Gingerbread Cheesecake Truffles

This year is coming to a close and it's time to reflect upon all that has happened.  I must say, 2013 was a crazy year, but overall a very satisfying one.  The hubby and I decided to move to a warmer state.  That meant selling our home first.  It took quite a few months, but we finally accomplished it.  Then I stopped working and became a stay-at-home mom.  While it drives me nutty a good amount of the time, it's nice to be more available for the kids and have more quality time together.  Next was the packing of the house and the big move to a new home, new state, and new life.  It was exciting, yet scary.  In the end, it was exactly what we needed.  I feel that as a family, we have been rejuvenated and it feels good.  Hopefully 2014 will treat us just as well.

Mini Sugar Cookie Donuts

It's crazy the amount of time we spend organizing, prepping, and stressing about Christmas.  I do enjoy most of it, but I also enjoy when it over and I can let out a sigh of relief.  The best part is seeing the look of amazement on my kids faces on Christmas morning when they see what Santa has left for them.  It makes me feel like a kid again.  It's then that I know all the craziness was worth it.  Now it's time to get ready for the new year. 

Holiday Dessert Recipes 2013

Well, this is it.  The countdown is near the end.  Christmas is just around the corner.  I did get to finish my shopping and get everything wrapped on time.  Yay!  The kids are excited for the big day.  This year will be different, not celebrating it with family, but we do have a lot of great neighbors, so we won't be alone.  My daughter and I already baked our sugar cookies and gingerbread men.  Now we can spend Christmas Eve decorating them.  Hopefully next year my little guy will get in on the act. If you haven't made anything sweet for Christmas yet, I have a few ideas for you.

North Pole Dirt Cake Cones

Are you looking for something different to do with your kids for Christmas or even during school break?  Well, how about these treats.  There is no baking involved and they are easy to assemble.  Everything is edible except the sign. 

Reindeer Gingerbread Cookies

One of my new neighbors sent me a photo of reindeer cookies she found on Pinterest, using an upside down gingerbread man cookie.  So of course, I had to try it out.  I looked through a lot of images online and came up with a design that was a combination of several cookies I saw.  Baking the cookies was the easy part, it's the decorating that took forever because I am detail oriented and wanted things just right.  I like how they came out and my daughter told me they were cute.  It worth the effort.

Pumpkin Gingerbread Cupcakes

We have been having some cold, wet weather here lately.  This kind of weather just makes me want to stay in bed.  But at least it's not as bad as the snow and ice that some folks are getting.  I surely don't miss that.  If bad weather keeps me in the house, I usually end up baking something.  I had some leftover pumpkin puree in the pantry that I wanted to use and I thought it would pair nicely with gingerbread.  I was right!

Eggnog Cheesecake Truffles

Yay! I finally started my Christmas shopping.  Hopefully I finish on time.  I had a busy weekend putting together a sampler of goodies for my neighbors' gift baskets.  These Eggnog Cheesecake Truffles were a part of the baskets.  I was really excited about how well they came out, in taste and visual appeal.  I would have kept them all to myself, but I thought it would be nicer to share in this season of giving.  And I would probably have had to buy some new pants come January.  I am so bad at eating just one.

Mini Peppermint Eggnog Donuts

I can't believe Christmas is creeping up on me.  I have so much to do still.  I haven't even started my shopping yet.  I really need to get it together and get it done.  In the meantime, I will have a donut.  I made these eggnog donuts last year with cinnamon and they were so moist and full of flavor.  I just had to make them again, but with a peppermint twist. 

Chocolate Peppermint M&M Fudge

So what do you do when you have a bag of broken M&Ms?  You make fudge!  I was so excited to find Peppermint M&M's this year, but then my butter fingers acted up again and I dropped one of the bags.  So when I went to open it, I cried a little seeing my pretty M&Ms dented, chipped, and cracked.  I could have just eaten the bag and drowned my sorrows, but I may have ended up with peppermint overload.  I do love peppermint, but it needs to be mixed with other flavors.  The Peppermint Cheesecake Rice Krispie Treats I made before Thanksgiving are a perfect example of mixing up the flavors.  This time, I mixed it up with chocolate.  Peppermint and chocolate always go well together.