Christmas!

It's finally here, I love Christmas Eve! We are visiting with my grandma and then going to CW's grandma's too. I love to open presents and I love to give presents. I work so hard all year finding the best present for each family member and friend on my list. CW and I can never make it to Christmas to give each other our gifts, so I've already opened and used my gifts from him.

First, an 18-piece Wolfgang Puck stainless steel cookware set. It was $98 at Sams and it is awesome! It came with stainless stell spoons and spatulas, which s something I didn't have and was going to have to buy separately. I've already cooked quite a few things in them. They are oven safe up to 400 degrees, which is again, pretty awesome.

My grandparents bought us a George Foreman Grill. I had one, but it was so beat up becuase we use it all the time. Last night we opened it up and I cooked steak on it for quesadillas.

This year has been so wonerful. I would like to say a special "I Love You" to all my friends and family who have been there for me and CW this year.

Holiday Baking

Two days before Christmas seems like the best time to bake holiday goodies. Today I made some peppermint bark and a chocolate peppermint cake. I just love the taste of mint and choloate together.

I love peppermint bark. I just can't pay $10 for a pound when I can make it myself. I usually make a batch usuing vanilla bark and a second batch with milk chocolate. It is great to take to holiday events, and my bowl is usually empty when it's time to go.

My chocolate peppermint cake turned out perfect. I make a devil's food chocolate cake from the box (or sometimes scratch), let cool and add the icing. I use a jar of white icing, add two crushed-up candy canes and a teaspoon or two of peppermint extract. To complete the cake, I add more crushed-up candy cane to the top for decoration. It's so easy!

I ate one piece, but as you can see, it was a big one! Yummy.