We played in the "snow" in Celebration, FL!

Last night, my parents and I brought the kids to see "snow" in Celebration, FL. Now in Florida, snow is basically soap foam or bubbles blown from machines (see photo below), but the kids still love it. Celebration runs the event each year from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Carriage rides, Santa Claus, and more available for the fun!

You may have heard of Celebration in the past. It's a tiny town near Disney. Actually, it was set up as a Disney community, but today the company has removed it's name from the idea. It's a very pretty, quaint little area with beautiful homes and a "downtown" with a little splash park on the lake, a movie theater, ice cream shop, restaurants and shops. Celebration also hosts wonderful town gatherings (July 4th fireworks, Snow in December, etc).

If you are ever visiting Walt Disney World, you should take the short drive over to check it out. Here are a few photos from the Christmas celebration:

Happy Hour: Jingle Juice

I found this recipe last year in Southern Living and it was a hit at my Holiday Party. It's simple and can be garnished with a fruit-flavored Candy Cane! Enjoy!

Ingredients
5 cups orange juice
1 cup vodka
1/3 cup orange liqueur
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup maraschino cherry juice
Garnishes: fruit-flavored candy cane sticks, cherries with stems, orange and lemon slices

Preparation
1. Stir together orange juice and next 4 ingredients; serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.

Rudolph's Spritzer: Omit vodka and orange liqueur. Add 2 cups chilled lemon-lime soft drink. Proceed as directed.

Healthy Makeover Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake
2 1/4 all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamom
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 lg eggs
2 large egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 can (8oz to 8 1/4.) crushed pinapple in juice
1/3 cup canola oil
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 bag (10 oz.) shredded carrots
1/2 c dark raisins (optional)

Cream cheese icing
2 oz reduced fat cream cheese
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp. low fat milk
1/4 tsp. vanila extract

Preheat oven to 350. Spray nonstick 12-cup Bundt-style pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour. Prepare cake: combine flour, soda, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, and salt. In large bowl, with mixer on med. speed, beat eggs & egg whites until blended. Beat in sugars: beat 2 minutes. On low speed , blend in pineapple with juice, oil and vanila. Add flour mixture; beat 1 minute. Stir in carrots & raisens. Pour batter into pan. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 min.. Invert cake onto rack; cool completely. Prepare icing; in bowl, stir ceam cheese and 1/4 cup sugar until smooth. Add milk and vanila, and remaining sugar; stir to a drizzling consistency. Drizzle icing over cake.

Favorites Continued: Cookies!

Now, y'all know how much I love to bake cookies. In fact, growing up, my mom, sister and I used to bake at least five varieties, if not more, to deliver to friends during the Holidays.

So I am so excited to have found this site: http://www.christmas-cookies.com/. You won't believe all this recipes here!

BHG's Site also has recipes for All-tim Favorite Christmas cookies on its site at: http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/cookies/favorite-christmas-cookies-and-bars/.

What are your favorites? I like M&M cookies, Toll House chocolate chip, Snickerdoodles, Peanut butter (with the hershey kiss on top!) and oatmeal gumdrop (my mom's secret recipe).

OH--and don't forget that it's COOKIE NIGHT on the FOOD Network!