Hi everyone!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and week following! Now, everyone is full-on Christmas mode with decorations, festive music, Hallmark movies, and online Christmas shopping! This digest shows you a recap of our family's Thanksgiving goodness, A tribute to Ryan for his birthday, a peek at our house decor and my favorite Christmas cookie recipe!
My job on Thanksgiving. Sit at the counter, do a tiny bit of prep, but mainly “boss” my mom and mother in law around in the kitchen as they make my Celebrations recipes! I’m so thankful for my family stepping in and making my recipes. And I got to EAT most of it!! Sparingly and carefully, but I had a plate!!
I’ve never been more thankful.
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The day after Thanksgiving is my favorite each year, and not because of the shopping. Because I get to wake up to thousands of your photos of the dishes you made from my Celebrations book to celebrate your day. It’s an honor and a privilege to be “in your kitchens” with you on your special day and with your most special people. Really, I don’t take it lightly! There are a billion recipes out there you could use, and the fact that you trust me enough to serve mine to your loved ones makes me so happy!
Thank you for sharing all of your photos with me. I’m going to share some of my faves in my stories!
Here was our feast. My sweet family stepped in and made EVERY SINGLE dish from the Thanksgiving chapter, plus a couple of appetizers from the NYE chapter!! Last week in the hospital, I wasn’t sure if I’d be allowed to eat by Thanksgiving, and I’m so happy to say I was able to enjoy a (small) plate of everything!! Food has never tasted so good!
Cousin love.
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Snuck this over Ashley Lima’s shoulder while she snapped some family photos today. Can’t wait to see the real ones!
Not sure what I did to deserve them
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What are you doing with all your turkey day leftovers? Moist-maker sandwich anyone? I’ll give 2 points to whoever gets that reference first ?
Fun fact. Ryan despises Chicken Pot Pie. He doesn’t really like casseroles in general.
So even though you all requested a recipe for a gluten-free and paleo version from me for years and years, I never created one because I didn’t want him to have to suffer through being a taste tester ?
That is, until I wrote Eat What You Love. Because I couldn’t put a book of healthier, paleo comfort foods out withOUT including a pot pie!!
He actually enjoyed this believe it or not, although he’d never pick it as a meal choice. ?
So many of you have made it and have loved it, and it reminded me that if you have leftover turkey and grain-free gravy from Thanksgiving, this would be an amazing dish to use it up in!
I’m so in love with the way this wall turned out (and my Christmas add-ones!).
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We chose an art print with an oak tree for our Aila and I love coming into the living room every day to see it.
I linked everything for you on my Instagram!
Design by Becki Owens (can’t wait to show you more of the house after I recover and we can take photos!)
This man. It’s his birthday today.
Above all else, I am thankful for him and everything he has sacrificed to take care of our family and me while I’ve been incapacitated.
I’ve been out of commission essentially for 12 weeks now, since my tour in September to bed rest at home to my time in the hospital. I’m still running only at about 30% now that I’m home.
He took on every burden of our home, our kids, my business, and managed all my care in the hospital while I was incoherent.
He would sit by my side during the day, run out to pick up kids from school and sports or to get me food, and often times come back to be with me after they were to sleep.
He’s exhausted. But he leads our family tirelessly with strength and grace. He’s been frustrated, angry and incredibly worried, but you would never know it. He’s selfless and patient, and my children adore him. I can honestly say we could not be alive with all of the trials we’ve faced over the past 13 years of marriage if it wasn’t for Ryan.
I sit and watch him play tag with them in the kitchen, even after a long day, and their laughter and shrills show how they think of the world of him.
I watch his patience and hope I can model even a fraction of it. I watch his humility, faith, and strength and hope I can show the same.
He doesn’t know it, but I have so many special things planned for him today to show him how grateful we are for him, today on his birthday, and every day. I can’t leave the house yet, but I can still spoil appropriately!
♥️♥️♥️
What is your favorite jam to use in Thumbprint Cookies?
I’ve had everything from apricot jam to caramel as a topping, but I’d have to say that my favorite is a classic raspberry jam.
Each day I’m gaining a little more strength. I’m still having to take things really slowly and am running at about 30%, but the holidays have me overwhelmingly excited to get into the kitchen and do tons and tons of Christmas baking! These are high on the list of things I’ll make!
This recipe only calls for 6 simple ingredients! They taste so soft and buttery like shortbread, your friends will never be able to tell they are grain-free and dairy-free?Even better news, they are easily egg-free by omitting the egg wash!
Also, I miss those baby Easton curls! ?
Get the recipe here!
I love this season!??❄️Visiting Santa, binging Hallmark movies, and a beautiful gigantic Christmas tree! ?
