We have some long-standing traditions in our household and many of them involve cooking. This is how it was for me growing up. My love of spending hours in the kitchen engrossed in chopping, roasting, and baking with my own family is a big part of our lives.

Our Christmas Eve dinner is no exception.  We must have Prime Rib, Yorkshire Pudding, Creamed Spinach, Caesar Salad and...drum roll...the Twice Baked Potatoes. 

My children truly love the entire meal but the potatoes are coveted.  They are fluffy yet tangy, simply addicting.  After Christmas dinner they eat the remainders for breakfast, lunch and for snacks until the supply has been depleted.  The good part about that is the girls will wash potatoes, wash dishes - ANYTHING to allow me uninterrupted time so that those potatoes are perfect.  There are comments when the baking potatoes aroma fills the air, an empty skin or two ends up with some sour cream, salt and pepper and is an afternoon snack.

"It's only potatoes!" you say.  No, it isn't. It is being home again. It is the anticipation for that warm feeling of your family being around the table with everything as you remember it.  It is love and security and the feeling of simple happiness.