheese Frosting that I made from scratch.

Of course I had to make Chocolate Chip Cookies

We set these out for Santa.

We always love decorating a gingerbread house. We usually buy a kit or use graham crackers. This year was a kit, but like I said next year we are stepping it up a notch and making the house from the ground up!

Max, Ivy and Roger did our house this year. We love to make it all pretty and then on New Year's Day we destroy it with each family member giving it their best karate chop!

I made my famous rolls twice this year. Once at my sister's house for Thanksgiving and then for our Christmas Feast here at home. They are TO DIE FOR!!!

Rise...

Rise...

Bake...Heaven!

For our Christmas Feast I made a turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, jello (jigglers) and the rolls. We served it on our fancy dishes with our fancy place mats and real napkins and drank sparkling cider...Aren't we hoity toity, la de da!!

It was a lot of work, but so gratifying to me. We were able to give away some of our sweet creations to our dear neighbors and it made the Spirit of Christmas that much more joyous. I am hooked!