Happy New Year!  I was so busy baking before Christmas that I didn’t get around to posting anything, and then I was off to New Orleans!

I’ll be writing a post about New Orleans soon, but let me share with you some pictures of my Christmas baking.  I made panettone, which is a slightly sweet Italian bread, with raisins and lemon and orange peel.  I can’t tell you how much I love panettone!  You can easily find it in Italian grocery stores during Christmas time, but there’s nothing like freshly baked panettone.  I gave some away as gifts, and froze a loaf for myself so I could still enjoy it after the holiday season!  I also made gingerbread men and the best chewy ginger cookies with crystallized ginger!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and Happy 2014!