Christmas Eve

I worked on Christmas Eve, though the clinic closed a few hours early so I could get home in time for dinner. I have traditionally made nachos for the last few years, so I was after a quick and easy nacho recipe that I could throw together as soon as I got home.

Loaded Cheet-Pan Nachos from Epic Vegain Quick & Easy by Dustin Harder: These were a natural choice. Quick and Easy is literally in the name of the cookbook. These were very fast to throw together. Corn chips (I used a 250g bag of Mission Tortilla Strips), red cabbage, black beans, corn, olives and cheese sauce are baked in a pan, and then topped with salsa and sour cream. I used coriander for ganish rather than scallions, and left out the red capsicum and the jalapenos. I served some diced avocado on the side for me and Dad, as my mum is allergic.
Rating: :)



Vegan Eggnog from Cadry's Kitchen: It's been a long time since I have made anything nog-related, but this seemed like a good place to reintroduce myself to nog. I loved this recipe! I made it in the morning before I left for work, so it could sit and thicken as Cadry recommends. This was thick, creamy, and tasted great.
Rating: :)



If you are going to have milk (or nog), you must have some cookies! Sorry Santa, none for you. All for us! I made to types of cookies. One, the Sparkled Ginger Cookies from Vegan With a Vengeance, I had made many times before. These are some of the best cookies you can make! But I also tried a new recipe.

Old-Fashioned Pie-Plate Shortbread from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero: I wanted to buy some vegan shortbread that wasn't gluten free, but had no luck finding any. I made my own, that were full of gluten! This recipe is very easy, though my dough never really went crumbly. I may need to add a bit more flour next time. But it all worked out, pressed into a pie plate with fluted edges to look fancy. They were some lovely shortbread!
Rating: :)



We had our nog and cookies while watching Love Actually. Yes, I know it is terrible when you think about it. So I just don't think about it while I am watching it. Problem solved! We also put out presents and stockings. I bought stockings for Abby and Boo... I may have gone a little overboard with presents.



Cute Kitty Photo of the Post



That year I got super festive and made Christmas cards to send out using this photo of me and Dim Sim.