Everyone is a Baker at Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!  A recent promise made to my sister who passed away just before Thanksgiving, inspired me to honor her wish that Christmas will still be kept special in our hearts and celebrated as much as we can.  It is definitely a holiday which she loved and, in recognition of her request, it will remain a very special time to remember the birth of Jesus and the many years of Christmas gatherings of family and friends who made it memorable and extraordinary.  

To make this Christmas a holiday exactly how she would have wanted, I needed to reflect on one of many aspects of the holiday that we both shared, immensely enjoyed and eagerly looked forward to each year.  There are, of course, so many aspects which come to my mind, but holiday cooking and baking seemed to be on the top of the list.  This aspect is very meaningful to both my sister and I because sharing an over-the-top meal with loved ones was the key to making everyone feel at home, special and happy.  It was love that went into days of planning and preparing the scrumptious meal and outstanding desserts.  It was her way of expressing her remarkable love.   The act of cooking assured friends and family that they were deeply loved and that they held a great deal of meaning and importance in her life.  After all, the saying goes.......Food is love made edible.

So what better way to combine her love for Christmas and gastronomy is to create this tablescape entitled, Everyone is a Baker at Christmas.  

This whimsical Chef Santa cookie jar makes the perfect centerpiece for this playful Christmas table.  Santa's brightly colored lime green checkered chef coat with red buttons and a white chef hat with a sprig of holly immediately suggests something exquisitely delicious is about to be cooked up.  Santa poses with a bowl of dough being tenderly mixed with his peppermint striped spoon, conveys that it just might be a batch of delicately sweet cookies.  Of course, what instantly comes to my mind seeing Chef Santa as he prepares his batter are the childhood years of cookie baking with our mother.  Dozens and dozens of cookies of all kinds were baked each year.  Days of being in the kitchen mixing, rolling, cutting, baking and decorating.... an endless process with unlimited varieties of Christmas cookies to give to family, friends and neighbors as gifts.  

Chef Santa really knows how to dress for the season with his jazzy Christmas colored chef coat and pants.  Lime green and red creates such a fun and festive table.  It definitely puts everyone in a party mood.

Gingerbread cookies and plenty of red and white peppermint candy canes and decor is a combination that tops no other when thinking of Christmas.  And with stripes and polka dots and Chef Santa whipping up batches of Christmas cookies......it truly serves as a fine example of a cheerful and playful Christmas tablescape.

The cute Santa face votive candle holder is surrounded with polka-dot, Funfetti vanilla candy canes.  My favorite with some hot chocolate and oh so whimsical.  

Who can resist these cute hot chocolate mugs painted in red and green with bows, holly and decorative ornaments.  They seem to fit right in with the red and white striped placemats and peppermint trees.  

The morning sunshine playfully lights up areas on the table and makes it glow brightly and sparkle.

Chef Santa seems to be blushing with all of the compliments he is getting on his beautifully decorated cookies. 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!  God's blessings and may you all create fond memories with your family and friends during this holiday season.