How I Feel Home for the Holidays, While Living Half a World Away

"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas." It's always been one of my favorite Christmas carols and something my brother and I used to cross our fingers for every year. Sledding, snow men, snow angels, snow cream, snowball fights - it doesn't get much better for a kid. Growing up in North Carolina, then beginning my TV anchoring career in Ohio, and spending five years at Fox News Channel in New York City - I was lucky enough not to just sing about having a white Christmas, but actually have a white Christmas - a number of times.

This year the only white Christmas I'll be seeing - isn't snow - but white sandy beaches. Santa will be riding a Sea-Doo instead of a one horse open sleigh, and ugly Christmas sweater house parties will be replaced with ugly Christmas wetsuit beach parties. For real! You see it's summer where I live. I live in the place Americans fondly refer to as The Land Down Under. I'm not complaining, just noting the stark contrast.

I'll be kicking off my Christmas morning with a cool swim at Australia's most iconic beach, Bondi Beach, and then heading to my brother-in-law's house for a poolside Christmas feast with 'prawns' the size of your fist! That's 'shrimp' for folks in our corner of the world!

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Recipe! Peppermint Forest Christmas Shop Pecans: A Kooiman Family Tradition

It's that time of year again when the calories don't count!!!!!! Yay! Eat what you want! That's the rule I'm going to live by as I take on my Aussie Christmas feast in Sydney this year. And to make me feel home for the holidays I made several batches of a famous Kooiman family sweet treat.... Peppermint Forest Christmas Shop Pecans!

Being that I am just wrapping up my 8th month of pregnancy, I am VERY excited to be using the excuse... "I'm eating for two" when it comes to this Kooiman Christmas staple.

During my time in New York City hosting Fox and Friends, producers sent me home one year to make the pecans, chat with my mom, dad, & bro about our North Carolina traditions, and pay a visit to the family biz. To WATCH the video, click here.

Every year growing up I would help my mom bake batches and batches and batches. Then during several busy holiday weekends, I would walk around the Peppermint Forest Christmas Shop serving the customers the famous pecans along with shortbread and hot apple cider.

So what are these special pecans I speak of!? Quite possibly the best Christmas goodie on the planet! The treats are great with ice cream and pie for dessert, they are a decadent sweet potato soufflé topper, a divine salad cruncher, and the old faithful way to eat them is just as a standalone, festive snack.

You should try them out! Here is the recipe: