This is one Christmas shepherd who's going to keep his trusty blanket with him.

And I would like to switch gears temporarily from cooking to baking to blankets.

Ida slept completely swaddled until she was 6 months old. That's over now, but she still likes being tucked in at night. And who can blame her? One of my favorite gifts ever was a Barefoot Dreams throw from my sister Bonny. In the winter I sleep with it often. I wrap myself up in it before getting under my covers and it is instant warmth and coziness. Last night as I drifted off to sleep wrapped in my Barefoot Dreams blanket I realized...this is why it was so hard to get Ida to stop being swaddled. It is just so darn cozy.

And then I realized that I am not 6 months old so that might be kind of weird but it is still the best way to fall asleep. And that is my recommendation to you today. I will get back to cooking shortly...just wanted to extol my favorite blanket.