Two Great Christmas Holiday Menus!

How was your Christmas?! Are you still recovering? What was on your menu?

We had two Christmas dinners with two different sides of the family which meant two different Christmas menus!

I think we really outdid ourselves. It was a ton of work but everyone was blown away!

Menu 1: (Italian inspired:)

Appetizers:

Grilled Artichokes- (like these from Foodie Crush)


Paleo Meatballs in Marinara from Paleo Newbie



Cucumber Hummus bites with Tina's Homemade Hummus

Tina's Hummus recipe:
2- 16 ounce cans of chick peas drained- reserve the juice
4-6 garlic cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
3/4 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1/2 cup lemon juice

Drain chick peas. Put garlic in food processor and mince. Add chick peas and mince, scraping down the sides. Add salt, tahini and lemon juice. Mix. Taste. Add enough reserve chick pea juice to make a thick creamy consistency. You should be able to make an indentation with the back of a spoon . Check taste again for additional lemon and salt. You can serve also with olive oil drizzled on top and smokey paprika! Divine!

Persimmons and prosciutto (add truffle oil, or honey if you have it!)



Main course:

Caprese wreath from Huffington Post


Shrimp Scampi (also by Huffington Post)



Chicken Cacciatore By Proud Italian Cook


and Italian Peas  (These were amazing)





And for dessert?

Pioneer Womans Cherry Cheesecake Shooters! These were a HUGE hit!!!


Stay tuned for menu number 2!!!

Elf On The Shelf Has Arrived! Some fun and easy ideas for Elf On The Shelf!

Our Elf "Jim" has arrived!

I always tell the kids he comes on December 1st every year from the North Pole on his teeny tiny airplane. He arrives with a little note. This year it said:


 Landon and Coco I'm here at last!
 Boy this last year went real fast.
 I saw you playing piano for Mimi and Pop
 So I hid outside, and into the mailbox I hopped!
 I'm here to watch over you for my pal Santa Claus
 And let him know about you and "Tina Claws" (our mean cat!)
 You have to be good to get lots of presents and goodies
 So please listen to Mom and Dad if you could-ies!
 Can't wait to show you my silly tricks
 And report to my old friend Saint Nick!
 PS I love the tree you picked out!

Love Jim

This year when he arrived they found him like this!


And he's been having fun around the house....making snow angels....


Having sack races....



Having

 Making a snow man....


But I have a few more tricks up my sleeve. And I definitely want to do this!



What's your elf been doing?