Category Archives: Holiday

My (Mostly) Make-Ahead Holiday Brunch Menu

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Oh, I’ve held a holiday brunch or two in my day . . . in fact, it’s what I bring to the collective family celebrating. My parents host a big Christmas eve dinner, and then on Christmas morning, everyone wakes up, checks out what Santa left in the stockings and then heads to my house for more season’s feasting!  My Favorite Holiday Brunch Ideas (mostly make-ahead!)

I’m not a graceful waker-upper, and on Christmas morn have historically had to manage the chaos and excitement from my little elves  – who are now older and would quite likely sleep through stockings and brunch if you let them, oof! However, despite the luxury of sleeping in a bit, I still like to prep as many of the menu items a day or two ahead. This way, I’m not running around like the Grinch on the most wonderful day of the year. I’m sharing some of my most requested Christmas brunch and holiday breakfast ideas, many of which can be meal-prepped and kept in the fridge or freezer for no-stress holiday entertaining.  Continue reading →

Festive Winter Fruit Salad with Chia Seed Dressing

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Celebrate the holiday season in sweet style or add more merry to an everyday winter meal with this Festive Winter Fruit Salad with Chia Seed Dressing. Seems like fruit salad often takes a backseat in the colder-weather months, but no need to keep Mother Nature’s beautiful bounty a side dish for just summer dinners and events.

Featuring the best picks of winter fruits, including a few year-round staples (bananas to the rescue!), this winter fruit salad is dressed up with a lightly sweet-tangy poppyseed dressing. It’s a lovely addition to any holiday or Christmas brunch and or even to liven up packed lunches for work or school. Continue reading →

DIY Homemade Gingerbread Spice & 12 Yummy Ways to Use it

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What do you think of when you smell and taste gingerbread spices? For me, it conjures up memories of Christmas, winter holidays, giddy anticipation, spicy-sweet comfort and heading through the woods and over the hills to grandmother’s house.

DIY Homemade Gingerbread Spice

Gingerbread spices, typically cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves and a pinch of pepper, aren’t reserved just for gingerbread men, gingerbread houses and the soft gingerbread cakes my relatives loved to make during the holidays.  My DIY Homemade Gingerbread Spice recipe is simple to make, keeps all year to spice up all sorts of your favorite and even unexpected foods. Read on to get the Homemade Gingerbread Spice recipe and all the yummy ideas:  Continue reading →

Deviled Egg Owls – a HOOT for Halloween & Thanksgiving!

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If you’re looking for the CUTEST fall appetizer EVER, then look no further than these Deviled Egg Owls! They are surprisingly easy to make (and I’m no Martha), healthy, delicious . . . .and a HOOT! Deviled Egg Owls are decorated with edible toppings and make a fun addition to your Halloween party, Thanksgiving dinner, autumn picnic, or other fall gathering.

Read on to get the recipe and some fun owl facts to further delight your guests: Continue reading →

Camp Watermelon – Ideas for Fun, Games & Sweet Family Memories!

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This post is sponsored by The National Watermelon Promotion Board, but all content, comments, suggestions and enthusiasm remain my own!

This past week, I hung out at the lake with a couple dozen of my nearest and dearest family members for an extended long weekend. It was our annual family reunion but I aptly renamed it “Camp Watermelon 2019” because reflecting over the years, I’ve noticed that there is probably not a single, significant summer memory in my life that has gone by without sharing a watermelon with loved ones.Family watermelon fun at the lake this summer

Yup, watermelon creates more than happy bellies and sticky, sweet chins . . . watermelon is woven, sometimes subtly and sometimes boldly, right into the fabric of my very being and perhaps yours, too. This summer, I decided to kick up the watermelon fun at our reunion for guaranteed memories (and laughs) . . . read on to discover what we did at Camp Watermelon and get some fun watermelon ideas for yourself! Continue reading →