This was what the fridge looked like AFTER a full day's worth of eating.

We are a fortunate family, and on so many levels. And we were all able to be together this past weekend as our newly married daughter came with her husband for a pre-Christmas visit, our older son took the train from Raleigh and traveled into the lovely Depot in Greensboro and our youngest is home for break after his first semester at college.

And we are doing okay throughout this frightful economic time. We all have jobs (except for Mr. College Student. His job is … college), we have roofs over our heads, we’re healthy, and we have food in the fridge.

Lots of food.

Too much food.

Buñuelos cooking in a cast iron dutch oven

We did it again this year and over bought and over cooked for the gastric needs of the family. Celebration is great.  But this was almost obscene.

It happens every December. The yummy treats baked by our daughter who has just started her own baking business, the great foods prepared by my Colombian husband (arepas, buñuelos, Sudado de Papas, arroz con aliños, beans, patacones. Ahhh patacones…..)

One gallon of my husband's fantastic salsa

But even as the jeans are swapped out for elastic waist pants and we swear we’ll be ill if we take one more mouthful of anything, there is something so great about our holiday rituals.

This leads to this week’s poll: How do you approach the indulgences of the holiday season?

Take the poll. It won’t burn many calories, but it might be the only thing you do this month that won’t impact your carb count.