It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

We have a tree. It’s officially Christmastime!

Since I was late with my Mandatory Monday post this week, I thought I would do a similar Christmas-themed post today. And this week, it’s all about…recipes!

So here are my favorite (mandatory) Christmas recipes:

• Gingerbread – This is the recipe my grandma always made, and it’s the best (we leave off the lemon sauce). Do not buy the boxed mix. It’s not the same at all. Gingerbread is supposed to be dense, dark, and luscious. The boxed mixes taste like spice cake. Our favorite way to eat it is with a simple dollop of whipped cream. 
• Popcorn Balls – My great grandma’s popcorn ball recipe is a closely guarded family secret (that’s only kind of a joke), but this one looks pretty similar. Every year, my dad and I get together on Christmas Eve afternoon and make them. It’s one of my very, very favorite parts of Christmas, and I will always treasure this particular tradition.
• Grandma’s Fruitcake – Yeah, I know. I know. But it’s actually good in small portions. Grandma’s recipe came from a really old pamphlet-style cookbook put out by Swans Down Flour. I tried to find it on their website, but the only one they have listed is a white fruit cake, and that pales in comparison (pun totally intended).  Here’s a recipe that looks somewhat similar. Except Grandma’s had more *ahem* brandy involved…
• Peppermint Bark – This one is my contribution to Christmas, and though it’s really, really simple, I’m pretty proud of it. Just melt Andes mint chips and spread them on a cookie sheet. Chill in the fridge while you melt white chocolate chips, and then spread them on the cooled mint chocolate. Sprinkle the whole thing with crushed star mints and stick it back in the fridge until hard. Then take it out, poke a knife in it in a few places until it cracks, and then break it apart. It looks all fancy, but it’s ridiculously easy.

So there you go – my mandatory Christmas food favorites. What are your favorite Christmas recipes?