We arrived at my mom’s home on Christmas eve and started searching for the huge fruitcake she made (okay - so in England they call it a Christmas cake - I’m thinking that might be a good name for it since over here -people just have this preconceived notion of what a fruitcake is......so we found the fruitcake - turned out my bro had been enjoying it this past week - and instead of this big log of a cake - it had dwindled down considerably.  We took it out on Christmas eve - and have to say the entire thing has been eaten up today.  It is the best treat at Christmas time. 

.....My mom & I decided to make a Tarte Aux Noix for the Christmas dessert.....a picture of the tart is above....it’s a delightful combination of pastry, nut filling, and dark chocolate.  of course we couldn’t wait until after Christmas dinner - so we snitched a little bit on Christmas eve when it was done & then again in the morning on Christmas - you know - to make sure it tasted good.  It was just fabulous.  Not to sweet - a delicious butter pastry, nutty filling, and a dark chocolate glaze. 

Mom making the tart crust.....and she made it GF - with a mixture of GF baking flour & rice flour.....her technique for crushing the hazelnuts - a rolling pin & plastic bag....no food processor here.....

Tart getting a good layer of dark chocolate glaze.....had to have a little bit of the tart - just to make sure it was yummy....

We had a lovely Christmas morning.....and opening presents - I think it’s a time to share stories, reminisce, and just be together....had to share a gift I got.......I’ve already been paging through it looking at some great recipes I’d like to make......the ‘How To Be A Domestic Goddess’ cookbook by Nigella Lawson.  My mom said she saw the cupcake on the front of the book - the pink cupcake and scooped up the book.  She didn’t know that I really admire Nigella & her cooking - and her life story as well.  And check out the adorable pink wrapping paper with snowmen - just adorable!  Merry Christmas!