We have taken some time off for the holiday season. Eddie and I have been working so much lately that we have actually started to melt into our desk chairs. We needed a break. So we decided to visit my family in California. The very second our tires hurled passed the state line I felt relaxed and at ease to be so close to home. Everything in California is just different. The smell, the feel and the essence of Christmas is just different. Call me crazy, but it's hard to soak in the the holiday spirit when it's 70 degrees and sunny. Something just seems amiss.
Every morning we would wake up peel back the covers and wait for pounce of three boxers full of a morning welcome. We would pick an adventure that was sure to incorporate the dogs and then settle in for some good eatin'. I know everyone says, "my mom is the best cook alive." That's fine and all, but I can prove that my mom is the best of the best. To raise the stakes a bit higher...my brother and his wife are award winning chefs. So yes, my home is the place to be for good eatn'. I honestly can't remember the last time my family had a traditional holiday dinner. My mom would pick out some variation of game hen, duck or any other lovely food and my brother would take that recipe to the next level. This Christmas we had a traditional Mexican feast. Home made tamales, chili rillenos, empanadas, homemade tortillas, and a wide array of the tastiest sauces around. Oh and some incredible soup that I can't even pronounce or remember. It was some of the best Mexican food I have ever had.
We have taken a small pause in posting our blog for the holidays and for healing time with the loss of my family dog Tigger, but we are back and in full stride. The brake was nice, but in reality we didn't take much of a break. We still worked feverishly every night playing catch up. We are back in town and totally focused.

Here are a few pictures from our holiday trip.
Eddie using those incredible muscles to smash the tortillas in the press.


This was the most labor intensive meal ever. My mom swears that she will never attempt this dinner again, but I am pretty sure that with a little convincing this could be a Christmas tradition. Amazing!!!



Hard at work stuffing empanadas with a beef and raisin stuffing.


My sister in law Jeneca making homemade tortillas.





My mom and I love to dink around on the piano and sing Christmas carols....translation.....we play terrible, sing terrible and laugh until we can't take it anymore. This is Jauna and my mom collaborating on Christmas Day.



Less than a year ago my mom and brother lost a restaurant with helps to the poor economy. since then my brother has been contract to start a bunch of restaurants on the east coast. My mom....still looking for her spot in the world. She is starting a food blog all about everything yummy in the world. Here is a few photos we took for her blog.



She wanted everyone to be laughing. It was a struggle since my brother kept being a goof ball and messing up the picks. Anway, the attention span was short so here we are.
Brother, mom and sister in law Jeneca.