As I write on Christmas morning, the floor of my office is festooned with wrapping paper. Yes, I have opened my pressies.

"Sure. I love my presents," lied Sophie. "Great," he said. On her way outside to the garbage can, she was surprised to find a man she didn't know on the back porch. "Your mom or dad around?" the man ...

Spoon a small amount of melted chocolate into a piping bag and pipe a simple tree trunk at the base. To make the bark more visually interesting, lightly tint portions of the remaining white chocolate ...