Sunday, December 18, 2016

Merry Christmas to All!




Every year I bake an assortment of cookies to share and enjoy during Christmas and well into the New Year.  I've blogged about a few of my favorite cookie recipes in the past--the Fig, Date and Nut cookies, regular Gingerbread Men, and Rainbow (Neapolitan) Cookies recipes can be viewed on this post.  Over the years I've begin making the King Arthur Flour gluten free Gingerbread men recipe as my daughter-in-law and one of my grandsons is sensitive to wheat.  The cookies are delicious, and we all enjoy them, so I don't bake the regular any longer.   This year I made a batch of Gluten Free Rainbow Cookies, in addition to my regular Rainbow cookies, and they are also almost indistinguishable in taste so they will become a regular addition to my cookie making routine. I found that my Spritz cookie press was not working well this year, so that will be one of my first after Christmas presents to myself.  Only one disc worked well and even that did not make very sharp designs and it was a bit of a struggle to work with when it should have been the easiest cookie to make.


My oldest grandson celebrated his 8th birthday last week! This darling boy was first seen on my blog in 2008, when he was born. How life has changed for us since then!  It has been a joy to live closer to him and to watch him grow.  Like all grandparents, we believe that every one of our grandchildren is the smartest and best-looking child there is!


This week I'll be very busy shopping for, and preparing, our traditional Italian style "Feast of the Seven Fishes."  It is a meal we, and our guests, look forward to all year long!   As an appetizer, I make my Italian Mixed Seafood Salad. It is one of my most pinned recipes, and truly delicious. Another recipe I make on Christmas Eve, that is truly Italian and my husband's favorite, is Baccala Florentine.  It is made with salted cod that has been reconstituted in water, but you can also substitute regular codfish filet. We also have stuffed calamari, fried shrimp, mussels and clams, stuffed lobster tails, salmon, and an assortment of vegetables. 





One thing for sure, is that we will have a white Christmas!  We had about 8 inches of snow this past weekend on the Front Range of Colorado, and it has been unusually cold so the snow is not melting as quickly as it usually does in the warm Colorado sun.  I love snow and it made me happy to see this quiet beauty all around our neighborhood.





A Christmas Day visitor last year!
Will he come back this year?





Love Came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Stars and angels gave the sign.
~ Christina G.Rossetti


May you and your family have a very Merry and blessed Christmas! 

 I will see you in the new year!


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38 comments:

handmade by amalia said...

You've been busy, Pat! I could go for a cookie right now.
Amalia
xo

Gemma Wiseman said...

Such a colourful, interesting Christmas post. All that baking is simply amazing. Happiest Christmas to you.

podso said...

Your cookies look amazing and it sounds like you will have a busy week cooking some wonderful food. And I can't believe your little grandson is not so little any more. What a handsome boy. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, your cookies look delicious. They would be very tempting. Happy birthday to your grandson, time and the years go by so quickly. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week ahead! I wish you and your a blessed and Merry Christmas!

Snap said...

Merry Merry Christmas, Pat! Your cookies are making my mouth water. You are a busy girl. I know you will enjoy this beautiful White Christmas.
Hugs ----

likeschocolate said...

Your making me so hungry! Merry Christmas!

Lea said...

Yummy cookies, handsome grandson, and great deer photo!
Merry Christmas!

Linda W. said...

Those cookies all look so delicious! And I have a spritz cookie maker too (the old fashioned metal one!) and love it. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

A very Merry Christmas to you and yours Pat! Beautiful post.

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

It sounds like you are going to have a perfect Christmas this year. We have cooked the feast of the seven fishes before but since moving we just don't know enough people to share it with…enjoy yours.

Vee said...

Oh my, Pat! It all looks so amazing...what a spread! I can not believe that your grandson is already eight years old. He certainly is a handsome lad. Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2017 to you and yours.

Tamar SB said...

So many delicious holiday treats! Happy 8th birthday to your grandson!

NCSue said...

Delightful photos!
I wish you a wonderful Christmas, and thank you for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/12/visiting-bethlehem-gloria-in-excelsis.html

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Pat Christmas looks so wonderful in your home. I know you will enjoy every moment! Merry Christmas to you and your family. ♥

Ruth Hiebert said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family.Those cookies look so delicious.I love a nice snowy scene and you certainly are seeing that.

The Gathering Place said...

Merry Christmas, Pat! I can't believe your grandson is growing up so quickly. It seems like I've been along on the journey with you, at least for part of the time. Your baking looks so delicious. How fun to be your neighbor and receive a lovely treat. Merry Christmas!

Mary Hill said...

I love Christmas cookies. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas.

Lady Fi said...

Your food looks delicious! Wishing you a wonderful festive season!

DrillerAA said...

May the Light of the World shine in your heart and home this Christmas season.

Little Wandering Wren said...

Beautiful cookies and amazing to know you will be having a white Christmas - fingers crossed for Ruldoph's visit. Our will be hot, 35 degrees is forecast, in fact we are already planning turkey cooked on the BBQ and a salad!
Happy Christmas Pat!
Wren x

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! Cookes and seafood and now I am hungry ~ Gorgeous photos and post ~ thanks,

Wishing a Very Merry Christmas ~ ^_^

Lowcarb team member said...

Oh Pat ... such a lovely post, and your grandson looks great!

I wish you, and all your family, a most Happy Christmas Season

All the best Jan

Ciao Chow Linda said...

You sure have been baking up a storm, Pat. I love those tricolor cookies, but never made them. I'm sure Vinny's family must be so pleased that you're carrying on all the traditions, Pat. By now, you've become an "honorary Italian." Buon Natale.

Vagabonde said...

It must smell good in your kitchen! Your food sounds delicious. My husband and I will stay home this year as we drove to TN for Thanksgiving. I may bake just a couple of cookies because with his Alzheimer’s he does not even know that we are near Christmas. I think I’ll use my old pizzelle iron that I bought in the Philadelphia Italian market back in the 70s and maybe bake half recipe of my Bourbon balls. I usually prefer to go to the French bakery in town and buy a buche de Noel. No snow for us here in Georgia, not yet, maybe later. Our coldest day so far as been in the low 40s. Stay warm and have a merry Christmas!

KL said...

It seems like you love to cook as cooking all those different fish, mussel, calamari, lobster, etc, etc, is not easy. And, I am going to try some of your cookie-recipes. I wish you and your family a very Happy Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May you all have lots of fun and joy at this festive season.

Liz Needle said...

What a great blog. Your Christmas cooking puts me to shame. Perhaps I will get off my proverbial and make some of your delicious cookies. Thanks for the inspiration.

Fun60 said...

Those cookies look delicious. I love your family Christmas food.

Gayle said...

ahhh, a cup of hot cocoa; a plate of your inspiring cookies by a window viewing the Colorado snowfall. What's not to love?

Anonymous said...

Sorry for my lateness! Wow, you must have spent many hours baking! Am a cookie addict, so d on't tell me where you live! All joking aside, thank you so much forsharing your traditions for the holidays and wishing you and your family a beautiful Christmas season!

Alexa T said...

Lots of delicious sweets!! Happy Holidays!

Stacey said...

Merry Christmas Pat. :)

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

The cookies look so yummy Pat! Your meal sounds like quite a feast. Handsome grandson indeed! Thanks for sharing with SYC and have a wonderful and very Merry Christmas!
hugs,
Jann

Barb said...

I imagine you're still busy cooking, Pat. Vinny is a lucky man to have a wife who follows his family's traditions. Your meal sounds delicious. I'm having some coffee right now and wish I could pry a cookie from the photo! Merry Christmas to you and your Family!

Yvette said...

What a wonderful Christmas whirlwind you are, Pat. Wish I were coming over to share some of that fine cooking. I love learning about all your activities. Have a fabulous Christmas, m'dear, you and your family and friends.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Incredible range of tempting cookies. And love your snowy scenes.

diane b said...

What an amazing spread. Your family is so lucky to have you as a caterer. Of course your grand children are the most beautiful and clever that is after mine. Hee hee

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I know you had a wonderful Christmas with your family near (and all those goodies, pictured and described, sound so good... I know everyone was full and happy!!) Wishing you and yours a happy New Year.

Tanna said...

Oh, Pat, how they've grown! Our Alex turned 7 last summer... Yes, our lives turned upside down with them! LOL! In the most amazing ways. So fun to catch up a little today... it's been like "coming home". Wishing you and your precious family all the very best 2017 has to offer! blessings and hugs ~ tanna