Christmas was here

  oh why oh why does it go away so quickly?!

 We couldn't have asked for a better few days--we even got snow! Crazy big and beautiful flakes flying down all day on Christmas Eve. 

We played outside 

and delivered treats while snowflakes stuck to our eyelashes.

We snacked on cheese....mmmm......cheese.

gouda

brie with chives

spanish manchego

peach jam, grapes, pears

an assortment of crackers

greek olives

salami and toasted baguette

We turned up the Christmas music and danced around the house. Bouncing off the walls with happy anticipation. 

We feasted 

on roast chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli gratin, rolls, 

and salad with pecans pomegranates and pears.

We read the Christmas story in the Bible.

We (they, and several animals of course) reenacted it.

We put on our Christmas jammies and had a 

realllllly hard time falling asleep.

We had a very Merry Christmas.

oh--and we had PIE! 

I am not a pie maker, this is actually the second pie I have ever made in my life. At Thanksgiving I had had mentioned we had buttermilk pie and I fell in love! It is yummy and so easy to make.

Buttermilk Pie with Cranberry Orange Sauce

Crust

Perhaps you are a pie maker and have your very own crust recipe. I had no idea what I was doing and relied on the recipe in my Betty Crocker cookbook. Find the step by step HERE.

Buttermilk Filling

Emeril's recipe. I swapped the lemon for orange zest

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 

1 tablespoon flour 

1 tablespoon grated orange zest 

4 large eggs 

1 cup buttermilk 

1 stick butter, melted 

Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, flour, and orange zest. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time. Stir in the buttermilk and melted butter. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the unbaked pie shell and bake until the top is lightly browned and the center sets, 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature. Top with cranberry orange sauce and whipped cream. 

Cranberry Orange Sauce

1 1/2 cups whole cranberries, roughly chopped in a food processor or blender

3/4 cup-1 cup pure maple syrup (depending on how tart/sweet you like it)

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon orange zest

Mix all ingredients in small saucepan and bring to a low boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes until liquid reduces and cranberries are tender. Cool and serve over pie.

How was YOUR Christmas?