Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop--the gift of food

Welcome to the Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop where over 200 romance authors are doing giveaways and talking about our favorite holiday stuff.  I've done sexy hops--some pretty steamy ones, actually--but this one is a bit different.  I'm going to be focussing on my favorite holiday moments and things. Some of my posts will be about love, but some will simply be me opening a door into my world so you get a glimpse of the real me. (Don't worry, I said the real me, not me au natural...big difference!) :-) 

 As you can see from the above graphic, this is a HUGE giveaway for the overall hop.  On this specific blog, I'm giving away a $25 egift card to Victoria's Secret again because everyone loved that for the Black Friday Hop.  Remember...all you need to do is comment with your email address to be eligible to win it all and then keep right on hopping. Thanks for stopping by!  

Most of us have food we only make for the holidays--and, as far as I'm concerned, food is one of the greatest pleasures in life.  It's used for celebration--sometimes it can get pretty sexy, too, but that's not what I'm talking about right now.  Today I'm talking about the traditional holiday food that my family likes and am going to ask you to share some of yours in your comments.

For my family, holiday's are about eating lots of sugar and making a mess.  Ha.  No, seriously, we make holiday candy like chocolate peanut butter balls, fudge, Rocky Mountain Bars,  and a Norwegian treat---lefse.  Mmmm... These are the treats for us that simply scream "holiday time!"  

The kids and I set up an assembly line situation and go for it.  I'm always anticipating a mess because--let's face it--most of what's good in life is messy. 

First up--and the kids' favorite--is the chocolate covered peanut butter balls.  First we mix the peanut butter, Rice Crispies, butter and powdered sugar all together, make them into balls about one inch thick and then freeze it all for a bit.  While the balls are freezing, we melt the chocolate--chocolate chips, German chocolate and paraffin wax.  That's when the fun begins--and mess--the dipping of the balls!  (none of this is innuendo, just an FYI...I know how you all are...*wink*)  

Mess is the name of the game while we're making holiday treats.  Norwegian lefse is one of the best and messiest treats at our house, but Christmas wouldn't be the same without it.  I've been eating lefse--a thin potato cake--my entire life.  When I see them, I think of my grandparents who have passed on, the cousins I grew up with but who I no longer see, and all of those childhood holidays of laughter and card playing.  

Traditions--whether old or the new ones I've created within my own family--instill a sense of roots. I hope I'm creating those same sentimental moments for my own children.  

Not even the cat could escape the flour fight. 

What holiday treats or foods does your family have that make the holidays complete?  

Don't forget to leave a comment with your email address to be eligible to WIN and keep on hopping! 

If you missed my other posts on this hop, here are the links: 
Gift of Reverence
Gift of Relaxation
Gift of Love