Countdown to Christmas

Hello everyone! How are we doing? Very busy, are we? Oh I am sure! Me too! I hope everyone is feeling...

I went and picked up our Christmas morning kielbasa today. Growing up partially-Polish, we always had fresh and smoked kielbasa as part of our Christmas breakfast. In recent years, when it's just been the four of us, I've bought kielbasa at Wegman's and it's good. But THIS year, 1/2-Polish Pops is coming so I thought I'd go on the hunt for authentic kielbasa.

Luckily nearby, there's a store called "European Specialties" that advertises kielbasy (love the spelling!), peirogy, etc. I bought a 1/2 lb. of smoked from them last week, and a 1/2 lb. from the deli at Wegman's and we had a blind taste test this weekend. They were both yummy but I think the authentic one was better. So today I got a big link of smoked and one of fresh. I can't wait! We'll be tasting them all day! :-)

Another Polish tradition we have is poppy-seed cake. I love making it...the dough is so fun to knead! Here it is fresh from the oven...

Mmmm! I still have to make a glaze, I'll do that later when it's all cool. I baked a bunch of cookies too...chocolate chip, sugar cookie, gingerbread...and I made the prerequisite Chex mix as well. Dave is the real cookie baker of our family....he made orange-almond biscotti, strawberry shortbread, and chocolate crinkles. Yum.

Oh and I also make these for a certain special little guy's Christmas party at school today...

Oops! Woke someone up!

Such a cute kitty. She got up and followed me into the kitchen and is now sitting in my lap.

I finished my wool project...which I will show next week...for now I'm thinking of what to make with cozy flannels like this one...

Tomorrow I'm picking up the ham, wine, and last-minute doo-dads. Just a few days to go, I can't believe it!! This is looking good right about now...

Have a wonderful, peaceful Christmas all. All the best from my family and me...

♥ Jen