What's for Christmas Dinner?

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I took my 8 y/o daughter to IHOP for a late-night dinner. She ordered chocolate milk, mac n' cheese, and a waffle with blueberries. We had the sweetest server who must have been about 18-19 years old and wearing Christmas everything from head to toe, which thrilled my daughter to pieces. As we left and walked back to my car we saw a shooting star. It was one of those perfect nights you know you'll never forget. I hope she remembers it for the rest of her life.

On our way home, in the midst of her musings about how she couldn't believe she'd be NINE next Christmas and said she felt like she'd only been 8 for like 2 months, she just kind of stopped and said so clearly and loudly, "I'm going to love you forever, mommy!"

I love food and I wish I'd been able to serve family and friends a beautiful meal, but I'll take chain diner food with the best person ever any day, Christmas or not. My heart is full.

All of your meals look and sound amazing. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my fellow PSrs. I'm so grateful to have been part of this community for so many years.

Ok
You win

 

[kenny]

I've been meaning to tell you, after reading several of your posts about your life style, how much regard I have for the commitment you've made to leaving a small footprint on the planet. From your recycling to your purchasing decisions to your culinary choices, I wish I had the totality of commitment that you have.

Thank you, Matata.
What a nice thing to say.

 

[monarch64]

Oh @Daisys and Diamonds you're so kind. I appreciate the accolade so much...I wish I could share the feeling of pure heartfelt joy I had tonight with all of you, my favorite online comrades. When you strip away most of the extras and trappings and get down to the simplest pleasures, well, there's a certain appreciation that can only come from within.

And now I sound like a melancholy, saccharine weirdo. But I won't apologize; this feeling happens so seldom in life that I will squeeze the hell out of it and enjoy it as much as possible until it inevitably evaporates and the drive to acquire and consume sets in again. It really is the best kind of high, seeing someone you love happy and satisfied, or, as some of my southern relatives might say "gettin' all fat and sassy."

 

[canuk-gal]

I took my 8 y/o daughter to IHOP for a late-night dinner. She ordered chocolate milk, mac n' cheese, and a waffle with blueberries. We had the sweetest server who must have been about 18-19 years old and wearing Christmas everything from head to toe, which thrilled my daughter to pieces. As we left and walked back to my car we saw a shooting star. It was one of those perfect nights you know you'll never forget. I hope she remembers it for the rest of her life.

On our way home, in the midst of her musings about how she couldn't believe she'd be NINE next Christmas and said she felt like she'd only been 8 for like 2 months, she just kind of stopped and said so clearly and loudly, "I'm going to love you forever, mommy!"

I love food and I wish I'd been able to serve family and friends a beautiful meal, but I'll take chain diner food with the best person ever any day, Christmas or not. My heart is full.

All of your meals look and sound amazing. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my fellow PSrs. I'm so grateful to have been part of this community for so many years.

There is something in my eye......

 

[Cluless]

There is something in my eye......

me too lol, @monarch64 I wish you also remember that night, that Special feeling for the rest of your life XO

edited to add : When your feeling down and blah, just go there, I promise it won't all seem so bleak any longer

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Rumball anyone ?

 

[Cluless]

Rumball anyone ?

You have any left? lol

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

You have any left? lol

Just 2 now
So you better get over here quick !

Lucky still plenty of the base mix left in the freezer - just need more chocolate, condenced milk and rum

 

[Cluless]

I'm there I'll bring the rum lol

 

[Ibrakeforpossums]

I took my 8 y/o daughter to IHOP for a late-night dinner. She ordered chocolate milk, mac n' cheese, and a waffle with blueberries. We had the sweetest server who must have been about 18-19 years old and wearing Christmas everything from head to toe, which thrilled my daughter to pieces. As we left and walked back to my car we saw a shooting star. It was one of those perfect nights you know you'll never forget. I hope she remembers it for the rest of her life.

On our way home, in the midst of her musings about how she couldn't believe she'd be NINE next Christmas and said she felt like she'd only been 8 for like 2 months, she just kind of stopped and said so clearly and loudly, "I'm going to love you forever, mommy!"

I love food and I wish I'd been able to serve family and friends a beautiful meal, but I'll take chain diner food with the best person ever any day, Christmas or not. My heart is full.

All of your meals look and sound amazing. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my fellow PSrs. I'm so grateful to have been part of this community for so many years.

This is a wonderful story. Thank you sharing it and your values.

 

[Ibrakeforpossums]

Honey cure ham
Home made mac n cheese with sharp cheddar cheese.
Apple crisp for desert.
Then later had some crackers with 12 year aged cheddar from Woodman's. yummy!
If you have a Woodman's nearby check out their cheese selection.

Woodman's! Narrow aisles and couples shopping the two abreast so no one can steal their spouse. But if they don't have it . . . no one does.

 

[mrs-b]

I normally make more of an effort, but this year it was just DH and me and a whole lotta Zoom, so we had a nice breakfast on Christmas day, then had our more traditional dinner the next day. This worked for us, as we got to eat all the foods we like, but spaced it out more so we didn't feel even more stuffed than the duck.

We start our celebratory food on Christmas eve and had ginger muffins with custard and chocolate ice cream, and warm brandy egg nog with whipped cream and nutmeg. We eat that while we're opening our Christmas eve boxes - which is when we exchange little bits and pieces, like socks and jocks, DVDs we've collected during the year, chocolates - that sort of thing. I always get soap and DH always gets a desk calendar. It's just a fun thing to do to start the whole process, and we have boxes with our names on them with pictures of Santa on his sleigh. Ok, true, the whole thing is pretty goofy - but we like it.

Christmas was the whole hot breakfast thing (sausages, eggs, home made relish, mushrooms, hot bread, coffee) - and much later in the day we had a bowl of soup, and that was about it on Christmas. Well, except for the occasional Christmas chocolate or cookie....

Boxing Day I did our roast - stuffed duck with an orange gravy, roast potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, onions, beets and parsnips, with steamed asparagus and hot bread. We drank mimosas with our meal, and finished with Grand Marnier and/or Godiva chocolate liqueur, plus chocolate coconut clusters. We have figgy pudding and brandy butter for dessert, but still haven't eaten it as yet - probably on New Year's Day.

It was odd setting our dining table just for two, so we forwent the normal frills and furbelows, but I was with the best company in the world, so I've still had a nice few days.

 

[dk168]

My goose did not turn out as nice as I had anticipated, ended up being too dry for my liking.

In addition, there is not a lot of meat on a goose compared to a duck pound for pound, however, there is plenty of fat for making crispy roast potatoes for months to come!

I am unlikely to get another goose for just one person, and shall stick with a duck instead on Christmas Day!

The roast belly pork on Boxing Day turned out very well though.

DK

 

[autumngems]

Honey smoked Ham, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy and my MIL's family recipe for stuffing. Way too much food for 4 people but it was nice. Now New Year's is going to be my first time trying to cook Prime Rib, God help me.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I have made new years pudding
A rhubarb and blueberry compot topped with lemon posset with raspberry and choc chip garnish
It made 6 ramkins that i made the xmas cheesecake in
We ate 2 already last night so ive frozen the others for new year's eve and new years day

Finished off the ham with a potato salad of the new potatoes we didn't have on xmas day
Fried up the left over spuds for breakfast with bacon and eggs

Made devills sussages with the pork and fennel sussies that came in the meat box giftbox from Melanie
Gary loves sussages - but only Barry the basic sussages so gourmet ones are wasted on him
Packed it full of veges and served it on chips with fresh bead i made earlier in the day
And frooze a little one for lunch and a big one for another dinner I'll top with mash

When i made the bread ( no machine) i made a chrese plait and two small seseeme buns for the burger patties that came in the meat box for lunch

Just made them into cheese burgers with onion, pickle and tomato sauce. i wanted to hero just the meat and the bread
Much nicer patties than the supermarket but i should have used s&p