angus
Well-known member
OK, the countdown has begun. Dinner party for 10 on Saturday night and of course only got to take yesterday and today off to do all grocery shopping, house prep, etc... Be that as it may, by 2AM this morning, the chicken soup for the first course was made and strained ( for a clear broth) and is chilling so it can be defatted, the Bolognese sauce is made for one lasagne and the "Brooklyn gravy" (red gravy with meatballs and sausage) is made and is simmering waiting to be used for the other lasagne (the one I grew up with). I was at least smart enough to do all the meatballs (even the mini ones for the soup and lasagne) on Sunday night and the sorbets are firming up in the freezer. Today, after I assemble the lasagne, clean the house, set the table, buy the wine, do some last minute grocery shopping, I can make a dessert. I was planning to outsource that, but I have been dying for a blackout cake much like the one that we used to get at Ebinger's bakery. Some years ago, the NY Times published a recipe that closely approximated that cake. It is fussy and difficult, but for anyone who mourned the closing of Ebinger' in the 70's, this is the definitive cake and worth the effort.
Tomorrow, I brine the pork loin, prep the potatoes and broccoli rabe for the second course and set up the appetizers.
Oh, yes, I still have to wrap and pack to go to Boston for Christmas Eve....
Exhausting? Yes, but this is the closest I will come to a traditional Christmas dinner as my mother had prepared. I am still not used to a quiet house at this time of year since these last few days before Christmas were frenetic with activity prepping for the 15-20 people that she would have. Now the extended family is smaller and more into their own thing. You know, "I want my kids to be able to play with their toys in their own house on Christmas". That is a direct quote - of course we all work longer hours than ever, but I was quite surprised to hear that from my cousins. My mother's (and their mothers as well) inviolate rule was that toys were fine, but Christmas was for visiting the family. Of course these are the same children that at 11 or 13 years old can't carry on a social conversation or interact with adults.
ANYWAY.. I figured if I couldn't have the holiday dinner with my family, I would do it with all my friends whose families are gone or so scattered. We are all pretty much from the same backgrounds so it is a great opportunity to gather, give thanks that we all have each other, reminisce on our own traditions and occasionally get a bit choked up.
For me, I still get drippy when I finish setting the table and recall how much life there was in our homes at this time. But the satisfaction is that I am at least keeping tradition somewhat alive....
Tomorrow, I brine the pork loin, prep the potatoes and broccoli rabe for the second course and set up the appetizers.
Oh, yes, I still have to wrap and pack to go to Boston for Christmas Eve....
Exhausting? Yes, but this is the closest I will come to a traditional Christmas dinner as my mother had prepared. I am still not used to a quiet house at this time of year since these last few days before Christmas were frenetic with activity prepping for the 15-20 people that she would have. Now the extended family is smaller and more into their own thing. You know, "I want my kids to be able to play with their toys in their own house on Christmas". That is a direct quote - of course we all work longer hours than ever, but I was quite surprised to hear that from my cousins. My mother's (and their mothers as well) inviolate rule was that toys were fine, but Christmas was for visiting the family. Of course these are the same children that at 11 or 13 years old can't carry on a social conversation or interact with adults.
ANYWAY.. I figured if I couldn't have the holiday dinner with my family, I would do it with all my friends whose families are gone or so scattered. We are all pretty much from the same backgrounds so it is a great opportunity to gather, give thanks that we all have each other, reminisce on our own traditions and occasionally get a bit choked up.
For me, I still get drippy when I finish setting the table and recall how much life there was in our homes at this time. But the satisfaction is that I am at least keeping tradition somewhat alive....
