GASTRONORMOUS

I spent Christmas Eve through New Year’s Eve in California, visiting my family. The family company was warm, the kids were equal parts sweet and fun, and the food was duly indulgent. For Christmas Eve we ate the now-traditional meal of New Mexican enchiladas made by the Hubs. He has always been well-loved by my family, but I daresay their hearts grew even fonder for him the first time he made enchiladas, with his from-scratch sauce. He also made posole, and my dad made some refried beans (also from scratch). It was quite a feast. So much so that I was too distracted by the tastiness to take pictures. The next time the Hubs graces my plate with his enchiladas, I promise to document it appropriately.

Christmas was at my Brother and Sister-in-law’s house. It was sort of a potluck affair. Appetizers were provided by me and my mom, who brought along some homemade green tomato chutney and pepper jelly (see left. Yum!), both of which she served with crackers and cream cheese, she also brought along some smoked salmon with capers. I made a family favorite, my Grammy’s cheeseball.

To go with the main course, I made a salad (nothing fancy, just some mixed greens with tomatoes, carrots, and scallions, with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette, but some mandoline-sliced carrots and tomatoes upped the aesthetics of it, which made it seem fancier than it was). My mom made some delicious green beans and my Sis and BIL brought the mashed potatoes (made with sour cream, butter, etc., as Christmas potatoes should be!). The main attractions—standing rib roast and a unusual and fabulous porcini-mushroom, spinach, and sausage stuffing—were provided by Bro and SIL. They also made an incredible from-scratch pumpkin pie using Maxine’s pie dough and filling not out of a can, but out of a pumpkin! Great! In addition we had for dessert some of mt Granny’s famous cookies. And, no I do not many one type of cookie, pluralized because of the dozens she makes. She is famous family-wide for many types of cookies, which she makes every Christmas (chocolate-mint-walnut, icebox, chocolate crinkle, and date-swirl cookies among them).

All in all, it was as delicious and satisfying as Christmas dinner should be.