Tidbits {December 28, 2012}

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas. My family and I enjoyed a relaxing, wonderful day. We went to Mass on Christmas Eve and it was beautiful. On Christmas Day, we woke up and ate breakfast and opened our stockings. We volunteered at a local church serving Christmas lunch to the poor for a couple of hours after breakfast. When we got home, we opened presents and ate dinner. It was a twist on our traditional Christmas, but it really reminded me what Christmas is all about - GIVING! I'd love to make the volunteering an annual tradition.

I am so behind on my Tidbits - it's terrible! Finals + Christmas Baking = Distraction. So, here goes nothing (and everything). Feel free to check out my Instagram for more (I have an addiction).

Smile fries. Thanks for a happy end to finals ADPi.

I-85S can be really pretty.

These three pictures are just a few of the reasons why I LOVE being home - peanut butter M&M's, good coffee, my pup, and grilled cheese.

I did so much holiday baking it was absurd...and awesome. Check out my holiday recipes here, here, here, here, here, oh and here.

I love this, and how perfect around Christmas. John 3:16.

I'm obsessed with my puppy, Roxie. BFFs.

Thanks to Julie over at Table for Two, I am now the proud owner of this incredible Calphalon pans. #grateful (can you hashtag on blogs?)

My mom hosted a Wine Exchange Party. She rocks.

My best friend Nick and I had a Nothing But Noodles and SAS Cupcakes date. It was lovely.

My aunt, uncle and cousin delivered my family a BIG box of Cheryl's Cookies. I openly wept tears of joy.

This sunset is real. And amazing. My mom and I were mesmerized on our walk.

My kitchen accessory stockpile grew immensely over Christmas. This ADORABLE hot pad and oven mit were a gift from my best friend, Tara. She is leaving me to study abroad in Florence next semester. While I am utterly depressed, I can't wait to read about all of her adventures on her blog, Tara's Travels!

Babysitting over Christmas Break = baking and decorating Gingerbread men!

Riccio's Italian Restaurant is THE BEST Italian food in Charlotte. Mark.my.words. GO EAT THERE...NOW.

Captain Crunch. I'll never grow up. Sorry 'bout it.

Festive nails.

Ghost of Christmas past? I clearly love Santa.

I AM SO OBSESSED WITH THIS COOKBOOK IT'S INSANE. It's beautiful.

My favorite ornament - my mama's okra angel.

This text from my dad was so cute...but I am still confused at who this Catherine girl is. 20 years later and I'm left questioning my identity - is my name spelt with a K or a C?!

Someone explain to me how you learn to decorate cakes online. Please, people. Some things are better left OFF the Internet.

Foodie for life.

I hope you all have a Happy New Year! I'll be headed to New Orleans with my family! If you have any recommendations on places for us to visit/eat at, feel free to comment below :)

Summer Fruit Pizza

One of my favorite holidays, Fourth of July, just passed. I love the Fourth of July. I love it because it is smack dab in the middle of my favorite season (summer, duh) and it celebrates my favorite place ever, the U S of A. I love the sunshine, pool time, and fireworks. You can't beat it, folks.

Obviously, I also love the food served on the Fourth of July: cheeseburgers, baked beans, corn on the cob, watermelon...I am hungry just thinking about all of it. But you can't have a proper Fourth of July celebration, or any summer cookout for that matter, without a delicious dessert. You just can't. Of course you can have apple pie (yum) but at my house, we are all about the fruit pizza.

This fruit pizza is to die for. A light and flaky homemade pie crust topped with a fluffy cream cheese layer and sprinkled with all the fresh and delicious fruit summer has to offer (my mom and I tried to decorate our fruit in a fireworks display - can't quite say we succeeded...)

I love that this dessert is a different take on the traditional pie or tart and is always well-received by friends and family, who always ask for seconds. This is a definite summer must!

Summer Fruit Pizza

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup butter or margarine, cut into pieces
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3-4 cups assorted fresh fruit (of your choice)
• 1/4 cup apple jelly, melted

Directions

1. Combine flour and powdered sugar; cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Pat mixture on lightly greased 12-inch pizza pan; bake at 350 degrees F until browned, 8-10 minutes. Cool.
2. Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla until fluffy; spread over crust.
3. Arrange fruit on cream cheese; brush with jelly to preserve fruit. Enjoy!