How My Family Celebrates Christmas...

Nothing says Merry Christmas like wine, cheese and baked goods...

My dad experimented with the turkey this year by baking it with Miller Lite. I am not making this up. In spite of what sounded like the turkey exploding seconds before the timer went off, it actually worked. Holiday miracle or genius kitchen discovery? We may never know. 

And in all the excitement, I forgot to take a picture. 

Happy Holidays!

For me the holidays are synonymous with baking. It just doesn't feel like Christmas until every surface in my house is covered with a baked good.

This year, over the course of one week, I made an assortment of six different baked goods:

Bourbon Truffles - It's not a holiday until bourbon is involved. This recipe was far more successful than my previous attempt, which produced mutant bourbon balls that resembled jabba the hut instead of a holiday confection. Still, bourbon truffle making is far more complicated and messy than other bourbon desserts. For a holiday go-to, I'd stick with bourbon brownies.

Buckeyes - I may not be a big Ohio State fan, but I can't help but love these addictive candies. Be prepared - the recipe yields an absurd amount of buckeyes. Also, I cut out a cup and a half or so of the confectioner's sugar. The candies are still very sweet and 6 cups of sugar is insane.

Donut Hole Cookies - This recipe was on one of my favorite blogs and I knew I had to try it this year. It's as good as it looks and definitely a cookie I will make again!

Classic Rice Krispy Treats - Perfect recipe if you're pressed for time. I'd forgotten how good homemade rice krispies are. The website has some great ideas for making them look more festive if you're feeling especially creative, but I was not nearly that ambitious.

To balance my baked goods out with something "healthy"...

Crispy Honey Nut Granola - This was surprisingly easy to make, though mine did not turn out as nice as the ones pictured on Once Upon A Chef, but that is nothing new.

Healthy Peanut Butter Coconut Cookies - I agree with the blogger, these are perfect for breakfast!

Merry Christmas!