long and useless

I love the holidays. I admit it. I get caught up in the frenzy of buying and cold and warm food and I can't help but feel festive. It's times like these that I do wish I was back stateside. Japan is great for Christmas, but it lacks the family and of course, the kitchen space for all my cooking extravaganza needs. Though I did roast a very nice 9lb turkey the other day with my absolutely dashing oven (pretty rare in a small apartment like mine!). I had been doubtful it would work, but work it did! And because I needed to use a big bowl rather than a roasting pan, the turkey simmered in its own drippings, creating very tender and juicy meat. Mmmm.

Lately, I've been cooking more and more. During college, I loved it, but saved it for special occasions when I had a couple days or more to bake and cook. Now, I cook when I feel like it, which is more and more often. XD

In one of those I-can't-believe-it-worked things, I made a Red Velvet Cake! And it turned out perfectly! Gorgeously red, smooth and buttery, sweet (but not too), and so pretty with the cream cheese frosting. I had totally thought I'd destroy it when I first set out to make it but it worked! I also made snickerdoodle cookies for the first time and those turned out chewy and yummy. I'm turning them into small Christmas gifts, so yay for baking tonight.

Does anyone have any special holiday recipes they're especially fond about? Inquiring minds would like to know!