gingerbread brownie bars

Nothing says the holiday season to me, quite like some good ol’ baking.  Okay.  You got me.  I bake for every occasion, holiday, celebration, gift, etc.  Baking just makes me happy and those receiving my baked treats happy as well.  This bake session happened to be for my nutrition club’s holiday secret santa recipe exchange!  My secret santa recipient was gluten free, loved gingerbread and anything gooey and chocolatey-hence, the Gluten Free Gingerbread Brownie Bar.

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christmas patience and presents

Christmas eve and Christmas this year were very different.  I cannot think of a tradition that was followed to a tee this year.  I guess that is what happens when you grow older and you are the youngest in the family.  The Christmas season this year started out with a bang–maybe too much of a bang though, because my spirit slowly faded.  I felt like Cindy Lou Who from the Grinch.  I should have sung “Where are you Christmas” on repeat.

eggnog cupcakes

Merry Christmas Eve!  Just to let y’all know, this is my favorite holiday (in front of Easter and my birthday).  The excitement of Christmas approaching, family getting together, and all of the festive parties.  I never like going to a party empty handed, so when I was assigned to bring a dessert, my heart rejoiced!  I immediately thought of my favorite–eggnog.

fruit cake swirl cookies

Say what you must about fruit cake.  To be honest, I have never actually eaten fruit cake, so I cannot be one to judge.  I just know that it has a bad reputation.  That is why when the time came for my nutrition club’s secret santa recipe exchange, I decided to challenge myself and turn the not-so-beloved holiday cake into a “semi-healthy” holiday cookie that could restore the good name of both “fruit” and “cake” around the holidays.

eggnog protein shake

Fun fact about me?  I absolutely love the “nog”.  I am all about that creamy, sweet holiday goodness. Just talking about it gives me happy feelings inside.  I know what you might be thinking if you know me, “Emily, what about your nonexistent dairy tolerance?”  It is true, dairy hates my insides–milk, cream, cheese, and the likes.  After the great Sonic debacle of 2014 (not kidding), I swore off all dairy in any amounts.  So where does this leave me in terms of my favorite holiday treat?

back from break

Well, it was great while it lasted–my Thanksgiving break that is.  At least I got a full week off at home to relax, enjoy the warm weather, spoil my tummy (maybe a bit too much), and decorate the house for my favorite holiday!  ‘Tis the season.  My home in Houston just explodes with Christmas spirit and I soak every moment of it in.  This is everything holly and jolly that happened in just the two days after Thanksgiving.