1. Nutella Sandwich Cookies
2. Cider Jello Shooters
3. Creative New Year’s Cocktails
4. Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

This is the latest installment of my Powernap column. The series where I share quick, easy food that can be made for all kinds of situations. Powernaps are short and sweet, and so are these recipes. These are the things I make in a jiffy when I need a quick snack, am in the mood for a recipe experiment, or simply need to clean out the pantry.

Today’s Powernap: I still have a dozen Meyer lemons in the fridge and a New Year’s party to plan for – cocktail time!

KITCHENAID MIXER GIVEAWAY! Don’t forget to enter below to enter the Duda Farm Fresh Giveaway for a Meyer Lemons, a $25 Williams-Sonoma giftcard and a KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer in Majestic Yellow. Entry rules below, click here for contest introduction.

This year our friends are hosting a New Year’s Eve family potluck. The kids will be in the playroom with pizza and the adults will be in the dining room with a decadent spread. I have committed to bringing two desserts (you’ll read about those soon!) and a signature cocktail. We are all bringing different kinds of cocktails so the bar will be like it’s own potluck too. (And, yes, we have designated drivers!)

What’s Going on Today: Post holiday unwind, nearing time to take down the tree.

Naptime Goals: Baked risotto and have it ready to reheat for dinner, put older toys in storage to make room for the new ones!

Tonight’s Menu: Baked Meyer lemon and thyme risotto, green salad, sparkling water with lemon.

KITCHENAID MIXER GIVEAWAY! Don’t forget to enter below to enter the Duda Farm Fresh Giveaway for a Meyer Lemons, a $25 Williams-Sonoma giftcard and a KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer in Majestic Yellow. Entry rules below, click here for contest introduction.

We are in holiday wind-down mode. All of our family has gone home, the presents are put away and we are more or less decompressing from all of the excitement. My daughter has actually been napping pretty regularly for the past few days. She really needs that hour or so in the afternoon to make up for all of the energy she is expending. Yesterday I used her naptime to make a quick, comforting baked risotto with the last of the Meyer lemons in my fridge.

The Occasion: Christmas dinner!

Menu: Beef Wellington Short Rib Pot Pie, Twice-Baked Potatoes, Carrot Souffle, Green Beans with Caramelized Shallots, Parmesan Dinner Rolls, Meyer Lemon Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust

Attendees: Party of 7, plus three dogs!

Naptime Goals: Too many to count, but they include making the cheesecake.

KITCHEN AID MIXER GIVEAWAY! Don’t forget to enter below to enter the Duda Farm Fresh Giveaway for a Meyer Lemons, a $25 Williams-Sonoma giftcard and a KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer in Majestic Yellow. Entry rules below, click here for contest introduction.

Meyer lemons have dominated my kitchen this month. They are finally in season (I wait all year!) and my friends at Duda Farm Fresh foods kindly sent me a big boxful to work with. For Christmas dinner this year I decided to make a Meyer lemon cheesecake instead of my usual eggnog version. My family, especially my father, adores cheesecake and anything lemony so I knew he would be especially enthusiastic about this addition to the menu.

Congratulations to Sheena Ortiz, the winner of this week’s Meyer Lemon Tote & Williams-Sonoma Giftcard. The grand prize winner of the 5 Quart Yellow Majestic Artisan KitchenAid mixer will be announced on December 30th, there is still plenty of time to enter!

1. Butterfinger Truffles
2. Grinch Oreo Truffles
3. 7 Crock-pot Party Dips
4. How to Serve Your Elf on the Shelf Donettes for Breakfast
5. Malted Hot Chocolate
6. 10 Cozy & Bright French Toast Recipes

What’s Going on Today: Wrapping up Christmas shopping!

Tonight’s Menu: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Parmesan Dinner Rolls, Green Salad.

Naptime Goals: Start the dough and leave it to rise!

I have our Christmas menu pretty much set. Instead of a ham, this year we are going to try this pot pie recipe from Williams-Sonoma. Our side dishes will include carrot souffle, green beans and twice-baked potatoes and they’ll be some delicious eggnog cheesecake for dessert. I am also going to serve up these rolls with dinner. These are not rolls I reserve especially for Christmas, they are more of everyday rolls that go with just about every occasion.

Christmas is literally around the corner and there is one little girl in my household who is beyond excited. (Does the phrase “pinging off the walls” mean anything to you?! ) We’ve been cooking and baking up a storm and I thought I would share some of the favorite things we’ve been making. These are all things that you still have plenty of time to make and will impress all of your household guests. Let the holiday naptime cooking crunch-time begin!

1. Cocoa Almonds: These simply sweet chocolate candied almonds are perfect for last minute gifts. They take less than ten minutes to make and look wonderful packaged simply in clear plastic bags.

2. Christmas Pinata Cookies: My daughter is a huge fan of these and has been “hiding” all sorts of things in hers. She gets such a kick out of the fact that her Dad will find a gummy bear in one cookie and a Hershey’s kiss in the next.

3. Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies: Leave it to Martha to give us a recipe that is simultaneously sweet and spicy with just the right amount of chew. Tie them up with a sweet ribbon for the perfect homemade gift.

4. Sweet & Spicy Walnuts Nuts: These are the perfect salty nuts for the salt tooth in your life. They also make great last-minute hostess gifts.

5. Peppermint Hot Fudge Sauce: I’ve already made five – yes, 5 – batches for gifts. Whipping up one batch is very simple and is great for drizzling over ice cream or giving as gifts.

6. Eggnog Cheesecake: Your entire family will be so impressed if you serve amazing cheesecake at Christmas dinner. It can easily be made in advance and feeds a holiday crowd.

7. Sparkling Eggnog Muffins: For breakfast or, honestly, anytime of day, these gorgeous muffins are the perfect holiday breakfast/afternoon snack.

8. ‘Twas the Night Before…French Toast: We will be eating this classic recipe on Christmas morning. My whole family loves it and it makes my life sooo much easier since I can prepare it the night before.

9. Peppermint Patty Brownies: All things mint and chocolate are welcome this season and these brownies most definitely hit the spot. They are so much fun with kids and look great when frosted with vanilla buttercream and topped with crushed candy canes!

10. Filthy Fizz: Merry, Merry!

This is the latest installment of my Powernap column. The series where I share quick, easy food that can be made for all kinds of situations. Powernaps are short and sweet, and so are these recipes. These are the things I make in a jiffy when I need a quick snack, am in the mood for a recipe experiment, or simply need to clean out the pantry.

It is holiday crunch time and last weekend I test drove a few last minute recipes to make sure I’m all set for Christmas morning. I know we’ll be totally nuts that day and I’ll have about five seconds in the kitchen before my daughter descends on the tree. In the less-than-one-minute I’ll be allotted that morning I plan to shove my Overnight French Toast in the oven and prepare the batter for these awesome muffins.

Congratulations to  Stef  the winner of the 7 Quart Staub Cocotte in Aubergine.

Congratulations to Chelsei Ryan  the winner of the second tote of Meyer lemons and $25 Williams-Sonoma giftcard. The third winner will be announced on Monday December 26th, and the grand prize winner of the 5 Quart Yellow Majestic Artisan KitchenAid mixer will be announced on December 30th, there is still plenty of time to enter!

1. Frosted Donut Snowman

2. Eggnog Frozen Yogurt

3. Grinch Punch
4. Candy Cane Inspired Recipes
5. 17 Eggnog Inspired Recipes

*Staub Giveaway Reminder*: Don’t forget to enter to win this 7 Quart Staub Cocotte in Aubergine from BigKitchen.com. Entry rules below.

I am wrapping up holiday dinner week with a new favorite “adults-only” ice cream. I have to admit, I saw the title Boozy Eggnog Ice Cream on the Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams site, but couldn’t find the recipe anywhere. Thankfully I have her awesome book and was able to use it to riff on her base flavor formula and dream up my own recipe. Maybe sometime I’ll actually get to taste her version to make a comparison. Mine is creamy and boozy with just a hint of spice. My husband and I loved it, as will you.