Photo Credit: Vintages of Los Gatos

I used to always get confused as to whether the twelve days of Christmas started on Christmas Day or ended on Christmas Day. Apparently it starts Christmas day and goes through the evening of Janauary 5th, the night before the Feast of the Three Kings (and the day I’m supposed to get rid of my Christmas tree), or so my spotty Catholic roots tell me. It makes sense, I guess, but isn’t it more fun to count down to Christmas rather than celebrate after? Isn’t this why we have our Advent calendars that yield a yummy piece of chocolate every night (or every other night if you were forced to share with your younger sibling…). So here’s my plan to reinvent the Twelve Days of Christmas.

What’s your favorite part about the holidays. I know, you feel like you’re supposed to say “spending time with loved ones”. Whether that’s true or not, it’s the good “Christmas spirit” thing to do. Well, let’s just pretend that that’s a given. Then you don’t have to feel guilty about what you pick. So then what’s your next favorite thing? FOOD! Duh. From Thanksgiving to the end of the year, we succumb to our glutinous side and indulge in rich meals, sip a few more cocktails than we’d like to admit and outright enjoy ourselves. Then come January 1, everyone slips out of that food comma, rushes to the gym with resolutions of dropping 10 pounds or getting in shape. But January is more than three weeks away, nothing to worry about for now, so let’s indulge.

Starting next Friday, I will count down the Twelve Days of Christmas with a series of 12 MUST HAVE holiday treats. How I will do this, I’m not quite sure yet, but I still have a week to figure out the details. Whether I count down my favorite foods or try to tie each post to it’s respective verse (mmm…five golden rings…tasty!)–you’ll just have to wait and see. What is certain is these will be a combination of my own favorite recipes and recipes of others, some that I’ll make, and some that I’ll just reference and share, but guaranteed to make any holiday season extra jolly.

Of course, I’m not the end all in recipe Gods. Sure, I might act like it sometimes, but I like to think I welcome appreciate? tolerate other opinions. So if you have a recipe that is essential to your holiday festivities–a recipe that’s been in your family for generations, an unusual addition to the table, or something you just came across in a magazine or on a blog that you know will be pretty kick ass–LET ME KNOW! Maybe I’ll include it! And even share the credit! You have until next Thursday. Ready? GO!

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