What's for Dinner #64 - This Year's Almost Over, Thank Goodness! Edition - December 2020

Wow. What an extraordinary collection of Christmas Tree Ornaments.

Hope you are having a lovely holiday season.

All our best wishes to you and Mrs. P.

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Very nice and a change! Yum! Happy holidays!

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Your tree decorations especially the animals are nice, love that! Delicious meal as usual. Great selection of cheeses! Best wishes to you and family!

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Love especially the ham and the ham (cured)! :yum: Was it a Greek theme?
Enjoy your holidays and greetings to you and family.

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We don’t celebrate Christmas either but I decided to do something somewhat special for dinner anyway. Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese. Since we had no where to be I figured I could spend the 5 or so hours it needed (not that I have anywhere special to be most days). I planned on making fettuccini but Mr Bean preferred cavatappi. An easy switch to make him happy.

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The Iberian Air Dried Bellota (acorn fed) Aged Pata Negra (black foot) Ham … The hogs are raised on acorns.

No it was an international lunch of all our votes ! At my apartment we were legally able to have only six. So, my parents, my dear and me, and one set of grandparents.

The goat cheese is a type of Feta, which is prepared here in Empordà.
The Tenderloin roast of pork is Italian …

The rest of the family went to one of my son´s flats for lunch and stayed with their great grandsons.
The other son, went to his in-laws. But the kids wanted to be with their great grandparents.

Sort of a challenging time however, all worked out well.

We were a bit skeptical to have 10 when the law said 6 is legal number in house.

Have a lovely weekend.

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Here too, gathering should be limited to 6 adults, which led to a small scandal of the famous private dinner of Macron of 11 persons and the next day he was tested positive of Covid. Luckily none of his dinner mates got sick.

I will love to cook the Italian ham you’ve made, but will need more people for so much food!!

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We had a cozy Christmas dinner for three—that is, the two humans and one pooch in our household. My husband requested a simple menu to keep the day relaxing.

To start, we shared smoked tuna pate (improvised from pantry ingredients) and buttery Chalkidiki olives with a glass of Alsatian bubbles. (Pictured bottle was just okay.)

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Our main was a pork roast stuffed with Prosciutto and provolone, marinated with herbs and olive oil. Our butcher prepares these roasts for cooking at home. Some call the preparation a “Capone roast” and it is something like porchetta.

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For sides, we made buttery mashed yellow potatoes and a green salad of baby arugula, pomegranate arils, sliced pear, and glazed walnuts in balsamic vinaigrette. We uncorked an agreeable Chateauneuf du Pape to go with.

For dessert we had this picture-perfect cake made by a talented local baker. I admit my favorite part is the layer of mocha buttercream on the sides. I don’t love most frosting but I do love mocha frosting when done well.

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Finally, a gratuitous picture of our pooch. She likes the silly Christmas sweater because she knows extra attention and treats will follow. Have I ever mentioned how much she looooves attention and treats?

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Thank you very much @Barca! You had a pretty sensational spread of food yourself! That porchetta looked outstanding.
I hope you and your family enjoy the holiday season.

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Thank you @naf! I have been salivating over your sensational meals over the past week.
I hope that you and your family enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

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What a feast! And ohhh, my, the jamon and those beautiful figs look amazing!

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What a sweetheart! And your dinner sounds wonderful!

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Your version looks like a celebration of its own, @MsBean. Yum!

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Christmas dinner:
Charcuterie board
Shrimp cocktail
Pigs in a blanket
Tomato bisque w/mini grilled cheese

Prime rib
Linguine & clams (not pictured)
Shrimp scampi & rice (np)
Double stuffed Parmesan truffle potatoes (np)
Broccoli rabe (np)
Italian green beans and sausage (np)

Cocktail of the night: Snowball-tini in a chocolate rimmed with crushed candy cane glass.

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Thank you.

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Christmas Day Dinner was a Classic Beef
Wellington, fresh green beans, and garlic mashed potatoes. A tasty Merlot with dinner. Aside from the Wellington, everything was really easy and relaxing, which was a nice change from the usual. Everyone’s food looks wonderful! :yum:

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Best part of prime rib leftovers…

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Beautiful! I’ve never made beef wellington before but looks like such a great special occasion meal. How long roughly does it take to make?

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I recognize the expression in that photo: “Look At Me. I Am A Good Dog. Cookie Now Please.” :smile:

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Merry Be-lated Christmas for those who celebrate. I’ve been attending my husband’s family’s Christmas Eve Fish dinner for about 10 years. The last few, my mother in law and I have been trying to take it over completely. My husband’s uncle drags his feat preparing the food and last year we left before the last 2 courses were served at 10 PM. We started at noon!!!

Anyway, long story short. Thanks Covid but we had only our immediate clan of 6 + my toddler. And TOOT TOOT my own horn but we had each course on the timeline we planned. Appetizers at 1 and we were home and in jammies by 8:45! Also a huge shout out to Local 130 Seafood. I ordered all the seafood through them. Free delivery the day before. Everything was super fresh and perfect. 1000000% beats the year I stood in line for 2 hours to pick up fish!

This year’s lineup was a little different but generally the same. We omitted the eels, raw clams and smelts. Only a few pics but really the smoothest, most relaxed Christmas Eve I’ve had in years.

Salt Cod Salad with peppers, olives, red onion, a lot of parsley and lemon.
Antipasto platter from Whole Foods

Poached Shrimp
“Fried” Breaded Shrimp (Air Fried)
Raw Oysters
Clams Casino

Pasta with Lobster Sauce
Whole Steamed Lobsters

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