Christmas Eve was the day I got to see my friend (Jen). Too bad I suck at Christmas Eve.
In the morning, Karen and I met up with Jen and my BFF (Kerry) for breakfast at Stars on Hingham Harbor. Christmas Eve breakfast has practically become a tradition now amongst all of us. I think all of us have been doing it since college. Sadly, this year my friend (Joanna) could not make it.
Joanna lives out in Oregon. And this year, she wasn't coming back to Massachusetts for the holiday. Bummer. She cracks me up with some of her stories.
Anyway, breakfast was delicious as usual at Stars. I ordered the low carb breakfast. The low carb dish was chock full of meat... eggs... and cheese. Basically, a protein dish. Normally, I don't care for low carb dishes primarily because I consider the term synonymous with dieting... and I don't diet as obviously from my svelte figure. (That's sarcasm.)
It just so happens that I did not eat much protein at all the day before. So come Christmas Eve morning, I had a craving for protein. And I devoured the low carb plate. Yum! Food aside, it was good to see Kerry and Jen even if most of my time was spent trying to get my two year old (Briana) to sit and stay in her seat during breakfast.
And as luck would have it, I got to see Jen again later that night. For some time now, Karen and I have hosted Christmas Eve for our families. This year, however, we decided to switch things up a little and host Christmas day instead. So doing the hosting duties for Christmas Eve this year were my mother-in-law and my father-in-law.
I have a feeling that my mother-in-law has been wanting to host for some time. So it didn't take much to convince her to host Christmas Eve... not that she needed convincing. Regardless, Jen happens to live near my in-laws. So she and her brother (Bill) came to Christmas Eve dinner too (after they themselves hosted for their family).
Needless to say, Christmas Eve was a good time.
Showing posts with label christmas eve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas eve. Show all posts
Friday, December 28, 2012
Sunday, December 25, 2011
I Suck At Christmas Eve
I suck at Christmas Eve. For a while, Karen and I have been hosting Christmas Eve dinner. Our family is pretty small. So the guests that usually attend are my parents and Karen's parents. My friends (Marc and Kelley) generally stop by later after dinner. And as a running joke, my BFF (Kerry) always says she will try to stop on by but never does. This year, she did not even bother saying she will try to stop on by.
Anyway, this year I had the enviable task of cooking the entire dinner. In addition to being pregnant, Karen has been sick for what seems like forever with this awful sounding cough. I think it has been over two weeks now, and she is still coughing like crazy. So rather than have her stress about Christmas Eve dinner, I decided to have her stress over my cooking of Christmas Eve dinner all by myself.
On the menu for the night was ham, green beans, rice pilaf, and rolls. Karen's parents were bringing meatballs. Truth be told, the menu was nothing fancy. I was particularly excited to cook the ham because I wanted to try a new mustard glaze. (For anyone curious, the glaze was okay. I thought it tasted okay.) That reminds me, I now have to figure out what to do with the glaze packet that actually came with the ham. Can the glaze be used for something else?
In the event anyone is curious as to why I just did not use the glaze packet that came with the ham, I like to experiment with things... and I like to control the ingredients of what I eat when I can. In particular, I like limiting the amount of high fructose corn syrup that I eat (and the glaze had high fructose corn syrup). I'm not totally against high fructose corn syrup. I try to avoid ingredients that I think are synthetic when I can.
After all, I believe that some of our current health issues are a result of what we have done to our own food supply. You read about girls getting their menstrual cycle at very earlier ages now. As well, there seems to be a lot of people that I know who have developed gluten allergies, something that seemed so uncommon in the past. While I can't prove that some of these things are due to the hormones and other synthetic things we have developed to improve food, I like to think that there may at least be some correlation. Hence, I like to limit the amount of things like high fructose corn syrup.
Regardless, I think Christmas Eve dinner went well. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal. My parents, in particular, definitely enjoyed seeing our twenty one month old daughter (Briana). Briana was simply wound up. She ran around the house, laughing of course, like there was no tomorrow.
When she eventually crashed and went to bed, my parents and Karen's parents left... in like a span of minutes. It was funny because it was pretty much like our parents only came to see Briana (and not Karen and I). Once that entertainment was over, it was time to go. I guess that's the life of a parent these days.
But that was okay. It gave Karen and I some time to relax a little. And if anyone is curious, when Marc and Kelley arrived we just hung out and unfortunately ended up watching an episode of "Swamp People" because nothing else was on television. "Swamp People" is one bizarre show. The show aside, it was just good to just hang out with Marc and Kelley.
All in all, it was a good night.
Anyway, this year I had the enviable task of cooking the entire dinner. In addition to being pregnant, Karen has been sick for what seems like forever with this awful sounding cough. I think it has been over two weeks now, and she is still coughing like crazy. So rather than have her stress about Christmas Eve dinner, I decided to have her stress over my cooking of Christmas Eve dinner all by myself.
On the menu for the night was ham, green beans, rice pilaf, and rolls. Karen's parents were bringing meatballs. Truth be told, the menu was nothing fancy. I was particularly excited to cook the ham because I wanted to try a new mustard glaze. (For anyone curious, the glaze was okay. I thought it tasted okay.) That reminds me, I now have to figure out what to do with the glaze packet that actually came with the ham. Can the glaze be used for something else?
In the event anyone is curious as to why I just did not use the glaze packet that came with the ham, I like to experiment with things... and I like to control the ingredients of what I eat when I can. In particular, I like limiting the amount of high fructose corn syrup that I eat (and the glaze had high fructose corn syrup). I'm not totally against high fructose corn syrup. I try to avoid ingredients that I think are synthetic when I can.
After all, I believe that some of our current health issues are a result of what we have done to our own food supply. You read about girls getting their menstrual cycle at very earlier ages now. As well, there seems to be a lot of people that I know who have developed gluten allergies, something that seemed so uncommon in the past. While I can't prove that some of these things are due to the hormones and other synthetic things we have developed to improve food, I like to think that there may at least be some correlation. Hence, I like to limit the amount of things like high fructose corn syrup.
Regardless, I think Christmas Eve dinner went well. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal. My parents, in particular, definitely enjoyed seeing our twenty one month old daughter (Briana). Briana was simply wound up. She ran around the house, laughing of course, like there was no tomorrow.
When she eventually crashed and went to bed, my parents and Karen's parents left... in like a span of minutes. It was funny because it was pretty much like our parents only came to see Briana (and not Karen and I). Once that entertainment was over, it was time to go. I guess that's the life of a parent these days.
But that was okay. It gave Karen and I some time to relax a little. And if anyone is curious, when Marc and Kelley arrived we just hung out and unfortunately ended up watching an episode of "Swamp People" because nothing else was on television. "Swamp People" is one bizarre show. The show aside, it was just good to just hang out with Marc and Kelley.
All in all, it was a good night.
I Suck At Stars (Again)
On Christmas Eve, Karen, my twenty one month old daughter (Briana) and I continued an annual tradition and went out for breakfast. The location of that breakfast: Stars, located in Hingham. Now, I suck at Stars (again). After all, I had just eaten at Stars the night before because my friends (Marc and Kelley) organized a little outing. And it was not just any meal. It was dinner. So now I could return for breakfast!
Luckily for me, I was not the only one who had just been at Stars the night before. My BFF (Kerry) was also in attendance. The two of us just couldn't get enough of Stars. Also joining in on the annual tradition was my friend (Jen).
I'm not sure how the tradition started. I think the tradition began with just Karen, Kerry, Jen and my friend (Joanna) a long way back. I was fortunate to be invited the next year, and the rest is history. Sadly, Joanna could not come this year as airline tickets from Oregon, where she currently resides, to Boston are at an astronomical price right now. It's too bad because I definitely enjoy seeing Joanna. She just cracks me up with her stories. Perhaps that is also why I get a kick out of her brother's stories as well.
Anyway, Stars was delicious as usual. I ordered the chef's special pancakes, which were a surprise unless you really wanted to know what the surprise was before ordering. Needless to say, the pancakes were delicious. The surprise consisted of white and dark chocolate morsels with jimmies. Yum! Briana enjoyed them as well.
Speaking of my little minion, Briana, she got her first taste of video games at Stars. She did not actually play a video game. There is an old arcade game at Stars that has all of the old classics. The arcade game is complete with a joystick and a trackball. Essentially, you cycle through the classic games with the joystick and then play whichever game you choose.
Briana, in her infinitely curious nature, wanted to see what the arcade game was all about. So, I sat her on the chair in front of the game and let her cycle through the classic games using the joystick. I'll admit, there were some that I never even heard of. Needless to say, she enjoyed it. Daddy's girl!
Video game aside, that was the only thing I gave into with Briana much to the surprise of both Kerry and Jen. I get the feeling that everyone expects me to be wrapped around my little darling's finger. But nope.
Regardless, I had a fun time at Stars (again). Some of the topics of discussion included smokers and the propensity for the smell of smoke to get into clothes. Kerry, in particular, leaves her clothes outside when visiting her mother to avoid getting the smell of smoke in her clothes. Naturally, that got me thinking that I should play a practical joke on Kerry by asking my friend (Gretchen) to steal her clothes the next time she visits her mother. For anyone curious, Gretchen lives near Kerry's mother.
Anyway, Stars was a great time. The food was delicious and it was good to hang out with just Jen and Kerry.
Luckily for me, I was not the only one who had just been at Stars the night before. My BFF (Kerry) was also in attendance. The two of us just couldn't get enough of Stars. Also joining in on the annual tradition was my friend (Jen).
I'm not sure how the tradition started. I think the tradition began with just Karen, Kerry, Jen and my friend (Joanna) a long way back. I was fortunate to be invited the next year, and the rest is history. Sadly, Joanna could not come this year as airline tickets from Oregon, where she currently resides, to Boston are at an astronomical price right now. It's too bad because I definitely enjoy seeing Joanna. She just cracks me up with her stories. Perhaps that is also why I get a kick out of her brother's stories as well.
Anyway, Stars was delicious as usual. I ordered the chef's special pancakes, which were a surprise unless you really wanted to know what the surprise was before ordering. Needless to say, the pancakes were delicious. The surprise consisted of white and dark chocolate morsels with jimmies. Yum! Briana enjoyed them as well.
Speaking of my little minion, Briana, she got her first taste of video games at Stars. She did not actually play a video game. There is an old arcade game at Stars that has all of the old classics. The arcade game is complete with a joystick and a trackball. Essentially, you cycle through the classic games with the joystick and then play whichever game you choose.
Briana, in her infinitely curious nature, wanted to see what the arcade game was all about. So, I sat her on the chair in front of the game and let her cycle through the classic games using the joystick. I'll admit, there were some that I never even heard of. Needless to say, she enjoyed it. Daddy's girl!
Video game aside, that was the only thing I gave into with Briana much to the surprise of both Kerry and Jen. I get the feeling that everyone expects me to be wrapped around my little darling's finger. But nope.
Regardless, I had a fun time at Stars (again). Some of the topics of discussion included smokers and the propensity for the smell of smoke to get into clothes. Kerry, in particular, leaves her clothes outside when visiting her mother to avoid getting the smell of smoke in her clothes. Naturally, that got me thinking that I should play a practical joke on Kerry by asking my friend (Gretchen) to steal her clothes the next time she visits her mother. For anyone curious, Gretchen lives near Kerry's mother.
Anyway, Stars was a great time. The food was delicious and it was good to hang out with just Jen and Kerry.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
I Suck At Christmas Eve
last night, karen and i celebrated christmas eve with our family. for some time now, we have hosted a christmas eve dinner for my parents, karen's parents, and karen's grandparents. in addition to our family, our house has always been open to any friends who wanted to stop by as well. usually, the only friends who consistently take us up on the offer are our friends (jen and bill).
needless to say, last night was no different. karen made a delicious pork roast for everyone, complete with sweet potatoes, rice pilaf, green beans, peas, and gravy. it was very good. (cue rachael ray's "yum-o" sound.) sadly, i could not have helped in preparing the food because at the time... i was working on moving our shed.
for anyone curious, i actually like to cook... granted, i don't know how to cook, but i like trying. karen ends up doing the majority of the cooking because... well... her food usually turns out better than mine. i think that could be one reason why i like to challenge my friend (hot amy)... because the the loser of the challenge sometimes has to cook something. i am hoping that some day, i can actually cook something. it's too bad hot amy is genetically predisposed to losing.
anyway, i think our family enjoyed the christmas eve dinner. i think karen's mom almost started to cry when karen asked her to knit a stocking for our son (braden) who passed away three months ago. it was a touching moment for me.
(pictured below are my dad, karen's grandfather, and karen's dad.)
anyway, jen and bill also stopped by. it was good to see them. in the past, we usually get a group picture taken on christmas eve of the four of us together. unfortunately, this year we seemed to have forgotten about that tradition. that's too bad. perhaps next year we can resume that.
in addition, my friends (marc and kelley) stopped by. i believe christmas eve is marc's favorite holiday. unfortunately, this year i don't think marc enjoyed his day too much because he spent most of the day at a hotel (the marriott) in quincy. his brother was up from florida and wanted to spend christmas eve at the marriott. that's a bummer. i hope marc had a better time at our place. needless to say, it was very nice to see both of them. i'm glad they made it. kelley and i still have to make plans to watch "resident evil: degeneration". i'll have to remember to plan that some day.
my bff (kerry) was supposed to show up later too for our christmas eve open house. unfortunately, she could not make it. this may sound a little odd, but i'm actually happy for her for not showing up. this christmas eve was the first time in a long while that her father got to spend the holiday with kerry. in fact, i hear her father is actually spending christmas day with her as well. so, it was very nice to know that things went well with kerry and her family. i'm happy that she got to spend it with her father.
anyway, i hope everyone enjoyed their christmas eve yesterday. 'tis the season, right?
needless to say, last night was no different. karen made a delicious pork roast for everyone, complete with sweet potatoes, rice pilaf, green beans, peas, and gravy. it was very good. (cue rachael ray's "yum-o" sound.) sadly, i could not have helped in preparing the food because at the time... i was working on moving our shed.
for anyone curious, i actually like to cook... granted, i don't know how to cook, but i like trying. karen ends up doing the majority of the cooking because... well... her food usually turns out better than mine. i think that could be one reason why i like to challenge my friend (hot amy)... because the the loser of the challenge sometimes has to cook something. i am hoping that some day, i can actually cook something. it's too bad hot amy is genetically predisposed to losing.
anyway, i think our family enjoyed the christmas eve dinner. i think karen's mom almost started to cry when karen asked her to knit a stocking for our son (braden) who passed away three months ago. it was a touching moment for me.
(pictured below are my dad, karen's grandfather, and karen's dad.)
anyway, jen and bill also stopped by. it was good to see them. in the past, we usually get a group picture taken on christmas eve of the four of us together. unfortunately, this year we seemed to have forgotten about that tradition. that's too bad. perhaps next year we can resume that.
in addition, my friends (marc and kelley) stopped by. i believe christmas eve is marc's favorite holiday. unfortunately, this year i don't think marc enjoyed his day too much because he spent most of the day at a hotel (the marriott) in quincy. his brother was up from florida and wanted to spend christmas eve at the marriott. that's a bummer. i hope marc had a better time at our place. needless to say, it was very nice to see both of them. i'm glad they made it. kelley and i still have to make plans to watch "resident evil: degeneration". i'll have to remember to plan that some day.
my bff (kerry) was supposed to show up later too for our christmas eve open house. unfortunately, she could not make it. this may sound a little odd, but i'm actually happy for her for not showing up. this christmas eve was the first time in a long while that her father got to spend the holiday with kerry. in fact, i hear her father is actually spending christmas day with her as well. so, it was very nice to know that things went well with kerry and her family. i'm happy that she got to spend it with her father.
anyway, i hope everyone enjoyed their christmas eve yesterday. 'tis the season, right?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)