Last year, my family kicked off a new Holiday tradition of sharing a meal on Christmas Eve Eve at my house in South Philly. With so much running around on Christmas Day, it’s nice to gather with just my parents, sister and our boyfriends without having to rush off to the next gathering. This year, Dre’s mom joined us from Baltimore and it really felt like the family was complete.
Someone, however, was missing this holiday season… my lovely Grandma. On December 20th, she passed away peacefully in her sleep. It’s still too fresh of a heartache for me to share very much right now, however the food love she inspired in me certainly shines through in this year’s Xmas Eve Eve dinner, from the Dutch oven I used to the trivets & tablecloth. I know she was there with me in the kitchen all weekend.
And so I present, my Xmas Eve Eve Dinner Menu 2012:
Oven Poached Salmon w. Pink Grapefruit & Tarragon Sauce
Emeril’s Potluck: Comfort Food with a Kicked Up Attitude – Recipe
Cider-Brined Roasted Turkey w. Star Anise & Cinnamon
Bon Appétit November 2011 pg 94 – Recipe
Butternut Squash & Corn Bread Stuffing Muffins
Food & Wine: Michael Symon’s Heartland Thanksgiving Menu November 2011 – Recipe
Caramelized Onion Scalloped Yukon Gold & Sweet Potatoes
Adapted from two recipes:
Bon Appétit November 2008 – Recipe #1
Bon Appétit December 2012 – Recipe #2
Broiled Asparagus w. Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette
Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook
Sautéed Shiitake, Cremini & Buna Shimeji Mushrooms
Julia Childs’ Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Generic Brown & Serve Dinner Rolls
I’m only one woman!
I put the rest of the fam in charge of booze, hors d’oeuvres, & dessert once again. Dad & Mary Ann are always on point with their beer & wine selection. Im polishing off the final, and aptly named, Evil Twin Before, During and After Christmas Beer as I type. Kerry & Rich made mini crab cakes, citrus-goat cheese endive and classic lil smokies & BBQ sauce. Dessert was a selection of cakes including an out-of-this-world Yule Log filled with fresh strawberries that Dre’s mom brought and Kerry’s chocolate chip bread pudding a la mode. And another holiday feast has come and gone…
