Favorite Christmas Movies

A friend listed his top seven favorite Christmas movies on Facebook, and it inspired me to do the same. I was hoping to narrow it down to five, but I couldn't make that final sacrifice. Thus, here are my top six favorite Christmas movies. These are the ones I have seen at least ten times, and would watch over anything else if they are played on network TV this holiday season. Yes, these are the ones I would suffer through commercials for.

1.) It's a Wonderful Life

If I only had one, this would be it. Has anyone ever had a better smile than Jimmy Stewart has in this film? Has anyone been more beautiful than Donna Reed? Has anyone been more evil than Mr. Potter? I love, LOVE that Potter has zero redemption, that this film is dark enough that the villain would let an innocent man go to prison for daring to step on his business. That's some balls for a Christmas movie. The lows in this movie are true lows, the worst it could get for every character in the film. It makes the payoffs ever so sweet.

2.) Love Actually

Yes, it's saccharine sweet, but I love this sugar. All the characters that tie up all-too-neatly at the end in a perfectly wrapped present. It should be too much, but it's Christmas! I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes...

3.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

In junior high, my friend Kristen and I would rent this movie at least three times a week. Seriously. In the middle of summer. And we'd watch it while sipping on raspberry Clearly Canadians. No, that is not alcohol, and it is not a euphemism. Bubbly flavored water and Chevy Chase. It didn't get any better than that.

Every scene in this movie is funny. There's not a single moment that misses a chance at being humorous. Crazy stuff happens all the time, yet it somehow feels not-too-out-of-the-ordinary because the conflict is rooted in the dysfunctional family dynamics that we all share.

4.) Bridget Jones's Diary

Who doesn't want Christmas Pride and Prejudice with a messy female protagonist?

5.) Home Alone

Still one of the most fun and imaginative movies I've seen. Watching this, I get to feel like a kid again, and that's always a good thing. Plus, this movie has one of the great scores of all time.

6.) Elf

Every time Will Ferrell trampolines off of the couch into the Christmas tree, I cry. Without fail. It will never not be tear-inducing funny. Just thinking about it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

V-Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I'm making my awesome Olive Pasta for Hubs (it's one of his favorites), but the meal is really all about dessert.

A Fudge Yummy (with heart) and the signature Yummy Cupcake

Mmmmmm. Cupcakes.

These cupcakes are from Yummy Cupcakes in Burbank. They're much better than the cupcakes at that other more famous (and expensive) shop in BH. I've been going to Yummy Cupcakes since they opened, and I love them so much we decided to have their cupcakes at our wedding.

Hubs went to great lengths making this cupcake stand. It turned out beautifully.

They made a little cake for us so we could have the cake cutting ceremony. I still remember Hubs and I eating the cake together after we got back from our honeymoon. So good, so...yummy :) The best part is that we can get cupcakes whenever we want and have a taste of our wedding.

Christmas Traditions

Christmas is ever-evolving tradition-wise.  This year, Hubs and I are staying in L.A.  We didn't travel to our hometowns (mine in the Midwest, his in the Northeast) for Thanksgiving either, so it's our first family-less holiday season.  Which has been a little depressing.  But less stressful.  And cheaper.  And warmer.

So now we get to officially start our own/carry on traditions.  My contribution is Christmas breakfast.  My mom has made an egg casserole (how very Midwestern) every Christmas morning for as long as I can remember, and it's delicious.  No calorie counting on Christmas.

I made it for Thanksgiving this year, and it was just as good as Mom makes it, and Hubs loves it, so we're set.  Maybe next year we'll figure out a Christmas dinner tradition.  Baby steps.

Here's the recipe:

Breakfast Casserole

12 oz. bacon
6 oz. sharp cheddar, grated
10 oz. mushrooms, sliced
3 scallions, sliced
12 eggs
1/2 cup milk

In a large non-stick frying pan, cook bacon.  Drain on paper towels and set aside to cool, then crumble.

In same pan, with small amount of bacon grease, sauté mushroom and scallions, set aside.

Beat together eggs and milk.  Scramble in frying pan to desired consistency.

In medium saucepan, make milk sauce using the following ingredients:

2 Tb. butter
2 Tb. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups whole milk

First, make a roux.  Melt butter over med-low heat.  Add flour and cook in butter for 1 min., stirring often, to cook out flour taste.  Add salt and pepper. 

Slowly add milk while whisking.  Cook on low until sauce thickens (5-10 minutes).

Add bacon, cheese, mushrooms and scallions to scrambled eggs and mix.  Pour mixture into a greased 9x13 pan or baking dish. Pour milk sauce over egg mixture and gently mix.

Refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, bake at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes or until slightly brown around edges.