My No-Sew D.I.Y. Ugly Christmas Sweater

Today we have our holiday party at work. Like last year we’ll be doing a white elephant gift exchange which is always good for a few (or many) laughs. This year there will be some additional laughing because we’ve added an ugly Christmas sweater element into the mix. 

As a gal with a jam packed closet I struggled with the idea of purchasing an ugly holiday sweater that I would most likely only wear once a year. Sweaters take up prime closet real estate & that’s just something I wasn’t ready to support. So I opted to make my own “temporary” ugly Christmas sweater. I picked up an inexpensive ($9.99) grey sweatshirt at Marshalls & dug through my holiday decor box & in a few minutes I had a no-sew ugly Christmas sweater that can be dismantled & turned back into a comfy grey sweatshirt when the day is done.

Christmas Eve Traditions: Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms & Struffoli

It's Christmas Eve! It's also a Tuesday. While I know I have been posting tips on Tuesday I'm taking a holiday break & keeping with cooking traditions that Chris & I continue each year - making crab-stuffed mushrooms (get Chris' s recipe here) & struffoli (get my great grandmother's recipe here).

My informal tip for this Tuesday would be to stick with your family traditions & what you know how to make - although my mom is a bit more adventurous & would try new things - do what works for you. The idea is not to create extra stress in the kitchen. Merry Christmas Eve y'all :)

Homemade Gift: Bloody Mary Kit with Spicy Bloody Mary Mix with Herb Infused Vodka

Christmas is two days aways - ahhhhh! I bet you're still looking for that perfect gift for that person that has everything . Well search no more, you've found the answer right here.  (Note: This gift is geared towards adults so if you're looking for a child's gift I'm sorry our search will continue.)  If you love to brunch & imbibe this one is for you or your friends or both! Just a few words - bloody mary kit.

You'll need to find some cool bottles or recycle old ones you have. I bought mine at fishs eddy (these & these). Some cute labels (like these) &  a marker. Oh & a cute box or gift bag to wrap it.

Then you'll need the most easy & delicious recipes for the best customized bloody mary, EVER, which I found while reading one of my favorite vegetarian blogs, Oh My Veggies, (totally worth checking out even if you eat meat!) the other day.  I stumbled across the brilliant kit ideas in the potluck section.

Sherrie from With Food and Love posted how-to make her insanely beautiful & easy rosemary infused vodka & linked to her bloody mary recipe. She had me at bloody mary & next thing I know I'm whipping up my own bloody mary kits with herb infused vodka thanks to her inspiration for gifts(!).  Be sure to check out Sherrie's post on making rosemary infused vodka here, & get her original bloody mary recipe here.

Read on to see how I put my own twist on Sherrie's great gift idea!

Chris's Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms

Has it been a week since my last post? Yikes! Apologies for being off the radar. I had less time than anticipated while running around visiting with family & working at Shobha.  I hope to be back in full force for the new year.

Each Christmas Eve we celebrate with the 7 fishes at my grandparents house. I always make the honey balls & Chris has added a new tradition: crab stuffed mushrooms.  (Yes, we count crab as a fish - I know it's shellfish but it still counts in my book.)

Luckily, Chris agreed when I asked if I could snap some photos & blog his recipe for some savory appetizers to the world. Be sure to click through for Chris's full recipe that he adapted from the stuffed mushrooms he likes to order at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

Lastly, enjoy the last day of 2012, I hope it was a good year for you & your loved ones & wish that 2013 will be even better! Cheers & Happy New Year!

Struffoli (Honey Balls)

Ever since I was a little girl I loved eating these tasty honey balls, also known as struffoli, at Christmas. The dough isn't super sweet but the honey it's soaked in sure is, & there really isn't anything better except for the special sprinkles that I hoard specifically for decorating these every Christmas.

It's become tradition that I now make honey balls with my Great Grandma Borgia's recipe for Christmas Eve at my grandparent's house (for the 7 fishes!). Like the food we eat at Christmas I feel it all tastes better when it is shared, so I'm sharing this family recipe with you!

Merry Christmas!

Click through for our family recipe.

A "Bon Bon" Gift Idea

This year I've been trying my hand at some homemade gifts.  I hope I have enough time for all that I've mentally put on my list (eeek!).

If you anticipated whipping up batches of baked goods for your friends & family but you have run out of time I have a "bon bon" (read: good good) idea for you: Bon Bons by Serena.

Ok, so your name is probably not Serena & these bon bons are not made in your home or my home, but they are homemade.

Serena stuffs classic short bread cookies with surprising fillings like maraschino cherries, dried apricots, chocolate (mmm chocolate) & lots of other tasty treats by hand. She then hand dips said cookies in homemade icings.  Yes, handmade, small batches of her grandma Jean Sabella's original bon bon recipe. They are bite-sized perfection.


To top it all off, Serena boxes these  "couture confections" in hand stamped boxes (can you feel the love people!!!).

With price points starting at $11.50 its the perfect gift for any secret santa on your list.  Head to Bon Bons by Serena & get your gift on with gifts like the holiday matriarch or a sweet box of brown sugar kisses!!!!

Cyber Monday Steals & Deals

shop my cyber monday steals & deals: myShobha.com, Kohls.com, BestBuy.com, Macys.com, Sephora.com