Holiday Eats!

We’re taking a little break this week to celebrate, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy a little R&R, but thought I’d post a few photos starting with my Christmas Eve appetizer spread. With mom out of town, I was on my own – but I’m proud to report that I pulled if off (though not as seamlessly as Mom!) and we had a wonderful evening with our friends. It even started snowing while we were at church!

Here’s the recipe for The Best Crab Cakes and I’ve been using Melissa Clarke’s latke recipe non-stop for the past few weeks!

I also made Roasted Lemon Chicken Wings, a big spiral cut ham (with rolls and mustard) and it wouldn’t be Christmas without Coconut Shrimp!

On Christmas Day night, Mom, Dad, Andy, and I had raclette. We bought the machine a couple years ago for a New Year’s Eve party and have been enjoying it ever since. Mom was exhausted from travel, Dad was spent from Christmas services, and I was all cooked out from making the appetizer spread the night before so this no-cook meal was perfect for us. We plated cornichon, pickled onions, olives, hearts of palm, salami, prosciutto, leftover ham, boiled potatoes, and Sharon’s homemade bread that Mom had brought back from Atlanta with her. Then we opened a couple bottles of red, collapsed into our seats and ate until we could eat no more.

(Andy loves the cheese so much he had two going at one time!)

Boxing Day morning we enjoyed Perfect Lefse thanks to Mom and Dad who had made it earlier in the week. This is a delicious Anderson family Christmas tradition that was started by my grandma. Once cooked (or in our case reheated), we top them with butter, sugar, and bacon.

Boxing Day evening we had family in town from down South – Mom’s aunt and cousins. She made beef tenderloin with a creamy horseradish sauce, vegetables roasted in duck fat, and this creamed spinach that no one can ever get enough of.

We continue to eat, drink, and be merry and hope you’re doing the same! We’ll be back next week with new recipes and posts. Until then, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!