Christmas Happiness in CT

Christmas came and went very quickly this year which makes me kind of sad in some ways because time is flying, but happy that I got to spend a happy holiday with my family.  I have to say, my family is amazing at making the Christmas holiday just PERFECT.

I decided to attempt to keep up a semi-healthy Christmas and made a Honey Baked Ham from the Holiday Edition of the Tone it up! plan.  It may have been one of the best hams I've ever eaten.  The ingredients were fresh and wholesome.  And my family could never tell it was from a nutrition plan.  You know those foods that just TASTE like Christmas- this was one of those foods.  I poked whole cloves all through the ham and then the glaze was made up of red wine, honey, lemon, brown sugar, and all-spice.  It was delicious.  Although we had a few more unhealthy choices as sides, I also made the Holiday Edition's Santa's Salad which had greens, raspberries, walnuts, and red onion.  Another crowd pleaser to get in our greens.  All of the foods, healthy or not, paired perfectly with a light red wine of Pinot Noir which there definitely was no shortage of!

For Christmas Day brunch, mimosas and a bold coffee with Bailey's are staples in my house.  It just helps everyone perk up a bit after a late night of laughing and conversation on Christmas Eve.  I ended up putting together an Egg Casserole from Peanut Butter Fingers, a favorite healthy food blog of mine. The casserole had eggs, whole wheat bread, greek yogurt, spinach, low fat cheese, turkey bacon, and then I added some green onion.  This bake was great because we needed to have enough to feed 10 people.  This was filling and we had plenty leftover.  We also had more turkey sausage and cranberry muffins on the side.  Needless to say, day #2 of being completely stuffed started bright and early!

After opening gifts, although it was about 25 degrees outside, my boyfriend and I decided to go for a walk down by the beach.  My parents are lucky enough to live very close to the beach and even in the Winter, a New England beach is beautiful.  We lasted about a half an hour on a walk along the shore and the rocks, then we headed back in for hot spiced cider with rum.  Another one of those foods that just TASTES like Christmas to me.

We finished off Christmas day trying to complete a 1000 piece puzzle.  Now, Harris and I have done a puzzle together every Christmas.  And we ALWAYS finish it.  One year we did Central Park.  Another year it was the Las Vegas strip.  This year we chose a puzzle full of wine bottles stacked on shelves.  BAD CHOICE!  We couldn't finish it that night.  We ended up taping together the parts we had completed with scotch tape and bringing it back to Jersey with us.  It's now on our kitchen table and we've been working on it a little bit each night.  I'll post a picture of the finished product!! This one is so tricky!

All in all, Christmas was amazing in CT, as always.  I love all of the traditions we have and it warms my heart that everyone is together, safe and sound, under one roof...with plenty of amazing food and wine:-)  Although I'm ready for a re-set with my eating and working out on January 1st, I'm still pumped for a fun night out on New Year's Eve with friends!