Christmas Open House at the Parsonage!

Sunday Jonathan and I opened our home to parishioners and friends.

I hung paper snowflakes from a wire contraption surrounding our pendant lamp.

The spread included cookies that I've been baking these last several weeks, warm spinach and artichoke dip, crackers and cheese, and cheese balls made by a church member who graciously helped with the event.

Ganache thumbprints, toffee bars, and Earl Grey tea shortbread.

The punch ingredients were ginger ale, cranberry flavored Sprite, pineapple juice, and white grape juice. The ice was white grape juice and fresh cranberries frozen in plastic cups.

In the white bowl (upper left): pebernodder. On the white plate: chocolate mint pinwheels and candy cane cookies. Red plate: one cheese ball covered in cranberries, one covered in nuts. Green glass dish: spritz and choco-mint thumbprints. Plate in lower left: candy cane fudge.

We had about 40 people turn up, including my parents. We had just the right amount of punch, but leftover everything else! My freezer started out full of cookies, and it is still full of cookies. More for us!