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Good morning friends, happy Friday and a happy weekend to you. I am so excited, my mother and step-dad are arriving on Tuesday, my niece and nephew are already off school for the holiday and we have lots of plans for the next 8 days. The list includes, but is not limited to shopping, binging on Christmas movies, game night, a ladies day at the spa and of course copious amounts of food and fun. Are you ready to enjoy the fruits of your labor?
Get yourself a cup of hot chocolate, coffee or a glass of wine and sit for a bit and enjoy my Friday Favorites, I have lots to share as always,
Food
We are having cranberry apple stuffed pork loin and au gratin potatoes but I am still looking for recipes for Christmas dinner and dessert, here are a few things I found that you might like too.
I am a huge fan of appetizers and finger food, in fact I prefer it to a big meal. Over the next week while we have family in town we are having an appetizer party and I am making these Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Truffles. Don’t they look scrumptious?
I made these Rosemary Rainforest crackers last year and gave them as gifts as well, they are delicious, easy to make and the best part is that the recipes makes a lot so you can freeze the loafs to make whenever you are having guests, a party or date night.
Mini Gingerbread Cheesecake is a great addition to your Christmas dessert table.If you don’t like gingerbread try chocolate covered cheesecake instead.
These Christmas Pudding Brownie Bites are not only cute they are delicious.
I made these cookies this weekend and they are delicious. I dipped half in chocolate and skipped the filling.
This recipe for Pistachio Shortbread Dessert popped up in my email this week. I remember having this years ago at family parties and potlucks. I have not had since then, I may have to make a small one for Christmas.
A Beginner’s Guide to Making the Perfect Peanut Brittle is a great place to start if you are new to candy making.
How to Make the Best Holiday Charcuterie Board , just in time for the weekend festivities.
Articles,TV and Movies
If you would like a few recommendations for reading and watching Katie from Preppy Empty Nester has got you covered, she just wrote a post on all of the latest TV shows, movies and books she has read and watched and there is something for everyone.
Sci-fans might like this list of the “Best Sci-Fi” Movies of 2021
The 50 Best Films of 2021 in the U.S.
Why festive Music Is Bigger Than Ever
9 Habits That the World’s Healthiest & Longest-Lived People Share
In the Woods With of One of Maine’s Last Horse Loggers
How to Know What You Really Want
How Shein Beat Amazon At Its Own Game-And Reinvented Fast Fashion
The second-hand market is running into trouble at Takedown Notices Are Threatening Online Thrift Shops — Just as Business Is Exploding.
The Lost Diary of Anthony Bourdain
Must-Have Spice Blends That Culinary Experts Swear By
How to Rekindle a Friendship After Years Apart
A Dummy Paris City Was Built To Fool The Germans
Books
Cooking at Home: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Recipes. This is the #1 Cookbook of the year and I cannot wait to read it.
Half-Baked Harvest Everyday. I love Tiegen and her blog, I have both of her previous cookbooks and use them all the time. This one is available to pre-order.
A little lite reading, set in one of my favorite cities in the world, The Christmas Bookshop.
Finds
Heated Car Blanket for the person in your life that is always cold and cranks up the heat in the car(me).
I love hot water bottles! A few years ago my parents, husband, brother and his wife went on a 20 day road trip around the UK, every bed and breakfast that we stayed in gave us hot water bottles before bed. Now I make one to warm my sheets. This one would make a great stocking stuffer.
Isn’t this music box cute? There are many to choose from including, Big Ben, the iconic English phone booth and so many more.
Another great stocking stuffer is this hot chocolate and a .
The clock is ticking for holiday gift shipping and I am pretty sure that unless you are getting something from Amazon it probably will not arrive on time, in fact many of the things I looked at are arriving after Christmas. And you know what, that is the perfect excuse to extend your Christmas celebrations!
I hope that in this last week before Christmas that you slow down and enjoy the lights, the movies, the books, the stories, time with family and friends and whatever else brings you joy in this season. After all, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.”
Thank you so much for stopping by today friends, I appreciate you spending part of your day here. You can also find me on Facebook.com/Pineconesandacornsblog, on Instagram @pineconesandacorns, on Pinterest and Twitter!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Paula@SweetPea says
Thank you for all of the interesting links to visit.
Kim says
Elizabeth a lot of fun things here. I’m going to try those crackers for sure! I hope you enjoy the family time and the spa! Merry Christmas!! xo Kim
Elizabeth says
Kim the crackers are delicious, and you can customize them with any nut or fruits that you like. Have a very Merry Christmas!
Tammy says
Elizabeth, you have some incredible recipes here. I cannot wait to print a few off and give a try. That goat cheese ball with cranberry and pecans looks great for a party. I may make that for a getting together over the holidays.
Elizabeth says
Tammy, the goat cheese balls do look amazing. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Brenda Pruitt says
This was a great one! I’ve been all over the web through your links today. You’ve given me an idea. Maybe I won’t cook a meal for Christmas, but instead have appetizers. I went to the recipe for that one you showed and it looks and sounds delicious. Wow, I wish I had the cooking creativity some of these folks have.
Brenda
Elizabeth says
Brenda, that is a great idea! Little appetizers of all of the things that you love. There are so many amazingly talented people and it is so fun to discover them! Have a Merry Christmas my friend, looking forward to your new adventure.
Cindy Rust says
I hope you have a Merry Christmas! Sounds like you have a good group coming to your home!
Elizabeth says
Thank you Cindy! We are going to have a wonderful time, it is always nice to be with family. I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas! Will you be traveling or having your kids at home?