A "YOU CAN'T CATCH ME" PRODUCTION STARRING TRENT RICHARDSON AS "THE GINGERBREAD MAN"

Only in the South do you merge Christmas holiday traditions with college football festivities.

When I asked Lucy and Owen to come over to bake off a-just-shy-of-a-dozen-batch of the Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line, I must admit there was a good deal of silence on the other end of the phone. Once the cookies were dived and sent home with the mini-me's, there were plenty left for the "D" line too. Lucky duck!

We didn't quite get to the jerseys and numbers yesterday so I finished them off this evening. Perf-- just in time for the Christmas party tomorrow evening.

Oh, and sorry Nick for the bell. It was sort of an after thought and all I had left...just think of Coach Calhoun from Grease. Win that game on January 9 so we can go back to Tuscaloosa and ring that victory bell. Or at least Denny Chimes.

Gingerbread Men Cookies
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/gingerbread-men-cookies-50400000118027/

Roll Tide, Silent Night, and all that jazz.
Recipe courtesy of Southern Living.

I HAVE A BUN IN THE OVEN

Make that 8 to be exact. And no, we're not talking Octomom here. I'm talking fresh from the oven, made-from-scratch hamburger buns. Sturdy and rather stately on the outside, yet soft and cozy on the inside.

Several years ago The New York Times ran an article about the best burger and how to achieve perfection in all of its "parts". The hamburger buns were described as light and brioche-like which is exactly spot on. The recipe is fool proof and the bun is sure to become a staple in your home too.

Light Brioche Buns: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/dining/011brex.html

Adapted from Hidefumi Kubota, Comme Ca, Los Angles
Recipe courtesy The New York Times, published June 30, 2009.

I promise, you'll never buy a sorry package of gummy hamburger buns again.

CHOW.