The one upside of winter is Christmas. I'm not a cold weather girl but there's something about all the houses lit up that makes it a bit better. I'm not sure if I could get used to a warm weather Christmas - there's something a bit more magical about snow glistening as opposed to sun burnt skin glistening...
So it's Christmas Eve, there's a threat of snow (which sends everyone in an extreme panic here), the tree is up, Christmas songs are blasting, and the presents are wrapped. I'd like to say C (the puppy) is asleep with visions of sugarplums dancing in her head but she's pawing at my leg whining... I guess the concept of Santa and being good is lost on her.
This year, I've decided to host Christmas dinner. I figured there are only so many years of being a married "grown up" that you can get out of it. Besides, I've learned a surprising fact about myself - I actually don't mind cooking (it's the cleaning up I don't like... and those recipes with a thousand steps). Part of me is a bit excited. The other part of me is up here procrastinating.
So I drafted a menu on Monday. I had actually had the menu in my head for about a week - tweaking and editing before I wrote it down. I decided to go easy but fancy. No pre-made frozen things here. Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter are about the only times you can drag out all those fancy bad for you foods with tons of butter (the cake I'm making now has two sticks - yum). For all my fab food - I bought three cartons of eggs and two packs of stick butter - I felt like a mini-Paula Dean.
So my menu you ask? Ham or course. I'm not brave enough to take on a Turkey. Spinach and Rice Bake (because bake sounds better than casserole that makes my three year old self run for cover gagging), broccoli and cheese, baked pineapple, about three different kinds of dessert, humus dip (my nod to healthy), sweet potatoes (and if you think this is healthy wait til I drench it in marshmallows and cinnamon). I am cheating and bought brown and serve rolls and canned cranberry sauce (although this my next goal to conquer homemade).
My only worry (aside from any of the recipes messing up?) is that the snow will mess up the plans for everyone to come over and I'll be stuck eating side dishes for the next week and a half. Snow party anyone? You bring the wine - I'll supply the food. :)
Merry Christmas! Hope Santa is good to everyone.
