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Brought to you by Susie, and I almost didn't catch it but the kids and LP are asleep so I can sneak in before midnight....

Categories, please...

Favorite holiday recipes
Special traditions
Favorite gift to give
What you wear when you don your gay apparel :)

I shall start from the bottom and work my way up...

What you wear when you don your gay apparel:

I love my white sweater I got from Old Navy last year for $7. It is warm and wooly and I love it. I think a lot of people hate wool cuz it is so itchy, therefore that is why I got it for $7. But I love the heck out of it.

Favorite gift to give:

I agree that sentimental gifts are far better than anything else, well, duh! I used to give out family portraits but then thought that was sort of vain, but I love the idea of a scrapbook; I got one from a friend of mine this year for my birthday and I treasure it. I also love the gift of a good book, whether it's a classic, worn book or a new book to read, but certainly NOT a self-help book or how-to book, usually those imply too much! I think movie passes are nice gifts too, because movies cost a heck of a lot these days, but who doesn't enjoy going?

Special traditions:

When we got married, LP and I both agreed we always wanted a real tree for Christmas. Fast forward 8 years and cutting down your own tree and the pine needles and the cats drinking the water and...well Wal-Mart had some nice fake ones on sale the day after Christmas last year so guess what, there goes that tradition.

We do read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" every Christmas Eve before the girls go to sleep. That is our time, amid the chaos of running house to house to house.

Favorite holiday recipes:

Those peanut butter Kiss cookies are the shizzle, but I do have one recipe I make every year:

Chocolate Raspberry Bars

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups (12-ounce pkg) Nestle toll house semi-sweet morsels divided
1 1/4 cups (14 oz can) Condensed Milk
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter in bowl until creamy. Beat in flour, sugar and salt until well mixed. With floured fingers press 2 cups crumb mixture onto bottom of greased 13 x 9 pan; reserve remaining mixture. Bake 10-12 minutes until edges are brown.

COMBINE 1 cup morsels & condensed milk in saucepan, melt over low heat until smooth, spread over warm crust.

STIR nuts into reserved crumb mixture, sprinkle over chocolate filling. Drop tsps ful of jam over crumb mixture. Sprinkle with remaining morsels. Continue baking for 25-30 minutes or until center is set. Cool.

Now, go check out Susie's place for more recipes!!