A few weeks before Thanksgiving, I saw the cover of Taste of Home magazine with this gorgeous looking bread spread across the page. I immediately snapped a photo and told myself I'd make it for Thanksgiving. In fact, I'd even do a practice one before Thanksgiving to make sure it turned out ok.....well Thanksgiving came and Thanksgiving bread and still the closest I got to baking the bread was sending a text saying that I wanted to do it. 

This is the first Christmas that Brad and I don't have roommates and so I took the opportunity to create some new traditions just for us! This was my chance to finally make this epic looking bread! The first time I tried it, I followed the recipe perfectly and was so excited when the bread actually rose during the hour sit time (I didn't have high hopes for my bread making skills so that fact that I could do it means anyone can.) The only problem with the first batch was that once it had the slightest golden brown top, I took it out and started eating. The edges were good but the middle was a sad state of dough.

I could tell that it would be really good with a different filler and so I decided to give it another go for my company Christmas potluck, this time with pesto and cheese. I stayed patient and let it bake and bake and gave it the good old toothpick test just to make sure it was cooked and was so happy about how it turned out.

So the verdict is in from me, Brad and all my co-workers that this bread tastes as good as it looks. Whether you want something sweet for Christmas morning or a delicious savory appetizer/side for Christmas Eve dinner, this bread is sure to be a conversation starter and taste oh so good. 

Hope your Christmas is filled with delicious goodies and if you want to add this one to your table, here is the original recipe link and below are some other filling ideas that Brad and I brainstormed to try next time.

Filling Options:
Pesto & Cheese
Raspberry Jam
Marionberry Jam
Nutella
Marinara & Mozerella
Garlic Butter & Rosemary

Enjoy and MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

P.S. I'd love to hear your favorite traditions too! What is one of your favorite Christmas day recipes to share with your family?

'Tis the season for gift guides! ​Lately, there have been a lot of gift guides floating through my feeds and I'm loving it! It is so helpful to see what other people are loving and what they have found to really add value to their lives. Although I find them super helpful for adding to my own Christmas list and/or a close family member, some of the suggestions are just a little out of my price point for gift giving on a bigger scale (i.e. friends and co-workers).
 
I love to give a little something to friends as I meet up for happy hour or coffee around the holiday season. Something that doesn’t break the bank but also shows love and care for having them in my life. The same goes for co-workers, in reality, I actually spend more time with them than friends so a thank you for a great year always goes a long way.
 
That being said, depending how big your circle of friends is, this can quickly become a much bigger expense than intended. I’ve been searching for these go-to gifts this season and rounded up my gift guide for affordable and fabulous gifts to share with all of you. To be fair, I may have overdone the personalization aspect of things, but a lot of time people love the personal touch yet would never get it for themselves so it really adds a little something extra to the gift. 

​And remember, no matter who the gift is for, a personal, handwritten, holiday greeting card goes a long way. 

​Happy shopping! 

​Although in San Diego, we are lucky to have amazing weather year round-there is still something so special about summer! Longer days and warmer evenings lend to the perfect recipe for entertaining friends and family and relaxing on weekend mornings. To help get summer started I've put together some of my favorite items for a fun and festive season. Are there any I've missed that are on your list? I'd love to hear about them in the comments below! Hope you enjoy and happy summer planning! ​

Jessica