Happy day after Christmas! Thank you for the warm responses to our Christmas house tour. This year we were blessed with a white Christmas — snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which is a rare and wonderful treat here in Seattle. A fresh blanket of snow transformed our home into a cozy, magical place and made staying in feel extra special.
The snow began falling late in the afternoon, so our family and our pack of dogs settled in for a snug Christmas Eve. The pups were fascinated by the snow; they had a great time running around, tasting it, and enjoying every moment.
We put on pajamas and slippers, played games, listened to Christmas music, watched movies, and read the Christmas story together. Our favorite slippers make the evening even more comfortable as we relaxed and enjoyed the simple pleasures of the season.
On Christmas morning we gathered in the kitchen to prepare our traditional family breakfast: Dutch Babies (we call them “puffs”), bagels for the vegan members of the family, French press coffee, mimosas, and coconut milk holiday nog. We also enjoyed apple sage sausages from Field Roast. It was a delicious and cozy start to the day.
We’ve been making Dutch Babies since the girls were little. We like to finish them with fresh lemon and powdered sugar, though fruit, syrup, or other toppings work well too. Here’s our simple Dutch Baby recipe:
Dutch Baby Recipe
Butter: 1/3 cup
Eggs: 4
Milk & Flour: 1 cup each
Vanilla: 1 tsp
Preheat oven to 425°F. Place butter in a 3–4 quart pan and set it in the oven to melt and heat. While the butter melts, mix the batter quickly. Put the eggs in a blender and blend on high for one minute. With the blender running, gradually pour in the milk, then slowly add the flour; continue blending for about 30 seconds. Add a teaspoon or more of vanilla to taste.
Remove the hot pan from the oven and pour the batter into the melted butter. Bake until puffed and golden, about 20 minutes. Serve with fresh-squeezed lemon and powdered sugar.
With all the dogs around, there’s never a dull moment in the house. They keep things lively and full of laughter.
We’ll continue celebrating over the next few days while family is still in town—watching favorites like Father of the Bride and lounging in cozy pants. It’s the perfect way to enjoy post-Christmas time together.
What are some of your family’s favorite after-Christmas traditions? I’d love to hear!
