S2 E4: Holiday Hoops And Fresh-Baked Joy

We trade the timer on the oven for the shot clock, moving from a cake-filled kitchen recap to bold picks for the NBA’s Christmas Day slate, then settle into family traditions, travel plans, and the cozy rituals that make the season feel like home. A warm, thoughtful look at what we bake, who we back, and the memories we keep.

• chocolate, carrot, and sticky toffee date cake recap and why simple bakes win
• Christmas Day NBA preview with Knicks vs Cavaliers and Spurs vs Thunder highlights
• star power, momentum, and home-court energy as predictors
• first Christmas spent apart and travel plans to Cuba and Fiji
• Nochebuena memories, midnight Mass, and Chinatown takeout tradition
• cozy rituals that restore: decorating, wrapping, fireplace time, and rest from training
• keeping Lola’s traditions alive with Christmas Eve dinner
• goals for more episodes and a request for listener topic ideas

Join us for more Hoops and Crumbs on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and everywhere you listen. Get your flu shot, folks. Drop ideas in our DMs on Instagram so we can hit three more episodes before year-end.

Follow us on Instagram @hoopsandcrumbs and share your thoughts! We are always looking for questions to ask each other on the #doubledouble

https://www.instagram.com/hoopsandcrumbs?igsh=MTBmNjFkOTBueGE2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Transcript

Welcome Back And Winter Baking

SPEAKER_01 0:12

Welcome to Hoops and Crumbs with the Browns, the podcast where life lessons are baked in like chocolate chips.

SPEAKER_00 0:18

I'm Maria Brown. And I'm Este Van Brown. Together we're always talking basketball, life, and everything in between. Whether we're dunking on the court or in the milk, there's always something cooking.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

So grab a snack and tune in. Wow, Ezzy. You you you sniffled a little bit there for our audience listening.

SPEAKER_00 0:38

I don't know if they can tell if I'm sick or not.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

I'm pretty sure that that was not a snack that you grabbed. That was a cold.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 0:46

That grabbed you.

SPEAKER_00 0:47

Can you guys tell that I have been going through something?

SPEAKER_01 0:50

He's been going through something. He was quite sick. Uh, but that's not why it's been a long time since we've sat down together and did a podcast. I think the last time we were together was beginning of November. Man, this time the time has flown. We've been very busy. We've done a lot of entertaining. So we have been baking over the last few weeks. I know I have been. I know Ezzy has been eating over the last few weeks. So what have we baked? What have I baked over the last few weeks, as the Ben?

SPEAKER_00 1:23

Um, so about a week ago, I think, you made carrot cake. And you made uh date cake with sticky toffee sauce, which is my personal favorite. Which one? Carrot or the date cake? Date cake. And you made chocolate cake like two weeks ago or something.

SPEAKER_01 1:42

That's right. That chocolate cake was a hit.

SPEAKER_00 1:45

Yeah, it was good.

Cake Recap And Sweet Rankings

SPEAKER_01 1:46

Not a lot of cookies, but a lot of cakes.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

Yeah. A lot. I don't I don't remember the last time there's been a cookie in this household that we made.

SPEAKER_01 1:55

Um, I think I made some chocolate chip cookies not too long ago. But they went really quickly, so I think that's why you don't remember it. Yeah. So ranking from best to worst or worst to best, chocolate, carrot, date.

SPEAKER_00 2:15

I couldn't rank them.

SPEAKER_01 2:17

Oh that was a really good answer, Ezie. So everything was so good. I'm happy you think

Christmas Day NBA Slate Preview

SPEAKER_01 2:26

so. Now for the basketball segment. You know, every year I think the NBA plays a big Christmas Day game, or there's a lot of basketball to tune into on Christmas Day. Uh, I know it's a big deal for the basketball fans. Who's playing this year, Ezie? And what who are your picks to win?

SPEAKER_00 2:45

Yeah, this year, um, so last year it was kind of uh anticlimactic, like the games are really bad and people were like looking forward to nothing really. But um this year the games do look interesting. So tomorrow, the first game at lunch, apparently, like 12 in New York is Cleveland versus the Knicks. So the Cavs versus the Knicks. And uh I think the C I think the Knicks are gonna win because even though the Cavs are really good, the Knicks have been rolling. They're the team to beat in the East outside of like the Pistons. So I think the Knicks are gonna keep rolling and win another game. Who are the key players on both teams? So on the Cavaliers, well, there's a lot. So on the Cavaliers, they have LeBron James? No, not anymore. They have Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mowgli, um, why am I forgetting his name? Jared Allen. You know, they have a lot of guys.

SPEAKER_01 3:50

I don't know any of those guys.

SPEAKER_00 3:52

They they have good depth, they have good roster depth. Um on the Knicks, they have uh Jalen Brunson, Carl Anthony Towns, Mikhail Bridges, OG Ananobi, Josh Hart, and uh Filipino stand-up. Jordan Clarkson.

SPEAKER_01 4:12

Do they stand up all the way or can they only have stand-up since he's only half Filipino?

SPEAKER_00 4:16

You can lean up in your chair.

SPEAKER_01 4:20

Okay, cool. So that's one game. I like it. I like it. I think based on nothing but my love for New York City, I'm putting my money on Knicks.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

Yeah, and I wouldn't, I wouldn't uh I would say that's a good guess. It's in Madison Square Garden, too. So a home game on Christmas in New York, uh in front of like the biggest basketball crowd in the world, you know, it's gonna be interesting. That sounds awesome, actually. Let's go. Okay. Okay, what's another game that's playing tomorrow? Uh Spurs, Thunder

Knicks vs Cavs Breakdown

SPEAKER_00 4:55

is the next game. So even though the Spurs have won the last two matchups was the Thunder, which people are kind of raving about because the Thunder are like supposed to be the greatest team ever, and they're like 30 and like six, but you know, even though the Spurs have bested them the last two times, I think the Thunder do win this one, and I think uh they get their w winning streak back against the Spurs because you know they just need to get back in that groove. But I think the Thunder win tomorrow because um it's a home game, first of all, which has been the biggest difference. Um the last game was in San Antonio, and you know, they have all their antics. So I think the Thunder, this being a home game and them wanting to get their revenge for losing last night, I think the Thunder win tomorrow. And key players, obviously, Canadians know Shay Gilgus Alexander, Lou Dort, um Jalen Williams, the other Jalen Williams, uh Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso. There's a lot of guys on both these teams. Filipinos, if you want to lean up again. Uh Dylan Harper on the Spurs. His mom's Filipino. His mom's also named Maria.

SPEAKER_01 6:21

Well, it's written then in the stars, Ezzy.

SPEAKER_00 6:25

Uh Victor Wembanyama, obviously, Stefan Castle. Um I don't know. There's a lot of great guys on the Spurs. Cool. There's somebody. I'm forgetting. There's a big name. Uh Keldon Johnson. Yeah. I mean, oh, Deer and Fox.

unknown 6:44

What am I talking about?

SPEAKER_00 6:45

There's a lot of guys. So, you know, that'll also be a great game. Mavericks Warriors, um really only two guys on that that'll play tomorrow that I think are gonna be interesting is like Anthony Davis, Cooper Flag, Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler. There's only a few. I think I think the Warriors come out on top. Um, there's not much depth on the Mavericks. Rockets Lakers. That's like LeBron!

Spurs vs Thunder And Rising Stars

SPEAKER_00 7:13

Yep, that is LeBron. Uh LeBron, Luca, Austin Reeves, Ruihachimura. I think the Lakers come out on top. But the Rockets are also rolling. And they have Kevin Durant, so you know, LeBron versus KD, that's always a great matchup. But I think I'm going with the Lakers, old faithful, as long as Luca plays. Um then lastly, Timberwolves Nuggets, the latest game, starts at 10.30. Uh, I have the Nugg winning. It's hard to beat the best player in the world, especially when he has a good supporting cast.

SPEAKER_01 7:48

Cool.

unknown 7:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

Cool. That's that's very thorough. Um, my only NBA Christmas Day trivia is when I was young, I remember Vanessa Williams singing the national anthem during a Lakers game because she was married to Rick Fox at the time. That's a long time ago. I don't think Google can even find the date. But I very distinctly remember tuning in just to watch Vanessa Williams sing.

SPEAKER_00 8:19

Wow. Disrespectful to Kobe and Shaq.

SPEAKER_01 8:26

It was a big deal. Vanessa Williams, 90s RB pop star. Who doesn't love her? Anyway, those are some great games to look forward to. I can definitely see how an NBA fan would be super pumped to sit in front of the TV on Christmas Day. Now for the main event, why don't we talk about highlights of our own family last few Christmases and what we look forward to this year for the holidays?

SPEAKER_00 8:57

So do you want to start or should I start?

SPEAKER_01 8:59

Um, well go ahead. I think you've got some exciting stuff on the horizon for Christmas.

SPEAKER_00 9:04

Okay, so I think I'll kick it off. Uh this is my first time in three years not spending Christmas with mama. So I mom is going to Fiji, and I'm going to Cuba with my dad. So I'm ex I'm very excited to go to Cuba. Obviously, it's a nice tropical place, very beautiful. Uh, you know, gonna be smoking lots of cigars, drinking lots of rum.

unknown 9:35

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

All right. I feel like that's not what's gonna be happening, but yeah, I guess it is kind of a big deal. This will be the first actual Christmas day that uh you and I don't celebrate together. Because even if you have a two-home family, you usually you're always with mama on Christmas Day. So it's definitely different for us. Do you have any thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_00 9:58

I don't know. I I I mean, maybe I'll miss you, but you heard it here first, listeners.

SPEAKER_01 10:05

Maybe as you will miss me. Okay, well, you I guess you hit up on hit one of my things that I'm looking forward to. Uh Jeff and I are going to Fiji for my first time ever, and Jeff Jeff hasn't been to Fiji either, so that'll be great. Mount

More Marquee Matchups And Wild Picks

SPEAKER_01 10:20

Fuji or Fiji? Fiji in the South Pacific. Like the water? Like around, like the water, yeah, the fancy bottle of water. Um, but first we're gonna go to San Francisco to visit Josh, and then we're going to Fiji. Hopefully, we get to San Francisco because the weather reports are saying otherwise. But maybe that'll be our Christmas wish. That the the skies clear up and the weather is nice and everything can go as planned. So looking forward to that.

SPEAKER_00 10:50

Las Vegas.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

What is with Las Vegas?

SPEAKER_00 10:55

Well, didn't you say uh this morning? If San Francisco doesn't work out, you're hitting up Vegas.

SPEAKER_01 11:01

Oh, that's right. That's right. Uh Jeff suggested maybe Nevada would be a place to stop in first. So we'll keep you posted, listeners.

SPEAKER_00 11:11

No one gets in trouble in Vegas.

SPEAKER_01 11:13

No, what stays in Vegas, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. All right, Izzy, what about uh what are you looking forward to next?

SPEAKER_00 11:20

Well, I'm not gonna talk about something I'm looking forward to, but something I can look back on. And that is uh because this year I'm traveling with my dad, I thought it would be sentimental for me to talk about all the fun travels that you know you, me, and Jeff have had over the last few years. So we've been to tons of countries uh on cruises and you know, just over like uh the last few Christmases and New Year's, we've traveled lots all over the place, we've seen the world, and you know, obviously I'm gonna miss you this Christmas, but I'm still gonna have a lot of fun in Cuba.

SPEAKER_01 11:58

Oh, you heard it here second listeners. Esteban is going to miss his mom over the holidays. Yes, we have had a lot of great Christmases to look back on. So following in that vein, I think I'm gonna talk a little bit about a little family Christmas that we just had, which was really special to me. We had uh some of our cousins come and their little kids come just the other day, and we shared some of our traditions of having a yummy smoked turkey and uh having dinner, wearing Christmas cracker crowns, which is something we like to do, which we introduced to them, and it was just it was super fun to share our traditions with family, which we don't get to do often because we don't have Filipino family uh near us that often. So that's something I really enjoyed about Christmas.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

Yeah, there's not many Filipinos in in uh Toronto, especially not in North York, there's like none.

SPEAKER_01 12:55

None that we're related to.

SPEAKER_00 12:56

If you don't know North York, that was a joke. We live like five minutes from like basically Manila, like

Holiday Travel Plans And Firsts

SPEAKER_00 13:05

the city of Philippines up here.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

But we're not related to any of them, so but I'm sure we could walk up to someone's place and knock on the door and be greeted with a tray of uh lupia. Yeah, that'd be kind of nice. Maybe we'll try that next Christmas. You got me hungry now. Okay, well, what other Christmas looking back or looking forward do you want to talk about? Personally, I really like looking. I I I like being able to look at all the things that um that are around us at Christmas. I love going shopping for Christmas, I love looking at the decorations, I love decorating, I love wrapping gifts with beautiful ribbon. So it's not really uh looking forward or looking back, but it's all the things that make Christmas feel kind of cozy to me.

SPEAKER_00 13:58

Yeah, I really liked uh you know putting up a tree, sitting by the camp, not campfire, fireplace. All the baking, all the cooking, all the eating of the baking and cooking.

SPEAKER_01 14:11

Yeah, it's pretty fun. It's I find it's really nice to just uh have a moment to relax and to be peaceful.

SPEAKER_00 14:18

And you know, as much as I love it, it is also nice to take a little break from you know the constant like 6 a.m. training and the weightlifting. You know, it's hard sometimes. So it is nice to have a little break.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

Yeah, I agree. I agree. A little bit of sleeping in never hurt anybody. Sleeping in and standing up. Okay, well, that's a little little like a nice little Christmas roundup, what we look forward to, what we look back upon, and just kind of the vibes that we like around Christmas time. Are there any traditions that uh that we do as a family that you would like to keep on um with your own family someday?

SPEAKER_00 15:03

I don't know. I guess obviously putting up a tree, but that's not really our tradition. Um I don't know. What what big traditions do we have? I guess like the like a a Christmas Eve party.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

Yeah, I guess we usually do Christmas Eve dinner. That is kind of nice. Certainly when I was little, because we had a lot of family around us, our Christmas Eve dinners were big, quite big. And then when Lola was with us, we would always go to Christmas Mass. And you used to, we would take you even when

Family Traditions We Keep

SPEAKER_01 15:40

you were a baby, we would go to midnight mass, walk downtown through Chinatown, and then on our way back from Chinatown, we'd pick up some Chinese food, and that's what we would have for Nochebuena, so the dinner after Chinese food. I remember this one Christmas that we went to Mass, uh midnight mass. You were old enough when they asked you to dress up as a shepherd and bring a gift offering to the baby Jesus, and it was the cutest thing. You've got this cute little shepherd outfit on, and you were so excited to be able to give a gift to the baby cheese. You were so proud to give baby cheese a gift, and it was the cutest, cutest thing. So I think, I think, yeah, the the celebrating on December 24th, um, with a nice dinner and some gift opening, I think that's a great tradition. It's certainly a tradition that I had growing up, whether it's a big family or a small family. What do you think?

SPEAKER_00 16:41

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I I want to keep you know our family's traditions and like I guess Lola's traditions living through me, so all right.

SPEAKER_01 16:53

So next year again, December 24th, big dinner.

SPEAKER_00 16:57

Yeah. Last oh maybe not with my kids.

SPEAKER_01 17:01

Maybe not with your kids. Okay. Alright. Should we wrap it up?

SPEAKER_00 17:07

Yeah. Um, actually, one last thing I want to talk about before we head out. Last episode, we tried to commit to four episodes before 2026.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

So hard.

SPEAKER_00 17:19

Uh after this, we need three more, and then we can get to 17 episodes on the year. Do you think we can do it?

SPEAKER_01 17:28

Can we do four episodes in a week? I have no idea. I have no idea. We had such good intentions, but I ended up having to travel for work, so that took me out for a week. You had to travel for work.

SPEAKER_00 17:40

I got super sick. You got so sick, so that took you out for a week. Like hospital sick. Yeah, but it was rough. Maybe you guys can hear more about that in the next episode. Get your flu shot, folks. Or one of the next four.

SPEAKER_01 17:55

Yeah. Well, so we gotta lock in then. Okay, so we gotta lock in. Let's plan out a couple of things that we want to talk about. Christmas is one of them, New Year's is the next. And listeners, if you've got any ideas

Cozy Vibes, Rest, And Routine Breaks

SPEAKER_01 18:08

between now and then, drop some ideas in our DMs on Instagram because we will definitely need any inspiration that we can get so that we can do three more episodes before the end of the year. What do you think, Ezzy?

SPEAKER_00 18:24

Yeah, for sure. But um, you know, um, until we get those next three done, join us for more hooves and crumbs on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and everywhere else you can find your favorite podcasts. We talk basketball, cookies, and share other random life musings.

SPEAKER_01 18:41

Oh my goodness, time could be to go get a Kleenex. Ah, definitely. Okay, everybody. Goodbye. Merry Christmas. Thanks for listening.

SPEAKER_00 18:49

Merry Christmas.

SPEAKER_01 18:50

Ho ho ho