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?