Christmas Time!

Family, friends, food and festivities...it's what this time of year is all about!  We spent Christmas in Tampa and were excited Allison and Andrea were able to join us.

During the day, Frank smoked some of the kingfish we caught a few weeks ago and prepared a few batches of fish dip.  Yummy!

To celebrate Christmas Eve we had nibbles and spirits with our good friends, Ken & Victoria.

It wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't continue a tradition Ken & Victoria introduced us to:  Christmas Crackers!  Everyone dons their crowns and tries to figure out the riddle and prize.

Afterwards, we walked around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Ken is the King of Repurposing!  When his garage door opener broke, he didn't pitch it but transformed it into something that would be the talk of the block.  (I couldn't upload the video, but the elf (at the bottom, near the brick wall) climbs to the top of the North Pole.)  :)

On Christmas morning, after the customary breakfast of cinnamon rolls and fruit salad, we packed the sleigh and headed to Winter Haven to share Christmas with Frank's mom.

After returning home, Andrea was going through a bit of baking withdrawal and wanted to make lemon ricotta cookies.  (Editor's note:  they were very tasty!)

Christmas dinner was low-key and non-traditional.  We had eggplant napoleans, garlic-almond green beans, rosemary ciabiatta bread (from Andrea's bakery), salad and Panettone bread pudding with Amaretto sauce.  (It was ALL good!)

Andrea also brought a loaf of challah bread in hopes we could make French toast.  Turned out the day-after-Christmas breakfast was the perfect opportunity!  Thanks Chef Frank!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year!