We decided to have all the kids from our neighborhood over to decorate gingerbread houses for the holidays.

We have a LOT of kids in our neighborhood, so, in the interest of keeping things simple and stress free, I picked up pre-made gingerbread houses from Target. If you didn’t want to spend this much money, another easy option would be to hot glue the houses together ahead of time. Let’s be honest, most kids aren’t going to eat the actual houses anyway, so trying to assemble the houses with frosting is just going to frustrate you!

I like to pick up disposable muffin tins and put candy in them and spread all around the table. This way, the kids can grab them easily, and there is enough to go around. I pick up candy everywhere – but the dollar store is generally a good option – rainbow belts, gumdrops, smarties, peppermints, candy canes, etc. I picked up frosting from the market for the kids to spread on with plastic utensils and places like Wilson Farm sells fun premade colored frosting in piping bags! Market Basket has sugar candy novelties and colored icing as well, along with bulk sprinkles in the bakery.

Check out how fun these houses turned out! A good time was had by all!

The post Gingerbread Houses with the Neighborhood appeared first on A Little Bit About a Lot of Things.

Last year, we had so much fun making gingerbread houses at the Langham Hotel in Boston. Led by pastry chef Kerry Levesque, children design their own houses while also indulging in a candy and hot chocolate bar and maybe even get a chance to see the big man himself!

When you walk in you are greeted by a table filled with candy, but don’t worry, all the candy that you will need to decorate is already at your station inside the ballroom!

I love that the houses are assembled for you before you get to the event, so when you get there, all you have to worry about is decorating! Pastry chefs are walking around the entire time to help you with piping or float some design ideas your way! Need extra licorice, just ask! At $170 per house, this is not an inexpensive ticket, but the service is top notch, and it includes admission for two children as well as a limited edition Paddington diner set as a token of your special day. They have two seatings, one at 11am and one at 3pm. Children under the age of 2 are complimentary. If you are looking for a VIP experience, this is your best bet. We highly recommend! Tickets can be found on Eventbrite. More information can be found on the Langham Hotels website.

The post Gingerbread Houses at The Langham Hotel appeared first on A Little Bit About a Lot of Things.

Every year our neighborhood has an adults only holiday party. This year, we ended up hosting. Hosts provide the main dish and everyone else brings appetizers, sides and desserts potluck style. So what was on the menu? A 20lb whole turkey, a 5lb roast that we did in the Instant Pot and 10lbs of flank steak done on the grill outside. Pretty daunting for me since I’ve a) never cooked a turkey before and b) this was my first time using an Instant Pot.

This was my first time using my new oven and the turkey (which Leah (and her mom) helped me prep via FaceTime)) ended up taking a lot LESS time than it should have…ummm when have you EVER heard of a turkey taking less time?!!? NEVER! So sheer panic ensued and we had to ask a neighbor (read: good cook) to come over and help determine its actual readiness.

People brought their own beverages, but we set out a fun little bar. Hint water and Italian sodas, a few signature drinks – like the Dark and Stormy, and a mimosa bar with peach, orange and strawberry mixers.

Always important to have some non alcoholic beverages – and how cute are these sparkling grape juice options from Welch’s?

HUGE shout out to Whole Foods butcher department who walked me through cooking this beautiful winter warmer roast. The Instant Pot was a little intimidating at first, and I probably should have done a test run, but we were having party after party in December, and there just wasn’t any time.

We had some long tables set up for people who wanted to sit and eat dinner. I always like to have some sweet treats on the table – how cute are these little Lindt Snowmen?

Lindt also has these adorable seasonal truffles.

I love amaretti cookies during the holidays. They are beautifully wrapped and when the party is over I love crumbling them up and putting on things like mashed sweet potatoes or a bowl of ice cream. Not familiar with amaretti cookies? They are delicious Italian almond flavored cookies that are light and crunchy.

And how beautiful are these cookies by Bake?

Does your neighborhood have any fun traditions? Cookie Swaps, Yankee Swap, holiday parties, summer BBQ’s?

The post The Neighborhood Holiday Party appeared first on A Little Bit About a Lot of Things.

I didn’t realize that if you are interested in a private Santa, you have to be on that in like…July. My good friend gave me the connect to her favorite Santa, and I was glad to get on the list – but when I got to him in September, the only days he had left were Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Clearly I will have him on speed dial for July for this coming year. He was wonderful – the 30 kids we had over had a ball. First, Santa knocked on the door and greeted everyone. Then, he came next to the tree and sang a few songs with the kids, read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and then proceeded to hand out a present to each child (that their parents provided ahead of time). Watching the magic of Christmas through your child’s eyes is a pretty amazing thing.

Let’s take a step back. While guests were arriving and we were waiting for Santa to arrive, we had a table set up with crafts – make your own frames or wreaths and a cookie decorating station that went over well. What goes better together than Santa and sugar?!?

We kept the decorations pretty simple, picked up these amazing snowflakes from Paper Source and hung them from the ceiling to make a little winter wonderland. Didn’t hurt that I was able to get them at a steal of a price!

We had a few grazing boards – this savory plate had brie, Harbison cheese (the round soft cheese in the middle – which I got for a steal at Trader Joe’s), blue cheese, honey from our hive out back, dried apricots, raspberries, green grapes, spicy soppressata, truffle salami, candied oranges, wasabi peas and Babybel cheese that had some fun Christmas cutouts (just use mini cutters and gently press through on the red wax).

This sweet board featured green cubze from Happy Chocolatier, Christmas tree cookies from Roche Bros. (they are my favorite and they can be found in the bulk cookie case), home made chocolate covered Oreos, white chocolate pretzel drops from Sukker & Sweet, gingerbread men from Trader Joe’s, peppermint truffles from Lindt, the green balls at the top were watermelon gumballs and the green balls on the bottom were mints from Sukker & Sweet.

I had this wonderful idea that I would make these gingerbread trees and make them into a 3D forest on a platter. Got a great pan and the quickbread mix from Williams Sonoma, but they didn’t bake up flat and I didn’t have time to trim each one, so we had them flat on a plate and sprinkled them with powdered sugar. Not what I had envisioned, but no one was the wiser…and they still tasted delicious.

I always like to have beverages for little hands, and I hate to do juice boxes – so Hint graciously gifted us some of their kid’s fruity water which was a big hit – they come in flavors like apple, watermelon, cherry and blackberry.

Once Santa had left, the presents had been opened, the kid’s bellies had been filled with pizza and snacks, it was time to go home. We sent each kiddo home with a holiday cracker (which I ALWAYS stock up on at the end of the year when they are on sale for 50% off – it’s always a good idea to plan ahead). My kids just love popping them and hearing the sound, I think it they were empty, they wouldn’t even notice.

We also sent them home with these adorable cookies from Tuesday Spoon Baking Company. Lisa is located in Sudbury, MA and she makes individual cookies that she drops at Duck Soup, but also takes custom orders. How adorable are these pickup trucks with trees in the back. Not only are they beautifully decorated but they TASTE delicious too.

The post Santa Claus is Coming to Town… appeared first on A Little Bit About a Lot of Things.

Every year it is such a fun treat for the family to get to go to the Boston Christmas Festival and judge the gingerbread house competition. This was our second year judging the competition but we have been going to the festival for over a decade now. Nothing says holiday season to me like gingerbread houses – although, mine never turn out like this at home

The houses are made by local chefs and the creations are then sold, with all the proceeds going to benefit Housing Families, a non profit organization dedicated to ending family homelessness.

Check out the amount of detail chef’s put into their houses! This house by Harvest and Grill 23 got the ‘honorable mention’ award.

This was a pretty good replica of Tupper Manor. I had never heard of it before, but it was originally built to be the summer home for the Bryce Allen Family, known for their Canadian shipping company, allan Shipping Lines. The family sold the home to Endicott College and is now used for weddings and special events.

‘Best in Show’ went to Cupcake City. Their shop is located in Reading and if you can’t make it to the shop, try tracking down their mobile cupcake truck!

Just look at the detail of that chimney!

Did you miss the Christmas festival this year? Make sure to keep an eye out for it next year – click here to check out their website.

Check out some of my older posts to see past competitions:2016, 2014, 2013.

Davio’s in Lynnfield earned the title of “Best Decoration”.

High school student Brianna Ficaro picked up the ‘best tasting’ award.

Treat Cupcake Bar picked up the ‘most creative’ award.

The kids choice was the ‘house’ by Ginger Betty’s.

Thanks to all who participated, it was such a fun way to spend the morning. Looking forward to judging again next year!

The post Judging the Gingerbread House Competition appeared first on A Little Bit About a Lot of Things.

Ever since I was a kid, my mom and I would go to the Christmas Festival. We would do some light shopping and then go out to the now closed Anthony’s Pier 4.

The Christmas festival, now in its 30th year, has a wonderful gingerbread house display every year. The houses are judged and sold, with proceeds going to Housing Families, a non profit dedicated to ending family homelessness.

This year my mom and I started a new tradition. We brought my kids to the festival and they were able to judge the gingerbread houses!

The gingerbread houses were amazing! Check out this Finding Dory gingerbread house – look at all the detail.

A Wizard of Oz themed gingerbread house made by Café Escadrille.

Chef Maria Cavaleri’s house.

I loved the Candy Land themed house by Jennifer Pearson Luna, Executive Pastry Chef at Ostra and Sorellina. She won best tasting – which was my vote – and boy were those cookies tasty!

Here’s a close up.

This Main Street Disney gingerbread house was made by Cupcake City and took home top prize!

This house won the Best Decoration award.

Ginger Betty’s had adorable Dory cookies.

The festival has 300 exhibitors so you’re sure to find some holiday gifts!

I love these ceramic koi fish made by Maine artist, Tyson Weiss. Check out his website www.fishinthegarden.net

There are so many things to choose from: scarves, mittens, jewelry, kids clothing, holiday goods and more!

I love these birdhouses.

The food aisle is always the best to go down, that’s why I always save it for last. I picked up some really tasty toffee from Ye Olde Toffee Shoppe out of New York.

How cute are these hot chocolate balls? If you can’t make it to the show, check them out online.

I loved Carrie Wagners whimsy illustrations. She’s a first time exhibitor and is based out of Rhode Island. I picked up two of the most adorable ornaments – an octopus and a fish. You can find her shop, Sepia Lepus on Etsy if you can’t make it to the show.

The festival is open this Saturday 10 – 6 and Sunday 10 – 5. For more information, check out the Boston Christmas Festival’s website: http://bostonchristmasfestival.com/

Disclaimer: I was invited to bring my family to the festival to judge the gingerbread house contest. We were compensated with free tickets to the festival. All opinions are my own.

The post Boston Christmas Festival appeared first on A Little Bit About a Lot of Things.