Christmas Eve & a pie recipe

Christmas Eve.
A day on the brink, filled with anticipation and excitement. I love it.

It began with a big ‘ol breakfast prepared by FarmGuy. He loves to make breakfast. If you asked, he would probably say his most treasured possession is his cast iron skillet.

It’s not snowing, but it is cold. And there’s still a dusting of white stuff on the ground. I’ll take it.

Candles are burning and lights twinkle. My daughters decorated the entire house and every doorway with curly ribbon yesterday. We are prepared for a party.

We’ll watch Christmas classics all day long, snuggled up with our fuzzy blankets and plates of …

GOODIES!

And then … another kind of goody.

Because it’s Christmas Eve. And there’s too much excitement and noise for me to handle. And because it’s tradition that they are allowed to open one, carefully selected present on Christmas Eve. So today the girls opened a new book, and Ben opened the Memory Game.

And their strict instructions were: “Now go play, go read and don’t make a peep until supper when it’s time to get ready for the candlelight service at church.”

No. I didn’t really say that. I may have been thinking it, but I would never say it aloud.

At this very moment, FarmGuy and FarmBoy are sprawled on the floor playing a game. The girls are several pages into their new books: The Trumpet & The Swan and The Cabin Faced West.

I’m about to curl up on the couch with some sappy Christmas movie and a cup of coffee. Well, sort of. I’m trying to learn to drink coffee. It’s actually half coffee, half cocoa. Shh. Don’t tell FarmGuy. He thinks I’m making progress.

This afternoon, we’ll watch the hilarious family favorite — A Christmas Story. And we’ll laugh and cuddle and fight over the blankets. FarmGuy mentioned he needs to chop some wood. The girls want to try to sled ride on the bare minimum of snow left on the ground. Farmboy just wants to eat more cookies. Me? I want to savor every moment … every sparkle … every big-eyed surprise and happy giggle.

Tonight we’ll drive the short mile to church. We’ll sing carols and screech when hot wax from the candles drips on our hands. And we’ll look up at the night sky on our way home, find the brightest star and remember the true reason for the season.

And we’ll be thankful and filled with unbearable love for each other.

And because I promised you yesterday …

Farmgirl’s Chocolate Walnut Bourbon Pie

Pastry for 2 single-crust pies
2 c. chopped walnuts
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 c. light-color corn syrup
1 c. light brown sugar
1 c. dark brown sugar
1/2 c. butter, melted
1/3 c. bourbon (I used Jim Beam)
1 T. vanilla
1/2 t. salt

Line 2, 9-inch pie plates with pastry. Sprinkle 1/2 c. nuts and 1/2 of the chocolate chips over the bottom of each unbaked crust. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, corn syrup, light and dark brown sugars, butter, bourbon, vanilla and salt. Gradually pour 1/2 of the mixture into each pie shell. Sprinkle both pies with remaining nuts and chocolate chips. Cover pie edges to prevent browning.

Bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 25-30 minutes more or until set. Cool thoroughly on wire rack.