Christmas Table

This Christmas, we will be in our own home and without visitors.  I have mixed feelings about this – the lack of travel absolutely thrills me, and I love the idea of traditions made in our own new house.  But I’m used to family-filled holidays . . . and I enjoy the traditions at each of our folks’ houses . . . and cooking is much more fun when other adults enjoy what you’re making.  My husband is good company, of course, but we’re both going to have to bust out the pants with expandable elastic belly panels in order to singlehandedly (doublehandedly?) tackle the 2.5 pound roast I plan on making.

Nevertheless, I enjoy cooking, and holidays are for cooking, so I’m cooking a feast fit for ten.  We’ll have lots of leftovers.

Here is our holiday menu, for those still seeking inspiration:

Christmas Eve Dinner:

• Pioneer Woman’s rigatoni and meatballs
• Salad with cranberries and gorgonzola
• Garlic bread
• Mint brownies

Christmas Day:

• Cream cheese sweet rolls, oven omelettes, and banana orange smoothies for breakfast, and for dinner –
• Herb crusted chuck roast
• mashed butternut squash
• Brussels sprouts with bacon
• Spoon bread
• Yeast rolls
• Apple cranberry galette