Buon Natale… Merry Christmas…

Two cakes,   for two reasons… Happy Birthday Jim,  and  Merry Christmas to all…

Dolcetti… Cookies…

Made some Vanilla Bean Shortbread to take to Tami's annual cookie exchange party… Love shortbread,  so I made two different cookies with it,  one plain,  the other I filled with Pasta di Mandorla.  The hard part is trying not to eat too many during this high calorie  Holiday Season…

Preparando Per Natale… Getting Ready For Christmas…

It happens each year… Christmas just seems to creep up too fast…not wanting to begin decorating too early,  next thing I know,  it's 10 days away!

Tocchi Di Natale… Christmas Touches…

Just starting to do my Christmas decorating.  This lovely rain that we've had,   has postponed the buying of the Tree…  but just for a couple of days.  Priscilla is not home to help with the building of the Gingerbread Cottage,  so I just did it on my own… happily,   marking the beginning of our yearly traditions.  Panettone ,  a Christmas tradition… made into my new favorite dessert… Panettone Bread Pudding.  I will try not to make,  and eat this EVERY day… so delicious!

Accendifuoco… Firelighters…

After so much heat,  we finally have some cool weather ahead,  and maybe even a little rain… Time for  a warming fire,  and cozy dinners… I think that making fire starters using my dried roses,  and clippings from the garden will become a pre Christmas  tradition for me… such a pretty way to start a fire…