Spent the day cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and taking it easy. Watched some football (had it on in the background), and basically just talked to friends and family. Hope y’all’s was good, too.
Standing rib came out perfect at rare to medium rare, and the horseradish sauce I made was top tier (sour cream, mayo, fresh horseradish, microplaned garlic cloves, salt, chives, and dijon). Smashed potatoes were top tier, too. The whole dinner was decadent.
Sleep well, people.
War for Ukraine Day 1,036: Putin and the Russians Deliver a Bitter Present to Ukraine on Christmas Day
Chacal Charles Calthrop
Posted this down thread but can’t resist getting it near the top of a thread:
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/ai-meeting-summary-appointing-the-next-ceo-at-united-healthcare?utm_content=buffer88821&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bufferapp.com&utm_campaign=buffer
NotMax
Decadent can be good. Relatively simple dinner planned for later on here — thick cut pan fried pork chops in a butter ‘n’ brandy sauce and couscous. Salmon mousse on toast points as an appetizer/side dish.
Judging from what I’m hearing from outside, there were fours kings, bearing frankincense, gold, myrrh and black powder. Xmas boomies… really? Give me a break.
TheronWare
Well I had dinner with friends/family Christmas Eve and the food was superb. I had to rent my favorite Christmas movie on Prime Video this morning, Scrooge starring Alastair Sim – Oh what a classic!
Kelly
A-frame home with Dark Side of the Moon Christmas lights
https://bsky.app/profile/numb.comfortab.ly/post/3le5bc7g23k2e
Ohio Mom
I love puttering around the house days.
Kayla Rudbek
Fairytale of New York made me cry tonight. I had fun with my brother and his family and in-laws today, I got some great presents, I gave presents that made people happy, and I come home and the house is a cold, cramped, chaotic, crowded mess and I have no children of my own to pass on legacies and stories to, it’s all on my niblings’ shoulders and how long will they and their children remember me for? And I am far too old to have biological children, and Mr. Rudbek and I would not be good adoption prospects either, not with our ages and health issues.
I suppose I shouldn’t cry overly much, I still remember my great-aunt A who never married or had children, and I will tell stories about her to my godson (her great-great nephew). And he will remember his great-aunt B who also never married or had children, but who sent him lots of books. And hopefully I will live long enough to be great-aunt Kayla who gives lots of books to great-niblings.
eclare
@Kelly:
Wow!
eclare
@Kayla Rudbek:
When my parents died, I only took a few photos/mementos because who would I pass them on to? Only child, no kids, no spouse, not close to my cousins. The chore of throwing them out would needlessly pass to someone else.
And yeah, sometimes I wish I had taken more, but looking at old photos by myself would just make me sad.
Raflw
This Christmas sucked. BF went into Covid isolation last Friday. Our trip to see family was cancelled. He’s doing better, and def. didn’t have as bad a course of illness as his one other time. And I’m certainly thankful that I have stayed well.
But it’s been fairly boring, and while I did do some good cooking and okay baking (the pumpkin pecan ‘dump cake’ that I’ve made a couple other times seemed to have less pumpkin custard, I think the cake mix I used this time was more thirsty, but I couldn’t find the cheap Duncan Hines G.F. mix from before), making delicious meals for two, and then sharing them over facetime with the sweetie and being alone in the living room is pretty let-downy compared to whipping up a feast for a whole multi gen family as everyone goofs off and talks a lot. :/
Kayla Rudbek
@eclare: it’s my Barbie dolls that make me sad, as I don’t have a niece or daughter to pass them on to. I debate with myself about passing them on to my cousin’s youngest daughter (there are some doll clothes in the collection that were my mother’s and aunts’, some that were made by my Aunt R who is grandmother to the potential recipient. All the dolls were bought for me though). I did pass on a spare copy of a new Barbie doll sewing book which Aunt R had a good time with and has used already this year. Aunt B’s comment was that she didn’t know that modern Barbies come in different body types now, as the new book accounts for that.
Poe Larity.
Having built a small A-frame, I would never build one again no matter lasers.
A take I missed on the election – It was Biden’s fault for having too good an economy:
https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/the-economy-has-been-great-under-biden-thats-why-trump-won
eclare
@Kayla Rudbek:
That’s tough. I know Christmas is over, but maybe look and see if some little girl wants Barbie stuff on an Angel tree next year? Just a thought.
I loved Barbie growing up. I guess my mom gave all of that stuff away as I got older? I have no idea.
Kayla Rudbek
@eclare: yes, they have so many interesting Barbies now (marine biologist, astronaut, kayaker, wheelchair user, even blind w/white cane). I feel guilty about buying them as it takes away the chance for a little girl to play with them. The idea of donating Barbie dolls to the angel tree/toys for tots is good and I will keep it in mind for next year.
VeniceRiley
Turkey joint and stuffing covered with bacon, jacket potatoes, cauliflower and carrots, and Yorkshires + gravy. Absolutely wonderful.
The TV watch was the new Wallace & Gromit special, which I cannot recommend highly enough. So very English.
frosty
@Chacal Charles Calthrop: That was a fun read: “Whoa! Whoa Whoa Whoa!!
Also: “No! No No No No!”
Gloria DryGarden
Geminid recommended a lovely cat documentary about the thousands of cats roaming Istanbul. I just watched it on my library streaming app, Kanopy.
the movie is called “Kedi”
Adorable cats seen up close, with charming translation of all the cat lovers had to say about their cats. Nailed it, spot on, for those who know and love cats. Will make you fall in love with cats all over again.
Christmas dinner alone as a childless person, was home made “egg rolls” using siete gf tortillas as the wrappers, and chopped Asian salad, slightly cooked as the filling, w canned chicken. I couldn’t open my jar of sushi ginger, so I made do with lovely Asian sesame dressing for sauce. It was delicious!
Ryan
I can see it now.
Food Scenes – Scene 2 – GoodFellas (1990)
eclare
@VeniceRiley:
Oh I love Wallace and Gromit! Looks like their latest is on Netflix, my NYE is set. Thanks!
Greg Ferguson
Good. Similar here.
All speed for Joelle’s mending. Love to all beasts.
NotMax
Wowsesrs. That’s some singing.
VeniceRiley
@eclare: The new one is W&G Vengeance Most Fowl.
It was on BBC here last night, and is on BBC iPlayer here. Comedy gold! Return of the evil penguin from “The Wrong Trousers!”
Is that the one? Netflix in the states then?
Tehanu
Our third Christmas dinner with just the two of us, since the kids only do Solstice dinner and Christmas morning gift exchange now. It’s becoming a little tradition, I guess. My mom’s stuffing and gravy recipes, roasted Rock Cornish game hens, and cranberry sauce — don’t need vegies on the side because the stuffing is celery, carrots, green peppers, onions, and mushrooms, with breadcrumbs of course, salt, powdered garlic, and dashes of ginger, white pepper, and paprika. It took me almost 4 hours and I’m zonked, but it was worth it. I miss my mom and dad and the family dinners we used to have, so this is as close as I get to re-creating them. We were going to watch the Alastair Sim Christmas Carol, but Hail, Caesar was on so we watched that instead — we’ll do the Carol tomorrow. And Vengeance Most Fowl will be on Netflix on Jan. 3 — can’t wait!
eclare
@VeniceRiley:
When I googled where it was available, the website said that Netflix had the international rights, so I assumed that meant US.
Dammit, I just looked at the Netflix website, available Jan 3. Oh well, I’ll find something else. Note> Tehanu got there first.
I don’t think I’ve seen the one you referred to, and it’s not on Netflix.
NotMax
Din-din cooking away. Just starting watching The Man Who Came to Dinner on TCM On Demand
eclare
@NotMax:
Do you have a recipe for the pork chops? Or just add equal amounts of butter and brandy to the pan? I’d like to cook myself something nice for NYE.
VeniceRiley
@eclare: W&G The wrong trousers is on Amazon Prime for cheap, and you can do that new year’s day.
eclare
@VeniceRiley:
I’ll look into that! I saw it came out a while ago, I may have seen it. Need to check.
OK I think I have seen it, but it’s been so long may as well watch again!
NotMax
@eclare
No recipe per se, winging it. Cooking the chops in butter, through on one side and almost until done on the other then a splash or two of brandy (watch out, it may or may not flame), tilt the pan and spoon the liquid over them while they finish cooking.
eclare
@NotMax:
I could do that, thanks!
Ohio Mom
@Kayla Rudbek: Take heart in knowing that the next generation often has different tastes and doesn’t have any interest in inheriting their elders’ treasures.
The decluttering literature is full of advice about guilt-free chucking of mom’s treasures.
But somewhere out there is a Barbie enthusiast who would love your collection. Alas, I have no idea how to find them, other than to start googling things like “ local Barbie collectors.” There is probably several Facebook Barbie groups too.
catclub
Chestnut stuffing made with heavy cream.
BretH
Both kids home for Christmas. Simple Turkey, stuffing, mashed red potatoes , wild rice and crispy chewy balsamic vinegar and maple syrup roasted brussles sprouts. TV on early as we stuck to tradition and watched the Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. Extended versions. We’ll save The Return of the King for New Year’s Day.
TBone
It is impossible to make a feast for two without leftovers at my house, so we’ll be having a Christmas dinner redux tonight. And then I’ll make beef barley soup with the scraps and leftover prime rib but I’m missing those soup bones! It seems sacrilegious to use prime rib meat in soup but at least nothing will go to waste. And that soup is a real good thing to have in the freezer during January and February when you need a hearty pick me up on a lazy, very cold day. Yum.
lowtechcyclist
@Raflw:
I can relate – instead of dinner for eleven of us, it was just me and my wife and son, with my BIL with Covid self-quarantining in his room, my FIL in the hospital with Covid plus the effects of a fall, and everyone else quite sensibly staying the hell away.
The good news is that when we visited FIL in the hospital yesterday evening, he was alert and conversational. He’s getting meds by IV, and they must be doing some good. He’s labeled as a ‘fall risk’ and he joked that if he tried to walk, it would be more of a ‘fall certainty’ right now. It was good to see that his sense of humor was intact.
TBone
@lowtechcyclist: good news
TBone
Yorkshire Pudding is a great breakfast food. Savory, eggy but light, popovers that freeze well and defrost very quickly in a warm oven when you’re groggy and slow in the a.m. Easy peasy!
RaflW
@lowtechcyclist: Oy. It’s not a competition, but you win. Glad your FIL is able to joke and is getting good care.
Glyph2112
We did a rib roast as well. Although our resident retiree set the oven at 500 degrees with the intention of turning it off after 30 minutes and letting the roast stay in the oven for 2 more hours. Unfortunately he turned off the timer but left the oven on. So we had shoe leather in a nice cadaver grey color for dinner.
I wait anxiously for Mr Cole to invite me for leftovers. I am 20 minutes away.