Foodies!

There are a few things about being home for holidays that just warms my heart.

First and foremost...

Christmas/Holiday Cards.

Don't you just love them?

My Mom hangs them up for us all to see every year and I am literally addicted.

We were home for nearly two weeks and every day I was more excited to get the mail then my Mom.

I just love them!

 

Of course spending lots and lots of time with family.

I love our long chats around the kitchen counter or table or sprawling out on the floor.

I would like to point out that there are two things we Staples like to do.

Talk.

And Eat.

I'd like to say that we are all "foodies"

 

Over the break my Mom whipped up this gourmet pizza.

I am in love!

The only time I have even heard of beets was on the Nickelodean show "Doug"

I have never dared to try them because of that show.

But let me tell you...

this pizza which is topped with tomato sauce, goat cheese, beets, golden beets, and arugula is incredible!

James even liked it...

until we told him what he was eating.

With my Dad's health my Mom has really had learn how to make some tasty healthy meals.

Other meals include a veggie tuna fish sandwich with no mayo that is to die for.

Honey Mustard chicken strips that are super healthy and delicious...

the list could go on and on.

That being said...

there are a few days of the year that our family really gets to break loose of my Mom's health restrictions.

(Ok maybe more than just a few)

One of those days is of course Christmas.

My family genealogy includes deep Swiss roots.

When my Mom was a teenager she was able to travel to Switzerland.

If you know my Mom

you know she loves cheese and chocolate.

So, she brought back a love of everything cheese.

This love has turned into a family tradition.

It is actually really cool that we get to eat one of our ancestors traditional foods every year.

And even better is that Derek and Mary got to witness first hand this tradition in Switzerland.

My Mom brought home a few fancy dishes but we still eat on her plates that she got as a teenager.

Grandma comes over and we all love honoring our Swiss roots.

 This year we all got one of these ovens.

It is a Raclette Cheese oven.

James was (and still is) a little bit scared of this tradition.

Mostly because this cheese is probably where the term "stinky cheese" came from.

It does not smell good! 

But it sure does taste good!

 

The Swiss eat their Raclette with a potato, a cornichan pickle,  and a little onion.

I know, it sounds so strange but it is the most divine thing you have ever had.

I wait for it every single year!

 

While we ate our cheese we drank some Martinelli's.

We got a little glimpse into what it tastes like to eat cheese and drink wine.

We felt super fancy and loved the taste together.

 

Since the day after Christmas was a Sunday we continued our feast.

And all wanted to die after so many days of eating.

We whipped up a turkey dinner.

I tried to make my Mother-in-laws famous stuffing.

I failed miserably.

But everyone still thought it was good.

 

Thank you to my parents for always feeding us loads and loads of delicious food!

Mom cooks.

Dad pays.

They both deserve equal thanking!

Despite our cheese dinner my Mom made us lots of healthy dishes that we loved.

I even made her beets pizza tonight for James and Glenn.

Glenn loved it!

James said it was amazing...

after he picked off all the veggies.

(We are learning over here)

All in favor of Ann starting a "foodie" blog

say I!