It’s the holiday season, and through all the hustle and bustle, I wanted to take a moment to share some of my favorite memories.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas - the cartoon version will always be a classic. I try to watch it every year.

 

Enstrom’s Toffee - I think I’ve covered that.

Music - I love holiday songs. From Charlie Brown Christmas carols to Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  I also love a capella music. Carol of the Bells, Silver Bells, and of course Mariah Carey’s Christmas CD. This year, I got my fix singing with the Alexandria Singers! I also love singing Silent Night with lit candles.

Baking Cookies - Sadly, I haven’t baked anything yet this year…but my go-to favorites are my mom’s lemon-butter cookies (which are like roll-out cookies with some lemon zest - amazing!), and gingerbread cookies. For something a little easier, I’m a fan of the peanut butter cookies with the Hershey’s Kiss in the middle and raw sugar sprinkled on top.

Stocking Stuffers - Stockings are a big thing in my family - and mine is huge! My Grandma made it for me when I was younger…and my favorite thing to do is open stockings first thing Christmas morning. Mine usually have candy, gift certificates, and little gifts (like nail polish, lipstick, socks, etc.). My dog even has a stocking!

 

Traditional Food - Holidays are all about food to me. We usually have lasagna (pictured below) on Christmas Eve and filet mignon on Christmas Day. Last year we experimented and had roast beef tenderloin instead which was really good. It’s pictured below with homemade caramelized onion mashed potatoes and three pepper fresh green beans with parmesan cheese and made from scratch yeast rolls. YUM! The best part was the cake my mom made, which I’ve begged her to make again.  It’s a spice cake with blackberry filling and cream cheese frosting. Simply amazing.

In the past we’ve had a goose on Christmas and even a homemade Buche de Noel. For breakfast, we usually have either a strata, a cherry clafouti (pictured below), or a hashbrown tart with pepperjack cheese and bits of ham. All are really good! I also really love all the latkes that I have had this year for Hanukkah! You really can’t go wrong with fried potato goodness.

Christmas  Eve lasagna

Spice cake with blackberry filling and cream cheese frosting

Beef tenderloin with caramelized onion mashed potatoes and three pepper green beans

 

Cherry clafouti

Decorations - I haven’t really had time and money to decorate the past couple years, but my family has some traditional and new decorations. When I was little I loved to play with a tiny wooden cresh. Nutcrackers are fun too!

What are some of your holiday memories?

If you love toffee, then look no further than Enstrom’s. My mouth waters at the very thought.

Enstrom’s is a family-owned and operated Colorado based toffee company that has been making toffee treats for three generations. How did I become so hooked?

My mom’s family is from Colorado, and every year since I was little, my grandma sent my family a box of this addictive toffee. I like it so much that I often send it to friends as well for gifts. I look forward to the traditional brown and gold box each year, and want to spread the word about how good it is.

What makes Enstrom’s so great? Taste, texture, everything! It has a crunchy bite and a buttery melt-in-your-mouth goodness to it. There are whole almonds nestled in between rich toffee, smothered in milk or dark chocolate and finished with a fine dusting of ground almonds. 

It’s good cold or at room temperature (you can store it in the fridge for freezer, and can be thawed and re-frozen with no damage to the candy). I think part of the reason I love it so much is because it doesn’t interfere with my nut allergies. I can enjoy without the worry!

But Enstrom’s does more than just toffee. They have gourmet chocolates, chocolatey-nutty popcorn, seasonal chocolate peppermint bark and more.

Enstrom’s is currently engaged in a social media campaign. You can find the company on Twitter and Facebook, engaging with their fans and offering information on recipes, promotions, and more.  Not only that, but Enstrom’s is a certified Kosher candy, and they recently launched a blog called Kosher Gift Giving, which gives great gift ideas for year-round giving.

COMMENT TO WIN a 1 LB. BOX OF ENSTROM’S FAMOUS ALMOND TOFFEE

Leave a comment detailing what your family (food) tradition is. Whether it’s sweet, savory, salty, crunchy, or none of the above, I want to know what food means "holidays" to you. Make sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact the winner for their mailing address. A 1 lb. box of Enstrom’s will be sent directly to you, just in time for the holidays! Contest ends on Monday, December 1 at 5 PM.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A few things I just had to get out, with no particular relation.

Sports vs. relationship talk. We all know that when men get together, they tend to be able to bond over sports. It frequently comes up in conversation, is the point of many countless debates and bets, and serves as a common ground for most men to stand on. For (most) women, that same common ground seems to be relationship talk. Think of the Sex & the City episode where Miranda gets so upset that all they ever talk about is men. These smart, successful women, who can’t find anything of substance to discuss. Sometimes I feel like I have that problem with my friends…and it sucks to think about. I have a very fun and busy life, why spend my lunches and dinners with girlfriends discussing relationships and men? Well, perhaps it’s just the one thing that we can all relate to.

Bachelor vs. bachelorette. I have decided, from the few bachelor party pictures from friends that I have seen…that they are way more fun. I kind of wish I was a guy, in fact. Think about it. Bachelor parties (from what I can tell) usually involve some kind of cigar, taking shots, reminiscing about the old times, and more often than not a naked woman or two. Sometimes a steak dinner is involved. Bachelorette parties usually include drinking as well, but also silly plastic penis straws, little tiaras or veils, (in fact, anything penis related), and stupid games to “test” how well you know your fiancee. Occasionally a stripper is found and sometimes you get a cute t-shirt made, but usually it’s just a bunch of women screaming “whooooo” and trying to finish a scavenger hunt that involves sucking something (Lifesavers off a shirt, blow job shot), finding something (condom, boxers), or kissing someone random. Boring. Lame.

Christmas shopping. This year, I was late. Really late. Usually I am done, signed, sealed, delivered by Thanksgiving or shortly thereafter. Oh, and Christmas cards have been sent at least two weeks before (they are still sitting in the box now as I write, not going to happen this year). I am just now finishing the final touches on my gifts for family. I was in REI last night, and I hate going in there. Everytime I go there, it tricks me into thinking I need something. First of all, I am not so much an outdoorsy person. Second of all, what the hell do I need another fleece coat for, or snow pants? There were glorious snow pants there. Gloves, boots, and jackets that I wanted. Then I had to remind myself that I do not do well with the elements, and that my money would be much rather spent on high heeled boots or nice jeans and a sweater. (Or, rather, not at all since I’m still paying off a shitload of debt.) It is also funny though that the more I shop, the more I see that I want to buy. I am a Christmas decorating whore, I love it all. Or, buying it all. Bags, paper, little trinkets I don’t need, candy (obsessed with the Hershey’s miniatures mint medley). Although, this year will be my first year without a Christmas tree (even at the parents’ house). That’s kind of sad I think.

New Year’s Eve. So expensive. So overplayed. Yet, still participating. I will be in Georgetown for NYE this year, and am looking forward to what 2008 will bring.

At first I was appalled. How could they do that? It’s just too soon. Who had the bright idea of putting “for sale” Halloween candy next to the Christmas decorations?!? It’s disgusting and disturbing.

Sigh…here we are, about to plunge headfirst into the Holiday season.

But then I was true to myself and I thought…you know what? I love it. I am SUCH the ultimate consumer…I even get excited at holiday paper towels and decorative tissue boxes. Yes, I am that girl…and I am only slightly ashamed.

You see, ever since I can remember… I have LOVED the holidays. I love the cooking and the family and the gift getting (and receiving) and tradition. Most people hate the crowded malls but I love the bustle and hustle of it all (and I love to shop no matter what time of year it is)…and of course the cheesy songs. I am a sucker for the old Frosty the Snowman and Rudolf cartoons, the Charlie Brown Christmas story and the Carol of the Bells. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and Here Comes Santa Claus. Movies like Home Alone, Elf, The Santa Clause, and all of the others. Oh, and of course the real reason for the season…I love church at Christmastime. Advent and Christmas carols and candles…it’s all beautiful.

Of course, with all of my favorite foods, things, and people around…I’m going to have to be extra careful with my money. This year I can’t afford to go overboard on presents and cute trinkets and decorations. I have to be frugal with my Christmas cards and candy. And, I know it’s going to be really hard.

So, I’m hoping that the Christmas season will pass by just as quickly as it arrived, and while it will raise my spirits, it won’t do too much damage to my wallet.