It has been a wonderful holiday week, with a slower pace, more time with friends, and the last of the shopping. Settle in with a cuppa for a long and picture heavy post. The gifts are under the tree, and the stocking stuffers are hidden for when Santa comes on Christmas eve. Handmade cards were sent, and Christmas cookies baked and frosted to enjoy at leisure. Tuesday night, we had dinner with friends and went to the Lake Julian Festival of Lights show.

This is a small show, in comparison to others. But we love it simply because it is small and we are able to drive through slowly. I hadn’t planned to take pictures so I didn’t take my camera. But the expansion of the show made me pull out my phone for some photos. Unfortunately, my phone doesn’t have a night setting, so the photos are not as good, so some of these photos were taken last year.

There are a lot more lights in the trees along the road, as well as a few more displays.

Many of the displays are animated which add to the fun, like this elf band, the conductor on top of a mushroom directing the musicians.

We also get to go around the route twice, which allows us to see more. I’ve tried to get a photo of Santa in his sleigh with the reindeer moving, but it came out blurry again. This one of Poseidon was taken last year.

I like to dress for the holidays when I meet friends or go to to meetings. I haven’t had much of a chance to wear my red hat with the Christmas pin this year. I usually wear it when doing an outdoor event like a cars and coffee in a parking lot. I love wearing hats!

I brought in my amaryllis from the Carolina room where it has been resting for the past 8 weeks or so. I gave it some water and in just a couple of days, I had a tiny green shoot coming up. This is so exciting as this will be the 11th or 12th time it has come up. I hope for a beautiful bloom this year.

This week will be the final trip to the grocery store to make sure we have everything needed for exceptional holiday meals. Have you made your list yet? I like to do really special foods for these days, so my list is pretty long. Starting with Christmas Eve dinner, I generally like to make something that will not have any leftovers. My Cheesy Baked Acorn Squash fits the bill, served with sliced pork tenderloin.

My White Wine Chicken and Mushrooms would be a good choice as well, served with some white rice and steamed broccoli.

One more idea, buying just a single slice of ham would be enough for two, served with my Parsley New Potatoes with Sour Cream Sauce, also sized for two.

Now to consider breakfast, I plan to do my baked egg casserole with bacon and mushrooms this year. The great thing with this recipe is you can change the ingredients to whatever you like. Leave out the mushrooms if they are not your liking. Change the sausage to bacon, or use leftover ham. Make it veggie with spinach instead of meat. Whatever suits your fancy works. Download the pdf of this recipe – Holiday Breakfast Egg Casserole. I use the good Lenox Holiday Tartan china for all our meals on Christmas eve and Christmas Day.

Lunch on Christmas Day is usually appetizers and nibbles while watching the games on TV. This Brie with Prosciutto in Puff Pastry is easy and elegant. With only three ingredients, it goes together fast and makes a wonderfully tasty treat. I’ve also made it with sliced deli ham.

We might have a Shrimp and Avocado Remoulade. Recipe on that post with another Christmas tablescape.

Of course, chicken wings, sausage balls and hot baked spinach spread on crackers would also be delicious. See my post Appetizer Meals for those recipes.

The main meal will be our traditional Standing Rib Roast. That post will give you a full tutorial on how to cook it perfectly to your liking every time. We like ours medium rare in the center and a bit more done on the edges. My Sweet Babboo takes the end pieces, and I get one in the very center that is more rare than he likes.

I think I’ll do my Cheddar Onion Potatoes with it. I may do the Baked Spinach as well, or we could have charred Brussels sprouts. I haven’t made a final decision on the vegetable for the day.

After the holiday, the leftover bones and scraps of meat from the Prime Rib makes an amazing Beef and Barley Soup. Hearty and filling, it is perfect for a New Year’s eve supper. The recipe is sized for two, and the post has a full tutorial.

Or, use the recipe I created for Prime Rib Stroganoff (pdf recipe download), served with leftover charred Brussels Sprouts on noodles. I’ve also served it on Jasmine rice in the past. Make it with or without the sour cream as you like.

So, the grocery list is made, now I only have to be sure I have ingredients on hand for any last minute gifts I might need. Gifts from the kitchen are always good, and when that unexpected need arises, these go together in a jiffy. Mix up my Double Dutch Brownie Mix or any of my mix recipes, and give it in a mason jar dressed in a Jar Wrapper. Download the recipes with printable instructions to tie onto the gift – Dry Mix Recipes.

Have a guy on the list that is hard to figure out? I haven’t met a guy yet that didn’t like one of these ideas. Download my pdf of ideas to put into six pack cardboard carriers – Gifts for Guys. Just spray paint the box, and fill with things he will use up. The download has ideas for just about every activity guys like. This idea could also apply to a sewing buddy, just fill with the consumables we all use – thread in neutral colors on cones, new needles, extra bobbins, fat quarters of fabric, and a new ruler.

If there is a special dog in your life, make some Peanut Butter Dog Treats. These make fun little add on ideas for your friends with dogs, too. Just be sure you use a name brand peanut butter that doesn’t have Xylitol as an ingredient. Pack them in holiday treat bags from the dollar store. I use a bone shaped cookie cutter, but the dogs love any shape.

Need a fun activity for the kids? Make Christmas Cookie Cutter Ornaments with just buttons and glue.

Use your embroidery machine to embroider holiday words, then cover oversize covered button blanks and add some trim.

In these last days before Christmas Day, I hope you have fun with last minute preparations, cooking and crafting, and spending time with your family and friends. Enjoy the season!

What are your plans for this week?

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Today only, Milk Street‘s Last Weekend Before Christmas 30% off Sitewide Sale, just in time to order a gift for yourself!! Click on the Store from the home page. The sale includes some of their best selling cookbooks like my favorites World in a Skillet, Tuesday Nights, and Backroads Italy! Hurry, ends tonight at midnight.

Fat Quarter Shop’s Countdown to Christmas is underway with new specials and markdowns every 24 hours! Click on Countdown to Christmas on the home page. December specials include 20% off the Basic of the Month Sparkle Elements by Art Gallery,30% Off the Notions of the Month Cutterpillar products, 30% off featured Patterns of the Month from Wendy Sheppard, and book of the month Simply Jelly Rolls Quilt. Then, check out Today’s Flash Sale and see the Precuts of the Week.

Sulky has some of their Haute Cocoa Mystery Box deals left but will sell out soon! This indulgent collection includes 15 full-size products to inspire cozy, wintry makes as comforting as your favorite cup of cocoa. Do what I do, get one and wrap it for yourself for under the tree! You’ll have a nice surprise for the holiday, and something fun to sew. Get free shipping on any size order with code FREESHIPPING, good until 12/23.