Merry Christmas to my friends who celebrate. Happy Vacation Time and Chinese Food Day to my friend who don’t.
We’ve been cooking and shopping since 8am. It’s a small gathering of 14 this year, but we’re still having a dozen different dishes. I’ll share pictures later. 
After Christmas, we’re going to one of these ski/water park places in Pennsylvania for three days. I might work when I’m there, because I have a deadline and don’t really enjoy skiing. I like the idea of skiing, but I didn’t learn until I was in my twenties, so I have “the fear.” This place is great, because they offer adaptive ski lessons, so even Ian can ski better than I can.
I think I’ll be back and forth here during the next week, but there’s no guarantee.
Thanks, all, for visiting this little blog over the years. You’re the only reason I keep it going. Hugs to all! Laura
Apt. 11d 
Very pretty!
It looks like Mrs. Maisel could drop in any minute.
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So what are you serving? We only have 8 people. We will be having cookies and coffee from ten to noon, then oysters and champagne at noon, and finally beef tenderloin, baked potatoes, and roast vegetables at 3pm, followed by pecan pie. Someone gave me a magnum of champagne for my 60th birthday in April, which is actually not that useful for an empty nester couple, but it will finally come in handy.
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We’re having the Feast of Fishes at 7 tonight at my house. Apps include Mussels cooked in white wine and garlic, Scallops wrapped in bacon, various dips, Shrimp scampi w/risotto. Main includes pasta with tuna and olives, Brussel sprouts and bacon, salad, an Italian fish stew. Dessert includes various cookies and pies. I’m not doing everything though. Everyone chips in.
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Happy Holidays! We leave for NY on Xmas day and will spend a few days there.
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We had our variant on the Polish Wigilia (another meatless Christmas Eve dinner):
–mushroom soup (canned soup plus reconstituted dried mushrooms from World Market)
–home-baked French bread with the soup
–salmon in a sauce made with lemon-flavored honey, soy sauce and ground ginger (adapted from the ginger package)–really good
–brussels sprouts (warning–can interact with anticoagulants)
–Lima beans (symbolizing prosperity)
–sweet potatoes (not traditional at all–they crept in from American holiday customs)
My 13-year-old boy and 6-year-old youngest have been building a marble run (one of the 6-year-old’s gifts). The marble run is taller than T…
The kids are starting to make noises about dessert.
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Well, I admire those who are maintaining ethnic traditions. We used to have Danish Christmas, but:
–my sister doesn’t like pork
–my wife (even though she’s the Danish one) doesn’t like candied potatoes
–no one (except my wife) likes pickled cabbage
–ditto for herring
The only thing left is brunekager. I fear that the dinner (summarized in a previous comment) represents, nay epitomizes, rootless NYC UMC eating habits. But probably my daughter will think of it as traditional.
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We’re having chocolate cinnamon bread pudding with vanilla sauce tonight–everybody is excited!
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“Well, I admire those who are maintaining ethnic traditions. We used to have Danish Christmas, but:
–my sister doesn’t like pork
–my wife (even though she’s the Danish one) doesn’t like candied potatoes
–no one (except my wife) likes pickled cabbage
–ditto for herring
The only thing left is brunekager. I fear that the dinner (summarized in a previous comment) represents, nay epitomizes, rootless NYC UMC eating habits.
Our Wigilia is definitely modified for US conditions. In the old country, you’re supposed to get a live carp:
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/polish-chrismas-dinner-carp-wigilia-borscht-barszcz-kompot-pierogi-ruskie-eastern-europe-a8118281.html
I’m really happy my in-laws substituted salmon post-emigration!
We do oplatek, though, and only decorate our tree on Christmas Eve:
http://www.pwaa.org/polish_christmas_traditions.htm
I got my husband some smoked herring for his personal use.
“But probably my daughter will think of it as traditional.”
Of course! See also the xkcd cartoon about “traditional” Christmas songs on the radio.
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Happy Isaac Newton Day, everybody!
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We are off in HI, our 13th winter break in a row. It’s a balmy 80 degrees. We are not eating Chinese food today (the plan is halibut and rice). Happy holidays to everyone. Love hearing about the traditions, and, I expect soon to hear a description of Polish Wigilia on NPR (to match the stories of Chinese food on Christmas days for Jews and the Feast of the 7 Fishes).
Our kids have never believed in Santa Claus, but I loved the NORAD reindeer tracking story in the Wa Post yesterday.
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bj said,
“We are off in HI, our 13th winter break in a row. It’s a balmy 80 degrees.”
That sounds FANTASTIC as a family tradition.
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You all are so fancy with your fish and Wigilia and tenderloins etc. At my family’s it was egg casserole (same recipe for decades) and coffeecake and bacon in the late morning, turkey and dressing left over from the Christmas Eve meal at 6. Sister’s family and in-laws had Xmas afternoon elsewhere so it was more casual. Played Dog Bingo and watched It Happened on Fifth Avenue and a couple of bad Hallmark movies. I also made a batch of turkey soup, which was excellent if I do say so myself.
Happy holidays everyone!
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The kids are in charge of our tree. On Christmas Eve, I pointed out to the big kids a handful of ornaments that had not been put up, and it was communicated to me that the tree is full now!
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Prime rib, with mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, and salad. Pies for dessert. Our new meat thermometer worked wonderfully: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07477NMF4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
We have a family tradition of following Santa on NORAD.
We streamed a Hallmark movie, and had fun critiquing the production values (plot, character development, scenery.) We agreed the subplots were more interesting than the romantic plot, which was incomprehensible.
Tonight is New Christmas Game night.
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We had some serious meat thermometer conversations during the stressful turkey cooking/reheating process, so I’m glad to see this recommendation. Has anyone used the Thermopop?
Hoping to play Codenames this evening, a new one (for us) that I’ve heard great things about.
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