Holiday Party Final Touches

"Two more days until Christmas Eve," was the first thing Bunny said when she woke up this morning. She sleeps right between me and J. for half the night each night, and at moments like that, I'm not in any hurry to kick her out of our bed. Christmas is truly delightful when seen through the eyes of a child. It's a cliche that you can't fully understand unless you live it. And we've been living ever since the first window of her advent calendar was opened.

Tomorrow is our open house and tonight I'm putting the final touches on everything we plan on serving.  The cookies are ready to go, dips are made, appetizers are skewered, booze is chillin'. Bunny selected perfect candy canes to use as stirrers for hot cocoa. She also requested mini marshmallows and whipped cream to top each cup, and because it's Christmas, the lily shall be gilded. She can have anything she wants.

Bunny has also spent the last two weeks drawing picture after picture of Santa and Mrs. Claus, teams of reindeer with jingly harnesses, Christmas trees and presents, and some of her artwork will serve as our party decorations. This is the first year she has been really excited about Christmas, which makes it all the more fun. This afternoon she asked if I thought she'd be able to hear the bells on Santa's sleigh.  I said that she'd have to listen really hard.

A little boy at school told her that was no such thing as Santa Claus, and because we've read Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express every year since she was a baby she said, "Well, I guess he'll grow up to be one of those adults that doesn't hear Santa's bell ringing."

Tonight I made these chocolate dipped macaroons, which came out a little...um...browner than the ones in the photo. I'm not a fan of white chocolate so I made a Caillebaut milk chocolate ganache to dip them in. It's so fab that it will hopefully distract from the overdone cookies. (Ugh.)

I also made Marivi's mom's amazing dip which I'm serving with tortilla chips: equal parts cream cheese and plain yogurt, lots of finely chopped cilantro, salt, and the best ingredient of all: pomegranate seeds. If you like salty-sweet-tangy flavor combinations, you'll love this. I'll take a photo of it tomorrow.

Now I'll get back to wrapping more presents (and hiding them) and icing the macaroons. And tomorrow it will be one day until Christmas Eve. Can't wait!

Comments

[Molly]

Absolutely right about children and Christmas. The magic is fleeting but remembered forever. We used to even make our teenagers write a note to Santa and he would always write back :)

[Michelle]

Ohhh I hope it turns out just how you want it too - and for her too. Enjoy it. My kids are just figuring it out this year so we are excited too!

[foodiemama]

the magic is amazing in a childs eyes. this x-mas has been so exciting i have had a hard time sleepy the last few nights just waiting for littlefoodie to wake up to that xmas morning. he understands this year and that crazy advent calendar is driving me nuts since he now understands the coutdown! good luck with your open house! oh, i made almond chocolate macaroons dipped in choco yesterday..yum!!!

[ann adams]

The best part of Christmas is the kids. Of course it should have marshmallows and candy cane stirrers (what a great idea).

A very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year to you and yours.

Ann

[Dana]

The dip you speak of does sound delicious! Can't wait to see the picture!

[Daisy]

My son had figured out the "Santa gig" and then he heard someone reading "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." After that he insisted that Santa was real. He had, after all, heard it on Public Radio, so it had to be true.

[Marivi]

My Mom will be chuffed that you made her dip, liked it, and even credited her ;-)

[yourmamma]

What a beautiful blog...I'm very proud of my daughter as you can all well imagine! She is beautiful, kind and generous. Her children are also ...although sometimes I think they are cartoons that make you laugh out loud!
Merry Christmas to all her read her blog and support her dedication to her readers!

[yourmamma]

I mean to say "to all who read her blog"....she'll correct me!

[mama's got moxie]

my macaroons came out brown too!! i trashed mine. they were tooooooo brown. hahaha...