Here is my Family's Christmas Tradition: (if I had planned this Xanga ahead of time, I could've had pictures to go along... Oh well) 1. Open ONE present Christmas Eve, usually pjs, slippers, robe, etc. The idea is you can wear it immediately and for the next morning's events 2. Everyone who sleeps in the house on Christmas night gets a stocking (pets excluded thus far). 3. Wake up early Christmas Day and open stockings from Santa as well as everything* under the tree. 4. Get dressed and prepare brunch, await arrival of extended family members. *5. Sometimes we open presents with the new guests. 6. Then we have a big fancy brunch. We do brunch instead of dinner because much of my family is halfs or steps, so they go to their other families for dinner. Here is one of the table's place setting. We always get mimosas in the champagne flute, water in the other glass, and juice or eggnog in the smallest glass.  12 place settings in all! This is about the max we can host! We've done 14 once, the normal range of guests is 6-10. This year's diners were: My mom (Teresa), my dad (Peter), myself (Kate), my half sister (Ginny), my other half sister (Jenny), her boyfriend (Jesus), my aunt (Jane), her significant other (Jim), my cousin (Gavin), his mother (Karen), and my dad's old friend and his wife (Jack and Jenna).  We set the table the night before. After having several ant attacks throughout the winter, we decided to store the sugary cakes in the oven overnight! HAHA Then my mom made me write a note so we wouldn't forget and accidentally turn on the oven!  My sister, Ginny, and her dog, Karmalita...  My computer illiterate father got an iPod Shuffle for Christmas. We figured he would get confused if there was more than just "Play".  And, after all the stress, yelling and preparation, here is my mom's Christmas Brunch menu this year: (From top left saucer) 1. Irish Oatmeal Cream Brulee topped with toasted coconut and raspberries, 2. Artichoke heart with mushrooms and then a poached egg, topped with a thin slice of ham covered in Hollandaise Sauce and a shaving of a black truffle (rare mushroom), 3. Half of a grilled tomato sprinkled with salt, pepper, ginger, and basil, 4. One slice of bacon, 5. A biscuit with scrambled eggs and a White Haddock (fish) sauce and garnish of chives, 6. (not shown) Pear Gingerbread Upside-down Cake with Creme Fresh.  Every year, my mom learns the same lessons: Pick something less complicated to make, otherwise last minute prep, like the eggs and assembly is never quick enough for the guests waiting at the table. Maybe next year, she'll learn, but I doubt it. (She finds recipes and thinks they sound delicious and easy, plus she always wants to impress). | |
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
| I thought I had established after last Christmas season, that my family needs my help in picking out a Christmas Tree... Apparently, I wasn't clear enough... =( Click here to see last year's nightmare. Here's what they got:  Ok, so it doesn't have a god-awful gap in the middle of the branches this time, but it's still crooked!! I think this is because they jammed it against the wall. Give it a little room to breathe, guys! Also, it's short. As you can see, just a bit taller than the piano, and this is what you see when you walk into our front door:  Yes, the star stares you right in the face the moment you walk in the door, and it is just BELOW eye level. That means that the first thing you think when walking into our house is: 'What a dwarfed Christmas Tree! Who are these people with 13 foot ceilings that get a miniature tree?!' Minus 2 points... Maybe I just really like the gynormous trees with a star that's out of reach.. I dunno. I can only hope that it will look better after some tree decorating! =( (My mind says no) On the other hand, my mom did quite a nice little Angel collection over by the fireplace... Plus 2 points...  But here's the best part!! BEFORE you enter our house and look down at our tree, you will see this:  WHAT IS A PUMPKIN DOING ON OUR FRONT PORCH IN DECEMBER?!?!?!?! At least she took away the witch, that was residing there during Thanksgiving weekend... But really, someone needs to get their holidays straight. Pumpkins belong in OCTOBER with HALLOWEEN... Minus 50 points. |
