This week I only have time for a quick post. It’s not because I’m busy, but more so because I’m not really doing any baking or cooking this weekend. As you may recall, last year I made a Yule Log. But this year, I do not have the luxury of the time it takes (and to be honest, the energy or desire) to make a Yule Log.

Over the weekend I did do some baking. Last Friday was my work place’s annual holiday party. I made Banana Pudding from the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook. The version I made was the standard version with the vanilla pudding, bananas, and vanilla wafer cookies. I didn’t feel the need to do a big, separate post since I’ve made banana pudding many times before. Somewhat unsurprisingly the banana pudding was a hit and I’ll be sharing the recipe with my coworkers.

Then on Sunday, I started a new tradition with my son for the holidays. Baking Christmas sugar cookies. I know. It’s not very groundbreaking. But he and I had a lot of fun making the dough, rolling it out, punching out the cookies and decorating them. He’s been helping me in the kitchen a lot this year.

Here are some (unedited) photos.

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I will probably take the remainder of 2021 off from blogging. I am reevaluating things for 2022 and I am still deciding how I want to focus my energies for the new year. Long-time readers of the blog may have noticed that I am no longer posting Ree Drummond recipes. It seems that my idea of cooking my way through her recipe catalog was a short-lived experience.

As of right now, I am hoping to focus on baking my way through the cookbook from Magnolia Bakery. I am also considering returning to Ina Garten in a baking aspect. My posts featuring her recipes get a lot of traffic (especially this month!) so it seems only natural that I will bring her food back into rotation regularly. Albeit probably just the desserts. It’s clearly my favorite thing to make. Not to mention that Ina has some impressive and creative dessert recipes.

Aside from my baking and blogging, I am considering more new ventures for 2022. One includes a small home-based crafting business. Until then, have a safe, happy, and healthy holiday with your loved ones and chosen ones.

See you in 2022!