Skip to main content

Christmas Cravings. (And Advent Day 3)

Geeze, Whitney - why is food all you want to talk about? Good grief!

Well, ladies and gents, I just so happen to be a self proclaimed foodie. So if you visit this blog, you will see food. And I want to warn you hungries out there that my blog will not help sustain your appetite. If anything, it will fuel it.

Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about Whitney's Favorite Holiday Treats!!

These treats come around once a year, and I salivate at the mere sight of any of them. Let's take a journey through the Christmas Cravings of Yours Truly.

First off, we have the delectable treats of Williams Sonoma. Let me preface by saying that these treats are a bit pricey. And by a bit, I mean very. So, if you have a generous Mommacita, (like I do) maybe she will surprise you with the goodies (mine does every year).

Introducing the best chocolate candy on God's green earth - Sticky Paws.



Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "yeah yeah, chocolate, caramel and almonds - big whoop." I thought that too. Then I sunk my teeth in them and was a changed woman. My goodness gracious, it is a sweet explosion of pure delightfulness. Wow. My favorite. Mom bought Husby and I two boxes (they're our favorite - don't judge), and...we may or may not have only a few left. Oopsie Doops.

While we are at Williams Sonoma, we mustn't leave out the best hot chocolate ever to grace your taste buds.



There is regular or peppermint. I drink regular. It literally looks like the picture above - chocolate shavings. YUMMA-MUMMA! My gracious. Just kill me now.

And the drink simply is not the same without these treats floating atop.



Handcrafted, homemade marshmallows. In the words of Jesse Katsopolis, "Have Mercy..."

Unbelievable, really. But again, pricey. So don't cuss me out if you venture into the store to pick up these treats and get to the check out counter and have a heart attack when you see the total. You have been warned.

It simply isn't the Christmas Season without a Hot Caramel Apple Cider from Starbucks. Yummmmy.



I am not a coffee drinker, and I'm not huge on hot chocolate (unless it is the WS kind), so this treat is my favorite. It is sweet, hot, and fabulous. And the red cup makes it even more delicious!!

If you walked into my house, you would find these bad boys in my candy dish. They are must-haves for the month of December.




Now, the Reese's trees are my first favorites - always will be. But, I just discovered the Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark this year, and was sold on the first nibble. Scrumptious!

Come on over and have one. Or eight. (I won't tell)

Husby's favorite Christmas Treat, and one of my faves as well, are shortbread cookies. I love any and all shortbread cookies, but Husby loves these best:



This is a good choice because there are plain ones and also those with crystalized sugar on top. Mmm. We love them.

Well, those are my favorite Christmas Cravings that you purchase in store, but there are two Tinseltown Treats (I'm getting carried away with the names for these goodies), that you can not buy. One is Baby Jesus' Birthday Cake made by my Momma.



Every year since I can remember, she has made a Red Velvet cake and we stick the Baby Jesus from the nativity on top and sing Happy Birthday to Him. It's so very sweet. And the cake? Heavenly.

My other favorite treat that you can not buy is my Grandma's Peanut Brittle - Butternut Crunch. YUM. (I always accidently get the butternut mixed up and it comes out nutterbut. HEHE!)



Oh man, none can match the greatness that is my Grandma's Peanut Brittle. Gracious sakes, it's finger-lickin-teeth-stickin-pants-poppin' GOOD.

As are all of these Christmas Cravings/Tinseltown Treats/Holiday Hankerin's. (I threw that one in for good measure)

So now you know MY favorites, what are yours??

***
Day 3.

Weeb730
(Check out the contemplative look on his face!)

Weeb732

Weeb731

So far, our story is as follows:

Caesar Augustus said that a census must be taken. So Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to register. Mary was going to have a baby.
I am a modern day homemaker with a passion for family, cooking, celebrating, decorating, travel, and memory making! The Lord has blessed me with the desires of my heart in my husband and our two sons. We recently built our dream home and cultivating a loving and happy haven for my family is where I find so much joy.

Comments

  1. yum - I love WS Marshmallows! Their Peppermint Bark is also delicious - I believe I'll have to take some out of the freezer now :)

    Oh, and my husband was looking at blogs with me last night - we got to yours and he goes that's one cute, happy baby! We then discussed that we think bald baby boys are just adorable, especially when they have perfect round heads :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. We have a Williams-Sonoma outlet here in Memphis and get all those goodies at a discount. Let me know if you need me to stock you up and I'll hook you up, girl! Also...it is connected to a Pottery Barn Outlet and when I was there last week they had your pheasant plates on sale 4 for $20! If you want some extras for your collection, just say the word!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am going into the city next week and I am soooo getting the WS hot choc and marshmallows!

    You must try the Dove peppermint chocolates! They are the same idea as the Ghiradelli ones!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you Whitney for making me want to pig out like a fat kid :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love shortbread cookies too. And peanut brittle. A friend of ours makes fabulous chocolate with pecans and caramel...YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, you have truly made my mouth water! I discovered the deliciousness that is the Ghirardelli peppermint bark last year when a student brought it in for me (ahh the joys of being a teacher ;-)). It is absolutely heavenly, and I cannot get enough!!

    Peanut brittle is another one of my favorites, and is part of just about every Christmas memory at my grandparents' house that I have.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Whitney- I am Eric and Keri's cousin and not sure if you remember me but I read your blog and wanted to let you know it is great but also wanted to let you know that you can get a hot Caramel Apple Cider from Starbucks all year long so if you need a taste of Christmas in June it is there for you! That was quite the run-on! Also if you are into Caramel Apple Spice you may really like the Chai Apple Infusion! Spicier not as sweet but great!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I got the WS marshmallows and hot chocolate last year! SO good. I need to go get me some!! This post made me wanting some SWEETS!!

    I made the chicken noddle recipe tonight! LOVE it :) Thanks for sharing!!

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. You definitely have to try the caramel hot cocoa at Starbucks. It's amazing!! I'm not much of a sweets person, except for coffee, so I really don't have a favorite Christmas sweet. I do enjoy anything mint though!
    And as always, Levi is such a cutie pie!

    ReplyDelete
  10. The WS peppermint bark is my fave! I really want to attempt to make it myself, b/c goodness gracious it is expensive!

    ReplyDelete
  11. i have been livin' it up with peppermint mochas two days in a row. i know...i'm spoiled. and my sister LOVES that hot chocolate. she wants it every year. and only drinks it on special occasions. it's sacred. i had already eaten 4 fresh, warm cookies before i read this entry, so luckily, i was already stuffed. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, Reeses trees and Starbucks caramel apple cider are my FAVORITES! Mmm, mm! I also love a good peanut cluster. Fortunately, I have the recipe for the Starbucks caramel apple cider, so I don't even have to leave my house to go get one. That may be bad, though, because perhaps I indulge a bit too often, but hey, it's Christmas! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love Williams-Sonoma treats! You are right, the hot chocolate is well worth the price...delicious!

    It's not Christmas if I don't have some Fantasy Fudge.

    Thank you for the Advent Calendar posts. They are so meaningful and enjoyable to see little Levi look so happy!

    ReplyDelete
  14. MMM those look so good! I need to look those treats up at the william sonoma outlet.

    ReplyDelete
  15. UM ok now all I want in the whole entire world is some hot caramel apple cider. It is so good!

    And I love the last picture. It looks like he's really enjoying the story.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I don't know if you read my post from last Sunday, but I found a recipe for peppermint bark that I like just as much as WS and it is super easy. I was so excited because, like you, I have a very generous mother but I had already asked for the mulling spices this year. I think I will re-think that and ask for the hot cocoa and marshmallows instead!

    ReplyDelete
  17. OH wow! We do the same thing. A Red Velvet birthday cake for Jesus to close Christmas day with the real meaning of the holiday. Great minds!

    Levi makes me want to have a boy baby! Maybe, if I can get my husband to just take one look at that smiley little thing, he'll be so in love he'll want to get right to it ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have given you an award!

    Check it out below!!

    http://sharoninwonderland.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-post_04.html

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi just popped in here from Lindsey's 'learning to be a wife'. Your blog is really pretty. I guess i will be coming here often now :). Your post was so sweet by the way! My tummy's rumbling now :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Shoot. Now I have to walk over to Starbucks in the cold because I'm craving the caramel apple cider. I, too, am not a coffee person and I LOVE cider. I wish it was available year round!

    And I just bought those little bags of Ghiradelli white mint chocolate squares for my daycare ladies. They are getting packets of those, a pair of cute holiday socks, and a Target gift card. Done!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I. Love. Starbucks. Every year, I have to have a peppermint mocha, but this year they also have peppermint white mocha which is better! I also love the caramel apple cider. And a fun Christmas treat I discovered last year: sugar plums!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your post just made me majorly hungry. For sweets! Those sticky paws look delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I really need to quick reading your blog before lunch! Now I'm starving and still have half an hour to wait!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh no! Your post made me so hungry and we don't have any of those things in England! What am I going to do? I don't understand the whole 'caramel apple cider' thing, but it sounds fabulous. We have Starbucks here, I will have to check it out. This whole post made me want to cook and EAT!

    ReplyDelete
  25. My favorite part of this whole post was the "Have Mercy" quote and also sweet Levi. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ohhh I could eat sooo many of the Reese's trees! I love my Granny's homemade Peanut Butter Cake, my MawMaw's peanut butter fudge, and my mother-in-law's white chocolate covered peanut butter and crackers. And yes, I like peanut butter. :) And popcorn balls too. And monkey bread. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow - I don't think I've ever read a blog that made me want to go buy Christmas treats and eat to my little hearts content as much as yours - Congratulations!

    I'm enjoying your advent readings - we are following along with you!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your mommas' Baby Jesus' Birthday Cake looks absolutley heavenly. The icing looks like one I have been looking for for a while. Is there anyway she would share her recipe?

    ReplyDelete
  29. Your mommas' Baby Jesus' Bithday Cake looks wonderful. Do you think she would share her recipe with me?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

May the Lord bless you and keep you safe today! Thanks for the comment, friends! :)