Hi everyone!
Thank you for your kind words about my Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Rolls entry for Challenge #8! The post was in the works for about 3 weeks now and I was soooo happy to finally hit publish. Voting is now open if you care to show your support. They are cutting 50% of contestants, so only 12 will remain for round #9.
What’s with all this snow, you ask?
Eric and I are in Alberta visiting my family for an early Christmas celebration!
We leave on Wednesday and I am already very sad to say goodbye to my family. I’m pretty sure I am going to stuff my nephews in my suitcase and make a run for it. ;)
We were a bit scared during the days leading up to our trip out West because we heard that there was a deep freeze going down in the Prairies…
Burrrrrr.
Luckily, OSGMOM told us that it would be ‘warming up’ to –10C by the time we arrived.
Err… ;)
I need layers…lots and lots of layers.
I have also been drinking my body weight in hot chocolate and tea.
Luckily, fur ball Rudi has been keeping us warm…
He is never cold!
Well, sometimes…when he wants to snuggle up to The Cat Whisperer (Eric).
I hope Sketchie doesn’t see this!
They have a view of The Rockies from their backyard. I guess this makes up for the cold! :)
Gorgeous, eh?
My mom and sister Kristi surprised us with a mostly vegan Christmas dinner on Sunday night.
It was very exciting.
I came into the kitchen to find that they were working hard on a bunch of my recipes!
This time I got to have it made for me!
Mom said, ‘I hope you will still love me if I screw up these recipes!!’
I said, “I don’t care what you do as long as I don’t have to cook!’ ;)
I had total faith in my worker bees.
I kept them in line with a spoon!
I got to make the vegan gravy and then I forgot about it on the burner and nearly fried it! Just a day in the life…
The non-vegans had stuffed chicken and myself and my friend Ashley had In A Jiffy spelt veggie patties.
They were awesome in a roll with vegan gravy! It was a great idea to make for the vegan protein portion.
High Protein Garlic Mashed Potatoes:
I also brought along Soft Peanut Butter Cookies for my nephews and the rest of my family. They were a huge hit!
Mmmm, I filled my plate and was one happy vegan!
I had a whole wheat dinner roll with vegan butter, peas, butternut squash, This Ain’t Grandmas Sweet Potato Casserole, High Protein Garlic Mashed Potatoes, In A Jiffy Veggie Spelt patties, vegan gravy, and Cranberry, Pear, and Pecan Spinach Salad.
For dessert, my mom made my Pumpkin Gingerbread with Spiced Buttercream!! Gosh I love this dessert.
And some non-vegan layered cake!
The boys watched the Grey Cup football…
The ladies did not. :)
Then we exchanged gifts with Kristi and the family. I got some amazing pictures of my nephews, a new apron, a holiday table runner, and artwork from my oldest nephew. :)
I told my nephew that my fridge was covered in his artwork, but I was going to add all of the new drawings to it too, and his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree and he said, ‘REALLY???’
Then Papa and mammoth Kinder Eggs stole the show and that was that!
Well, we are off for another day of adventures. See you later!
Your photos are beautiful! :) Your posts always make me so happy.
Your family is beautiful! That’s SO nice of your mom and sister to make you a vegan feast :)
What a fun weekend :)
OMG I can’t get over Eric and Rudi! CUTEST THING EVER!!!!!
We always have to start celebrating Christmas early with our families too – because there’s four of them (yes my parents and my inlaws are divorced) We’re trying to finalize all the dates right now so everyone gets visits.
Ah! I’m so jealous! We don’t have snow in Florida! (I’m hoping that when I go to Maryland/ DC for Christmas I’ll see some)
I love the coffee mug by the way! Too cute! :)
Looks like you are having a great time! Enjoy the rest of your trip :)
We have the same Potter bowls!!
Also, love that kitty!!
Foods always better when you didn’t have to cook it. It looks like a lot of fun, I already voted :) have a nice rest of your trip.
Wow, I am really in the xmas spirit now! SO much nice looking food and a beautiful tree too. And all that snow – ok I’m not in the spirit for that just yet ;)
Aw, I wish my family would be down with having an awesome amazing feast like this!
What a beautiful view!!
Oh my that is cold! I am soo happy that you have an amazing family that is so willing to cook for you :)
This post made me finally decide to bake your pumpkin gingerbread cake with frosting. Yummy!
I love how everything looks so festive! Spending the Holidays with family is what it is about, isn’t it? And how lucky that they made an entire vegan feast for you to enjoy! My extended family is still a little leery about my vegetarian ways, a veggie feast that i didn’t have to prepare would be like a dream come true.
Oh what a gloriously happy, fun post! I can feel the happiness you have for your family, and to be home (even tho it sounds friggggggid out!) I grew up in a freezing cold place and never wish to feel my skin freeze in 2 seconds flat…ha!
The food, the desserts, the fact that YOU didnt have to cook, the time w/ your fam…so lovely!
And oh, all you girls are just gorgeous! Lots of blond hair and blue eyes and gorgeous-ness going on in this post :)
Enjoy the last few days w/ your family…and any leftover PB Cookies :)
Love the snow pictures!!! Makes me excited for it to start snowing here :)
Jen
1. That is darn cold!
2. That may be the cutest kitty ever :) Don’t let my cat hear me say that, though!
Awww….I miss that view! Where is your family from in AB? Mine lives in Lethbridge, Pincher Creek, and Calgary. I absolutely love it there…
I will definitely be making that pumpkin gingerbread for my Christmas feast as well :)
Is Rudi a himalayan? He looks exactly like my parents cat, Winston. Rudi is adorable!!
I used to have a himalayan and he looked just like Rudi as well! I miss him :0(
Brrr! Chilllly! So not ready for snow… haha