Cranberry Ginger Gin Fizz

 This bubbly Cranberry Ginger Gin Fizz combines refreshing mint, tart cranberries, fresh lime, and crisp gin in a perfectly festive cocktail perfect for the holiday season...

So, Christmas is just one week away and the end of 2020 is definitely in sight (FINALLY!). And I think both of those things call for a festive and bubbly cocktail. What do you all think?

I mean, 2020 hasn't been all doom & gloom. But it definitely is not the kind of year that I would like to repeat any time too terribly soon. 

Besides the obvious (ahem, Covid, a global pandemic, and statewide shutdowns across the country), 2020 was also the year I acquired my first official funeral dress. I have attended 3 funerals this past year, the most recent being for my own grandmother just a few weeks ago. 

I was contracted for two of my biggest jobs ever as a food blogger, and both of those were permanently shelved within the past month thanks to the 'Rona virus. 

Cookie Butter Pecan Fudge

With just 3 simple ingredients, this buttery & rich Cookie Butter Pecan Fudge is going to quickly become your new go-to holiday fudge recipe...

It's December, folks and that means one thing- the holiday season is upon us, you all. When I think of the holidays, my mind naturally turns to the tastes and flavors of the season. Frosted sugar cookies, gingerbread, hot cocoa, and of course, fudge. 

I mean, homemade fudge cut into perfect little squares tucked away into tins is just classic Christmas to me. My mother is the fudge maker in our family. 

She always whips up a batch of peanut butter and then a batch of chocolate fudge with walnuts almost every single December. She makes it from scratch and gets it perfect just about every single time. 

Me? Not so much. I was not blessed with her fudge making skills. ;)

But I discovered one secret ingredient last year that helped me finally overcome my fudge making handicap- a tub of store-bought frosting. 

Yes, some may call it cheating, but I just like to call it genius and pretty much foolproof. It has allowed me to finally make a delicious contribution to the family holiday fudge making each December.

I let my mama handle the classic fudges while I branch out and experiment with new flavors using my easy method for making fudge. My latest fudge creation is buttery and rich, made with creamy cookie butter and crunchy pecans. A perfectly decadent & easy to make treat for the holidays...

Cranberry White Wine Sauce

Forget the canned stuff for your holiday dinner! This classy Cranberry White Wine Sauce takes just 4 ingredients and 15 minutes to make...

In case you all have been too busy to notice, Christmas is just two days away.

Two days, folks. Who all is ready? ;)

I can honestly sit here and say for once that I am ready. I did just finish wrapping up the last of the gifts last night, but I am done. Everything is ready to be placed under the tree and then ripped open in less than 48 hours. 

I believe this may be a first for me, friends. 

So now that the whole gift wrapping business is done and crossed off my holiday to-do list, I am focusing on my Christmas dinner menu. 

I actually wasn't planning on hosting a big family dinner for Christmas this year, but my husband kind of changed all that thinking when he came home from work the other day with a 20 pound ham in a bag.  

This thing is huge. So naturally, I decided that hosting family for a big Christmas dinner would be in order.