Christmas Stollen Bread

This post is sponsored by Graceland Fruit, but the thoughts and opinions are my own.

A holiday classic in Germany, this Christmas Stollen Bread is simple to make and is 

perfect to serve for breakfast on Christmas morning!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve, my friends! I can't believe that Christmas is just two days away. It certainly has come fast this year and I still have a few things to finish up before I'm officially ready. What can I say, I'm a procrastinator! I've got my shopping done but I have plenty to wrap. I guess we all know what I'll be doing today. 😉 Before the holiday gets here I just had to share one more of my favorite recipes with you...Christmas Stollen Bread! Stollen bread originated in Germany and is basically a sweet bread containing dried fruits and covered in powdered sugar. Sounds delicious, right? Well it is!

Red Wine Pot Roast with Mushrooms

Mushrooms, fresh rosemary and red wine flavor this tender and delicious pot roast. 

It's full of flavor and is the perfect comfort food meal!

Can you believe it, Christmas is just one week away! I've still got a few gifts left to buy, and I haven't even started wrapping yet, but like every year I know it will all get done. Thankfully I've got all my menus planned for the weekend and Christmas day, and just a handful of things to pick up at the grocery store. Things are coming together well and I'm looking forward to spending this special time with my family.

Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

This post is sponsored by General Mills, but the thoughts and opinions are my own.

There's nothing better on a cold morning than baking up a pan of these warm and delicious 

Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls. It's a comforting breakfast that the whole family will love! 

Christmas is right around the corner and I'm behind, as always. Every year I say I'm going to get a jump on my Christmas shopping early, but it never fails that my kids don't give me their lists until last minute. Why do they like to do that? I know..because they're boys! They never know what to ask for which makes it a little harder to start early. Luckily they're handsome! Does the same thing happen in your family?

One thing I've got going for me is my Christmas day menu. Every year we celebrate with my parents at our house so I can get a head start on my planning as early as I want to. These warm and decadent Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls are going to be the star of our Christmas morning breakfast and I can't wait!

Red Velvet Cheesecake

This bright, beautiful Red Velvet Cheesecake is a luscious and indulgent dessert that's perfect for the holidays! 

I don't know about you guys, but I am SO glad the weekend is here! I have had such a crazy week. Work has been busier than I could ever imagine, the kids are getting ready to wrap up this semester of classes, and I've got so much to do to get ready for Christmas! I've got maybe half of my shopping done...I'm so behind! Please tell me I'm not alone?? 

Cinnamon Cranberry Pull Apart Loaf

This recipe was developed in partnership with Pillsbury™ and I thank them for sponsoring this post! 

All opinions, as always, are my own.

This simple Cinnamon Cranberry Pull Apart Loaf is soft on the inside, golden brown and crunchy on the outside. 

It's perfect for breakfast or as an afternoon treat! 

The holidays are quickly approaching whether we are ready or not. This year truly has seemed to fly by and it feels like it was just summer! Nonetheless, I've been in the kitchen recipe testing and starting to plan my menus. One of my favorite parts about Christmas is my parents coming over early in the morning and spending the entire day with us. We take our time opening presents while enjoying coffee and hot chocolate, then sit down to a breakfast feast. Overnight casseroles, breads, and things like baked french toast or pancakes are favorites around here. This Cinnamon Cranberry Pull Apart Loaf featuring Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing is not only delicious, but it's easy to make and can feed the whole family!

Mini Orange Glazed Cranberry Loaves

These Mini Orange Glazed Cranberry Loaves are tender and moist and bursting with flavor. 

It's the perfect recipe to share with friends and family this holiday season!

I just love the holiday season. I love everything about it, from the decorating to the twinkling lights to the baking to the time spent with family and friends. It truly is a magical time of year. One of my most favorite things is the joy of giving. At this point in my life I enjoy giving much more than receiving. I think that happens to us all as we grow older, especially if we have children. There isn't anything quite as special as watching your kids open gifts and seeing their faces light up! But giving doesn't always mean buying gifts. You can give homemade gifts, edible treats, and give the gift of your time to help others. 

Eggnog Bundt Cake

Celebrate the holidays with this festive Eggnog Bundt Cake! This cake is simple to make 

yet tastes so divine, it's perfect for all of your holiday parties!

Merry Christmas Eve my friends! As we get ready to celebrate these glorious holidays, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for being here. Thank you for reading my blog in 2016. Thank you for leaving comments and for letting me know when you make my recipes and for sharing your thoughts. Thank you for supporting me as I do the thing I love - cooking and baking and sharing my food with family and friends, and with you. Without you, I probably wouldn't still be here! I mean, I'd still be here. But the blog might not. 😍

Homemade Whipped Cream

Nothing beats the taste of sweet Homemade Whipped Cream and with 
this simple recipe, you'll never want to buy store bought again! 

Have you heard the news? We could be facing a whipped cream shortage this holiday season! Due to an unfortunate accident this past August at a chemical plant in Florida, there is an industry wide supply issue of nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide gas keeps canned whipped creams light and fluffy, and due to the accident there is now a shortage of some whipped toppings. Don't fret though, I've got the perfectly simple recipe for making your own whipped cream at home!

Italian Cheese Straws

These Italian Cheese Straws are simple to make and are a delicious holiday appetizer! Pair them with a few 
other festive treats and a couple bottles of wine, and you've got everything you need for the perfect holiday party!

I am honored, and so, so excited, to share with you that I have been selected by CK Mondavi to be one of their first ever CK Mondavi Ambassadors! I had the opportunity to meet the CK Mondavi team earlier this year at the Food Wine Conference in Orlando. I also sat down one on one with Janice Mondavi, wife of a third-generation owner of the family owned C. Mondavi & Family wine company. We talked about the business, the rich history of their company, and most importantly, we talked about family. I instantly felt a connection to Janice and couldn't be more proud to be working with CK Mondavi now.

Sugar Cookie Latte Tiramisu

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. 

All opinions are mine alone. #DelightfulMoments #CollectiveBias

Add a festive twist to traditional tiramisu with creamy mascarpone cheese, sugar cookies, and homemade sugar cookie whipped cream! It's a dessert that's sure to impress your guests and no one has to know how easy it is to make!

Now that Thanksgiving is over it's time to start thinking about Christmas. It's so hard to believe that December is just a couple of days away! One of my favorite things about the holidays is all the sweet treats I get to make. From baking all types of cookies to making some of my favorite desserts for holiday parties, I always have fun in the kitchen with my family.

Of course I have my favorite traditional and family recipes, but I love coming up with new recipes as well. This Sugar Cookie Latte Tiramisu is the perfect dessert for your Christmas dinner or any holiday gathering you might be hosting. It's easy to put together and there's no baking involved! It's such a simple dessert, but it's also beautiful and elegant.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pine Nuts and Cranberries #SundaySupper

This simple side dish features roasted, caramelized Brussels sprouts with crunchy pine nuts 

and tart cranberries. It's perfect for the holidays or even Sunday supper!

Growing up you couldn't have paid me to eat Brussels sprouts. I wouldn't touch them, along with asparagus and broccoli. I know a lot of kids are the same way, and it fascinates how different things are once you get older. I now have a love for all three of these delicious vegetables and cook them as often as I can.

This weeks' Sunday Supper theme is Best Holiday Side Dishes. We all have our traditional favorite sides like green been casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, etc. but I wanted to make something a little bit different. Something that we don't often have at our holiday table. These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pine Nuts and Cranberries are full of different flavors and textures, and definitely fit the bill for best holiday side.

Mini Chocolate Cherry Tarts

These three ingredient Mini Chocolate Cherry Tarts are the perfect sweet treat for any holiday gathering or party!

The holidays are quickly approaching, whether we are ready for them or not! I cannot believe that today is November 1st...I mean, where did the year go? It seems like we just celebrated the new year, then summer was here, and now it's the holiday season once again. I swear the older I get, the faster time goes! I tell my kids this all the time but they have yet to believe me. Once they get my age they will completely understand!

Anyway, I'm already starting to think about Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all of the holiday parties and get together's we will be having. I'm starting to get ideas for my menus and jotting things in my journal as I think of them. Being a baker at heart, you know my mind is instantly pulled towards desserts and sweet treats. I always need to make sure they are over the top!

Mini Spinach Artichoke Pies

These bite-sized Mini Spinach Artichoke Pies couldn't be easier to make! These delicious 

appetizers are perfect for game day, the holidays, or just as a treat for your family and friends. 

I think it's fair to say that I'm obsessed with spinach and artichoke dip. There's just something about that warm, cheesy, gooey and flavorful dip that I just can't get enough of. I order it often as an appetizer when we go out to eat, and I occasionally make it at home. Even my kids, who don't really like spinach or artichokes alone, gobble it up. I call that a win for getting them to eat those veggies! One of my other favorite treats are spinach pies. What's not to love about all that goodness tucked inside cripsy phyllo dough? YUM is all I can say.