The way the holidays fell this year I managed to go home for two full weeks! While it always goes too fast and is never enough time, I got in some serious shopping (grocery)/cooking/eating/drinking (and cleaning) and lots of quality time with family and friends. For New Years we headed down to Puerto Vallarta for some fun in the sun, the perfect way to end a fabulous vacation. If only the holidays could last for months!
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| We made several batches of Mom’s famous fleur de sel caramel – recipe coming soon! |
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| Sweet potato prep for Christmas Eve dinner – I made these delicious bourbon whipped sweet potatoes with bacon and sage |
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| I made Momofuku Milk Bar‘s “Crack Pie” for Christmas Day dessert – turns out we had so many leftovers from the night before we really didn’t need it….but is dessert ever really a need? |
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| My aunt does a themed table every year – this year focused on the grandkids from the late 80s-early 90s at Christmas time. There were some winning photos! |
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| I love our party popper and paper crown tradition! |
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| A boy and his dog |
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| Christmas morning sweet potato hash – might be my new favorite egg dish! |
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| For Christmas Day lunch I built a gourmet grilled cheese bar! Prosciutto, persimmons, white cheddar with caramelized onions on Model Bakery Asiago bread! |
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| I love cooking every year in this big spacious kitchen! |
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| Allllll the desserts! |
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| The Christmas Day crew – with our epic dessert spread and prior to the funniest game of Cards Against Humanity I’ve ever played! |
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| We’ve arrived!!!! Upgraded to family suite with ocean view! |
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| NYE champagne toast! |
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| Party animal |
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| I perfected the buffet breakfast – my favorite masterpiece, waffle stacked breakfast sandwich with a fried egg! |
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| It’s not a Riu without a Michael Jackson show! |
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| Or towel animals…. |
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| Party tricks |
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| “I want to go to Riu” – our daily entertainment team, shoutout to Stefano! |
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| Where to next year?? |
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