Holiday, Christmas, Movies Trevann Rogers Holiday, Christmas, Movies Trevann Rogers

Christmas movies: I have a type

My partner and I love Christmas movies. Most years, we start watching them the day after Thanksgiving and continue each day until December 25th. The first one we watch is usually Christmas Vacation. The last one is usually A Christmas Story. And in between, well, anything goes: Christmas comedy. Christmas horror. Christmas romance. Christmas classic. Christmas heartfelt.

This year, I’ve been paying more than the usual attention to what I enjoy the most. With the exception of Love Hard (I adore Jimmy Cho) and maybe Trading Christmas (Faith Ford won my heart), I’m not a huge fan of Christmas romance or rom-coms. I might be tired of the tropes. Or maybe nothing about them matches my experience, observations, or fantasies.

Christmas horror is an interesting genre. Most of them are campy and funny. Some are truly frightening. I could do without gore, but I like them. My favorites are Violent Night, Krampus, and A Christmas Horror Story (featuring Bill Shatner!).

I may have too many favorite comedies to list. A Christmas Vacation is a must watch every year. It’s on its way to being a classic. Office Christmas Party with Jason Bateman is hilarious. (I just watched that yesterday!) Bad Santa with my soon-to-be exhusband Billy Bob Thornton. The Santa Clause series.

I have finally figured out that my favorite Christmas genre is ‘heartfelt”. Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2 with sexy santa Kurt Russell. Red One with the Rock and J.K.Simmons. It’s a Wonderful Life with the inimitable Jimmy Stewart. A Bishop’s Wife with Cary Grant. The Holdovers with Paul Giamatti. These are the movies that make my heart sing and my soul long for something I have yet to identify.

Although, I can’t forget Die Hard. It’s in a category all by itself. Rock on, Bruce Willis.

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Holiday, Christmas, Mom Trevann Rogers Holiday, Christmas, Mom Trevann Rogers

My Mom’s Favorite Holiday Cookie

Full disclosure: This is a picture I found on DepositPhotos. I haven’t made them yet this year because there is far too much going on to bake. But I plan to. In the meantime, you can enjoy them.. They are so yummy!

You might think that lemon is not a flavor of the holidays, but you wouldn’t dare say it to my mom. She loved the flavor of lemons and she loved these cookies. She called them snowballs. I’m happy to share the recipe with you.

Ingredients

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened 

  • 1⁄4cup  butter, softened 

  • 1 package lemon cake mix

  • 1⁄4teaspoon  vanilla

  • 1 egg

Pre-heat oven to 375.

Let’s Make Cookies!

Combine cream cheese and butter. (You can do it by hand but using a mixer makes it creamier.)

Mix in 1/2 of the cake mix, the egg and the vanilla until smooth. (Make sure your mixer is on low if you’re using one.)

Stir in the rest of the cake mix.

Drop dough by teaspoon onto a cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes.

While still warm, dust liberally with powdered sugar.

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