It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Reason#1: Christmas Jammies

Reason #2: It's gingerbread house decorating time.

Somebody got into the candy...

So, we sent him to bed and the adults got serious.

Before (notice that Boston had a little Christmas snack):

After:

(We invited some of our most artistic friends to help.)

Raise your hand if you've already eaten too much sugar this Christmas.  

*Raising hand*

Great!  Well, let's not stop now...

WHAT'S FOR DINNER (HOLIDAY FAVORITES EDITION):

SWEET POTATO PIE: Here's a traditional southern pie that I made over Thanksgiving and plan to make at least once more before 2012. Sweet Potato Pie 

INA'S APPLESAUCE: The smell of the apples and citrus in the oven reminds me of the holidays.  Barefoot Contessa sure knows how to make a good applesauce.

MASHED POTATOES:  Last year, my company held a potluck lunch.  One guy brought mashed potatoes, which sounds easy enough.  Turns out, these taters were the bomb-diggidy and everyone in the company now has a killer recipe.  And now, you do too:

Ingredients:

1 bag red potatoes

Sea salt (to taste)

1/2 Qt. heavy whipping cream

1 stick unsalted butter

4 Tblsp. sour cream

Chives

1.  Boil water in stock pot.

2.  Peel and wash potatoes.  Cut into cubes.  Boil for 30-35 minutes.

3.  Use potato ricer to mash potatoes.  Much less work.

4.  Mix in butter, cream, salt, sour cream, chives.

-Bethany