{traditions} Happy December

Today is December 1st!  We have a few traditions that begin on this day that we look forward to every year.  The buzz typically starts about the 2nd week in November.

My little mister is eleven and I think this is now our 9th year of these fun little traditions.  Wanna know what they are?

Well the first is the Advent Calendar.  Ours is up - YAY!  I'm going to be posting that later today.

The second - ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas.  Yes - we religiously watch every night.  If we're going to miss one - we DVR it so we can watch it later.  Click the link for the schedule.  Tonight...Mickey's Christmas Carol, Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too! and The Santa Clause.

The third - baking, baking and more baking.

We're starting a new tradtion this year and I'm so excited for this one.  It's a secret - more on that one tomorrow. :)  But I believe that a lot of you will be wanting to do this one.

Let the meyham of the holidays begin...but don't forget what this special holiday is really about.  Sometimes we get wrapped up in all the craziness that we lose sight.

Happy Holidays!!

Caryl

{holiday parties} My "go-to" Appie

I'm sure many of you will be heading out to holiday soireé's and some of you might have to bring a little appetizer.

Well - wanna know my "go-to" appetizer?  So they are kinda fattening...but I promise - it's the good kind and so worth it.

Barefoot Contessa's Chipotle & Rosemary Roasted Nuts.  Oh my heavens - they are absolutely HEAVENLY!!  You really can't stop at ONE.  You have to have a handful.  They have the perfect amount of sweet and spice. (Just in case you missed my "go-to" dessert from yesterday - check it out here.

Don't they just look divine?

Wanna know how to make them?

serves 8 to 10

 

Vegetable oil

3 cups whole roasted unsalted cashews (14 oz)

2 cups whole walnut halves (7 oz)

2 cups whole pecan halves (7 oz)

1/2 cup whole almonds (3 oz)

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

2 teaspoons ground chipolte powder

4 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves, divided

kosher salt

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

 

Brush a sheet pan generously with vegetable oil.  Combine the cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, the maple syrup, brown sugar, orange juice, and chipolte powder on the sheet pan.  Toss to coat the nuts evenly.  Add 2 tablespoons of the rosemary and 2 teaspoons of salt and toss again.

 

Spread the nuts in one layer.  Roast the nuts for 25 minutes, stirring twice with a large metal spatula *, until the nuts are glazed and golden brown.  Remove from the oven and sprinkle with 2 more teaspoons of salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons of rosemary.  Toss well and set aside at room temperature, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking as they cool.  Taste for seasoning.  Serve warm or cool completely and store in airtight containers at room temperature.

 

* I stir 10 minutes and 20 minutes and definitely use a metal spatula - nuts get super hot!

 

Recipe from Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That?

{holidays baking} My "go-to" delight

I'm sure that everyone has favorite "go-to" cookie for the holidays.

Some might be sugar cookies...chocolate chip cookies...well...

My favorite cookie of all time is the O R E O with some added pizzazz.  I've done the chocolate chip stuffed oreo.  Most recently, the mini-oreo chocolate chip cookie.  So good.

 
But - these babies are by far my favorite and so incredibly easy to make.  I made them last year and named them Brownie-O's.  Well they are back again this year for your enjoyment. 

I'm telling you, these are ridiculously easy.  All you need is a box of your favorite brownie mix and a package of DOUBLE-stuffed oreos.  {I've tried regular and double-stuffed.}  Mix up your brownie mix like you normally would.  When I made these last year, I would coat the oreo in the brownie mix.  This year I wanted them to be much thicker - more cake like.

I sprayed the cupcake pan with some pam and put a dobble of brownie mix, then put the oreo on top and then added another dobble.  It definitely didn't make as many it would if you coated them.  I was able to get about 22 Brownie-O's from one pack of brownie mix.

Package them up and add a cute holiday printable and you are all set for your kiddo's holiday parties or a little hostess gift.

{holidays} Free Printable Round-up

It's Cyber Monday today and that means that many of you will be shopping online.  Well - what better way to kick off the Monday with some DARLING free printables that are out in cyberland this holiday season.  You need tags for all those deals that you might have found on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and now Cyber Monday - right?

Which do you like the best?

These pretties are from Party Box Designs.  This is just one of them...they have 2 others that are just as cute.

These are really cute from Love the Day and Catch My Party.

Want a Modern Twist?  Head over to Hey Look for these beauties...

Like what you see?  Click on the links and it will take you to their sites and you can download to your hearts content!!

Happy Cyber Monday.

A Pocket full of Gift Tags

I don't know about you...but I'm a complete sucker for gift tags and wrapping.  I have so many gift tags...I might have a problem.  This year, I'm completely in love with stamps and all of my special little gifties with have some form of stamp.  I love this stamp above because it can be used really for any holiday or special occasion.

For some reason - this stamp below just screams sophistication to me.  It was created by Besotted Brand.  Absolutely love her style and I just ordered it.  Can't wait for it to arrive!!