Christmas 2011

All the shopping (gift and food) is done. My final task (a joy... really) today was to have lunch with one of my sisters and together go buy those last minute gifts for Christmas. My 3! sisters and I try to go Christmas shopping together every year, but we are successful only occasionally. If two of us can manage it, then two of us go, but oh! It is so much fun when it is all four of us wandering the mall, checking in on our cell phones, "Look, I found something for your husband!" or "Will this fit your son?" or "If I bought this for you will you look surprised?" or "Come over to the perfume counter.. the line is really short and they'll ring up your daughter's present!" So much fun. When there is just the two of us it is all a little less frenetic, calmer and relaxed. My sister Jenny and I went out today and braved the crowds. We went to an extraordinarily crowded mall... had a plan, bought two items.. one for her boyfriend and one for my dad. Then, we left that awful place and headed for Target. I bought the "toys for tots" that Phil and I do every year and she found something for all the bros-in-law.  Then we went to Trader Joe's across the street. I've been scouring different Trader Joe's around town trying to find a Christmas Ham. They are sold out everywhere. I finally bought one at Von's. Oh well. I'm sure it will be fine. It is just for the two of us... Christmas Eve dinner. Our tradition. (A family can be just two.)

Okay, I'm sure you are wondering what I am making. Well! Clearly the Christmas ham and my cranberry sauce (see last year's recipe.) Then.. Brussels sprouts off the stalk with butter, mashed potatoes AND yams with peaches and ginger, a lovely salad. I bought a chocolate grenache for dessert! Yay!

Christmas morning I am cooking brunch for all my family in town. (2 nephews, 2 nieces, 3 sisters, 2 brothers-in-law, 1 boyfriend, 1 girlfriend (my dad's), my dad, my dad's girlfriend's daughter, my dad's caretaker and maybe, if he is feeling well enough to come, my husband. Whew! Quite a crowd. It is all good. It is always like that. (My brother and his 4 kids and his wife celebrate Christmas in Sacramento, of all places. We miss them.)

I am serving, first and foremost... Mimosas.. (You know, champagne and orange juice.) Scrambled eggs,  done simply - no added ingredients, okay, well, milk or soy milk or whatever is needed for my weird family's needs, Christmas sausage (my secret), fruit salad, blueberry bread, figs, Honey Baked Ham (the real stuff) and vegetarian sausages I found for my poor dad who after 2 recent heart surgeries has developed gout... He is better now, and home! (I've been VERY strict about his diet.) As my dad would say, "Ain't the internet grand!" Only the actual cooking is left to do.

I start a new show Monday. Yay. Work! Love that. I've been oh so busy during my one week off, but it has been "grand." I'm as happy as I've ever been and I'm sitting here in the middle of the night thinking of all you readers, wishing you the most Merry (Mary) Christmas and Best Holiday Season ever. Things are looking up. They really are. We just have to hold on to hope.

All will be well.

xo

m.