So...whats for dinner?

I don't want to let Bedo down so I'm sending my weird meal report.  Maybe not too weird for Christmas Eve.  Pulled pork from local restaurant w/vinegar based BBQ sauce (not the Texas kind), one avocado with Mandrin/Orange dressing, one Harry & David Royal Riviera Pear.  As for the latter, a friend was kind enough to give me two.  They are GOLD standard and you really can eat them w/a spoon.  I didn't buy any this year since didn't know if I could taste them w/chemo.  I'll be ordering when they open again Thursday.

Echoing holiday wishes for all of you and thoughts of those gone ahead that we miss.  Sending prayers for all of us for a good 2014.  Thank you everyone for brightening my year.

A Blessed and Peaceful Christmas to all! May your Holidays be Happy.

Merry Christmas go All. Peace and Much Love. Memories of loved ones gone before are a blessing.

Seaside, I have been doing them this way for over 30 years. I got the original idea from the Christmas cookies that made them itsy bitsy. But, as I am lazy, I make BIG ones. LOL.  Take your rice crispie bar recipe. Sub Corn flakes. Any type even Bran flakes if you want to be good. LOL I use a 6 QB Dutch oven melt 2 small or one large package marshmallows use 1/2 stick to 1 stick butter. Use 6-8 cups flakes. ( this is about a double batch. -it uses almost a whole large box of corn flakes) when melted add tbls vanilla and green food color. Stir till mixed. Off heat dump in flakes.  Stir til corn flakes are green. Pour into 3-4 dinner size plates. Or 1 dinner plate and a serving tray about 12-14 inches. This is all very flexible. You want fat wreaths just put more on a plate! LOL oh. Yeah. Spray plates of any kind with release spray Or use old fashioned butter to rub on the plates. Also on your hands. After dividing up the mass as desired form into wreath(s). The less you mess with them the more real they look. I usually just push my hands right in the middle to make the center hole. Work fast they harden quickly. After they look like wreaths wash your hands fast and drop cinnamon red hots as desired for decoration. Craisens are good as are candied cherries anything red for color. You want to get them on fast while wreaths are still sticky. Then take foot by the fruit make small bow and ribbon. Large one is bow made out of one roll and ribbons out of 2nd fruit roll. Small one is made out of one roll. Voila. Not fancy, very festive and who doesn't like rice crispie bars? This is what I give neighbors instead of cookies. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Eric...glad no one was hurt and the car wasn't too damaged.  Between phones and texting on the road you have to be on the lookout constantly.  I just pray when I stop quickly that the person behind isn't texting.

All those wonderful dinners sound fantastic.  I feel a little guilty since mine was on Sunday and I'm doing nothing today...we're eating leftovers until later when we meet DD and family for an early dinner out.  I did make rack of lamb for just the two of us last evening.

Everyone have a wonderful time with friends and family.

Wow Eric, glad that turned out ok.  Not a very nice Christmas present 

Well the Wellington was perfect, the cheesecake was awesome and a good time was had by all. The fam has gone and it's just me and my DH chilling and playing with our Christmas toys.  It's always nice to be back by ourselves. He's reading one of the books Santa brought him and I'm perusing Grace Young's cookbook seeing what kinds of yummy stir frys I'm going to whip up if I ever feel like cooking again.  Tomorrow we're off to see my dad and take him to lunch. 

I hope everyone has had a lovely day if you were celebrating.  Merry Christmas to all my bco peeps!

Awww, great family picture Eric!

Found my phone.... the first photo is Christmas Eve when the cat discovered his new bed. He loves that magic warm box [i.e. fireplace.] The next photo is Christmas morning with the stockings under the tree. I have just never been willing to put holes into the old wood on the fireplace, so we just lay the filled stockings around the room.

*susan*

Eric - I love the family picture. DD looks beautiful.

Susan - when my mother was still living that's what she did with the stockings since there were so many of us. You would see a room filled with stockings in chairs, sofas, corners covered with towels until everyone arrived. Don't remember how we explained to DD that Santa came to our house and then to grandma's but she seems not to be scarred from it lol. Love your pictures and the fireplace is lovely. I remember I think seeing pics out your front porch last year. I love old homes and the details. Wonder what DH would say if I wanted to cut a hole in the brick for a round window??

Our food turned out perfect for the 3 of us. The tetrazzini was good certainly not made by any strict recipe standard. Leftovers for us and some for DD frozen. The overnight eggnog French toast was different; they liked it. Thank goodness I saw a couple of changes rather than 2 cups of eggnog I used 1 cup and 1 cup 1/2 &1/2. I had the makings of an apple compote for the top but it never got made. I just didn't douse mine with much syrup. It had a brown sugar layer under the bottom.

The Butterball turkey breast was perfect, the best turkey I've ever made. 8 pounds and done in about 2 1/2 hours - no stuffing. DD took plenty of leftovers home to tide her over a bit. All in all it was a great day and 1/2.

She's actually not done anything about moving. Thinks her co. may be on the verge of creating some new positions which if it does happen should be in the spring. She'll have her car paid off in the fall 2.5 years ahead of the loan. So maybe a move next spring if no advancement where she is. I think she would like to stay where she is because she could certainly shop her degree/exp. around the metroplex without any difficulty. Says her savings are not what she would like and needs to build that up. I  think she needs to balance car payment/savings but can't advise much because she IS so responsible financially. Says she has no been so diligent the last couple of months (? not sure what she spent on) but needs to get back to it.

Eric great pics. And it sounds like a lovely time. 

Susan, aw, everything looks so Christmassy! Love the fireplace. I wouldn't hammer in that wood either. We have a fireplace insert in our brick fireplace so stockings never got hung there either. We hang them by the front door going up the stair railing.

Luvmygoats, sounds like a beautiful fun day. And this time your DD got the turkey? LOL

My DD2 came home Christmas Eve at 10 in the morning and then went straight to bed. (3rd shifter) he got up for dinner at 6:30. We ate visited and then he had to go in to work he starts at 12:30 am. But we had a nice time. I didn't make a real big dinner just stuff he likes mashed potatoes rolls, corn, etc. He doesn't care much for meat. My DH and I had the pulled pork I made for Saturdays gathering. But a nice visit. My DD 1&2 called DD2 was working Christmas day. DD was with her husband who was on call. (He's a resident pathologist at the University Hospital) I was disappointed not yo get a call from DS1 and his wife.  He lives IN TOWN. LOL.  I know they were at her family get together but still..... so except for the calls our Christmas day was just DH and myself. He made me breakfast. Nothing fancy just eggs and toast. Then he spent out of the day snowblowing us out again. His timing on coming home this year ROCKS!! LOL  I made dinner, turkey sandwiches and tomato soup that I made a while back, cause I wasn't going to cook a whole ham just for the 2 of us! LOL. Then he had to go back cause he works in the morning out of town. So a very quite night. We are getting together with ALL the kids and spouses on Jan . 4th.  That's the first time all the Schedules aligned! So that's when the ham will get done! 

Monica - Yay for alignment of the stars and schedules on Jan 4. No, I can't find Mr. Santapillar. And yes DD did get her share of turkey. She told the story of opening the packet and finding only green beans which she didn't even want. We made up for it. Sent her home with one of the deep dish Chicago pizzas DB sent us (that's the source of the styrofoam cooler) as well as bunches of leftovers. She can cook at least as much to cook the pizza. She lives between FW and Dallas of the interstate so except for mone to pay for it food of any sort is readily available. In a pinch she could even walk to Krogers.

Very Cute Moonflower!

Moon, I see why! He makes me smile too. Your tree is just lovely.

Eric, your family photo is wonderful. 

*susan*

Bedo the aluminum artist! LOL.  

Thanks everyone. I love to put many different ornaments on the tree. About half of them are handmade. But Santapillar is my  favorite. He was a snowy day project they just put pompoms together and there he was. LOL.  

Minus I remember that was the worst thing. The fruit smelled delicious but tasted awful to me. It was at easter so it was fresh strawberries. Sigh. But at least it does come back. Much love.