Thanks Jessy!

I am sipping a Manhattan and smelliing wonderful kitchen smells and completely relaxed at this point..... Hope everyone is having a great time with family and friends!
Merry Christmas everyone

Alexa

Merry Christmas to all! Heading out to spend the evening with friends, but I still haven't wrapped any gifts!

Sue

Thank you Jessica!

I'm thinking about all our forum friends right now and how competent they are in the kitchen as they prepare Christmas meals to wow their families and guests.

Be safe!

MERRY color>CHRISTMAScolor=RED>

Merry Christmas to all!

Like Alex , I'm mellow, more mellow that usual actually! Although not sipping a Manhattan but rather a rum and eggnog. Food is all ready for tonight's celebration and most of tomorrow is ready too.

Gifts are all wrapped and tucked under the tree, family is all well, kitchen smells wonderful, life is good.

Best wishes of the Season !

Sharon

{{!gwi}}

I have a few things to finish and some wrapping to do but am as ready as I'll ever be!

Stay safe and have a wonderful day.

Nancy

Thanks, Jessy. I'm having just a small family dinner tonight. The bigger celebration will happen over the next three days as the rest of the family comes and goes.

I have wrapped nothing! Thank heavens for gift bags, but I do have an extra day to wrap. I'll probably still be wrapping on Sunday morning.

Waiting for Santa to come around on our street on the fire engine. It's an annual tradition and he hands out apples, oranges and candy canes. Since we don't have any little kids here, we'll just wave from the window.

May your days be merry and bright, everyone!

Pam

Merry Christmas everyone! Thanks for all the wonderful sharing and help that is offered from the members of this forum.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I just got back from food shopping and I survived. Put some laundry in and now I am relaxing with my ipad in front of my beautiful Christmas tree. I got a big tree this year since I have room now, and did it up in silver, white and turquoise ornaments - except for the real candy canes! I would like to keep it up all year, it's so pretty and festive.

I got a bottle of Kahlua Especial and another of chocolate vodka for my birthday, so I think I'll make some spiked coffees. Oh yeah!

Clink to y'all and I hope everyone has a happy eve!

Looking alot like Christmas here in Iowa we have about 8 inches and its still snowing!

We are staying home this year since I am still in my boot and am able to just put pressure on the ball of my foot. Yesterday Bruce had to find a ride to ER. As soon as the ER nurse saw him she said...."Oh the kidney stone dance." It is his 14th stone. He has pain meds and is comfy now.
We are so glad we had not planned to travel to kids this year!

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas!! I am just up the road from Trudy....and we also have a picture postcard snow...lots of is...light fluffy and no wine and the temperatures are about 28.
Gifts wrapped, 7 pans of rolls on the counter....and I am wiped and sitting in my computer chair watching my son cook a standing rib, roast potatoes and a salad....
Drinking a scotch...and giving directions...
all good! LOL!
Linda c

Oh forgot to say clinking with a .....Sidecar Martini!

Linda...I am watching Bruce cook a standing rib roast, roast potatoes and salad! To funny!

Thanks, Jessy and Merry Christmas everyone! We're having a warm spell, but there's still a little snow in the trees, so it's pretty. I'm also sipping a rum and eggnog, trying to decide whether to roast a chicken or make Country Captain for dinner.

The kid and her BF will be up tomorrow. Not sure what we'll cook. A ham is thawing, but that's as far as I've gotten.

Have a safe and happy holiday, all!

Merry Christmas to you Jessy and everyone else as well!

I hope everyone comes back to the forum safe. This week has been the worst one I've ever seen in my life for triple crowded roadways and grocery stores. Wrecks everywhere too.

Beverly

Merry Christmas to all of my CF friends! I'm just returning home after a last ditch attempt to get food, gifts and holiday treats distributed. Today's traffic was a breeze and I'm looking forward to a wonderful party at our neighbor's tonight and dinner at DD's tomorrow! A turkey and a beef tenderloin roast are both on the menu!

Be safe and and have a wonderful holiday!

Happy Holidays right back atcha, Jessica, to you and your family.

We had the office potluck Tuesday, prime rib, roasted potatoes and homemade ravioli for Elery's family on Wednesday and my family party today with cookies and fudge, stromboli and ham sandwiches, venison sausage and boiled shrimp. Yeah, weird combo but that's what happens when everyone brings something to "snack on". (grin) Santa came and went with gifts and ho-ho-hos for everyone, the kids got their gifts and when I was leaving to come home, Makayla and Bud were already in the pajamas, pouring milk for Santa's midnight arrival.

Now Elery and the dogs are sleeping on the couch, Martha Stewart is baking cookies on TV, the lights on my $10 "pitiful" tree are twinkling and like Chase, my life is good indeed, even though we missed the Christmas Eve candlelight service at church because were were helping clean the party garage!

Tomorrow I hope to do nothing except eat leftover cuccidati and coffee for breakfast and not cook one darned thing, we have leftover prime rib for sandwiches!

With a nod to Tiny Tim, God bless us, every one.

Annie

Thank you Jessica!

We just got home from a lovely dinner with friends at a neighborhood restaurant. We had huge cold prawns with aioli and a tomato bruschetta topped with shaved tuna as an apetizer, then a salad with baby greens and spinach, white asparagus, marcona almonds, brie and goat cheese, roasted peppers and a lemon vinaigrette. That, along with freshly baked bread would have been enough but we also had cabrito with a mildly spicy sauce, roasted potatoes and asparagus, and rockfish in a saffron sauce. We couldn't pass up a lightly spiced chestnut puree torte and coffee. The menu was traditional holiday dishes from Spain and everything was delicious.

I have just a few things to wrap and then can look forward to a breakfast of latte and panettone and a few gifts with Max. In the early afternoon we'll go to Michael and Amy's home to celebrate with our family with gifts and eat way too much again. But I'm looking forward to all the Italian dishes and all the yummy baked things - all the work of two days cooking will be well worth it.

Clinking with my glass of club soda and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, and seconding Annie's blessing to everyone.

Lee

We are awaiting the snow that is moving in from the west... it will be the first white Christmas for us since we moved here in 1986, so we are excited about it.. and I definitely will be out there walking in it in the morning.. That will be my Christmas treat... and I can hardly wait.

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas as well.. adn thank you all for your tips, trick, t & t recipes, and all your advice.. Y'all are a blessing to me.. and I am so happy to have dropped in here..

Joy to the world.. peace on earth...

Carolyn

Thanks Jessy and all. We had a quite night with the girls, finished wrapping gifts when I got back home from work. Today is travel day to my mom's and then to sister Shar's house for dinner and more family. It's always lots of fun. Won't get that white Christmas we had been hoping for it seems. But it makes the traveling more safe. Take care everyone, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too! NancyLouise

Thanks Jessy and everyone!

It's now Christmas morning here. We had a lovely evening watching Christmas music on German TV.
Here's our tree and the turkey I'll be cooking today.
Minnie sits in this morning's sunshine.

(Click to enlarge)

Merry Christmas everyone!

SharonCb

Thanks, Jessy.
I, too, am wishing my friends here at the CF a wonderful and happy Christmas season.
May your turkey be moist and your stuffing free of E-Coli! :)
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Lisa

Season's Greetings to you Jesse and everyone else.

Our big celebration is always on Christmas Eve. Today will be more low key for those of us who aren't going on to the homes of in-laws.

I am up early preparing a last minute dish for our afternoon meal. My niece is here from Australia and her husband cannot have gluten or dairy.

Steamed wild rice tossed with veggies sauteed in olive oil
leeks
garlic
shallots
celery
shredded carrots
Perhaps a splash of white wine and some tangerine or lemon zest

Norm, my long time friend who is Jewish posted this on his FB page. "Had a Christmas dinner with two rabbis. Top that."

I don't think I can!

Best to everyone,
Teresa

Merry Christmas everyone!!! Hope you and yours have had a wonderful morning!

Yesterday was a cooking binge. Cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, marinated veggies, and cranberry sauce. The cranberries should be delicious--hand squeezed a big tangerine and too much juice. Just dumped it into the sauce.

At this moment, making chocolate mousse. Didn't think to get more frangelico (just had a bit), but don't think it will matter. Have some wonderful FL strawberries that I will layer in the mousse. Later will grill 1/2 of a turkey breast. Beautiful, warm day down here! I can't stay inside too much longer!

Have a beautiful day, everyone! Thanks for all the recipes and goodwill.

Merry Christmas, Jessy, and everyone else on the CF! We had to postpone our Christmas day get-together with the few family members we have left due to road conditions to our house so we will be having our big dinner and gift giving on the first Sunday in January. Since we're saving the ham until then, DH informed me he wanted a big pot of chili today. Sounds good to me. Hope everyone has wonderful safe holidays. Toasting all with my cup of coffee.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I had the joy of watching my grandson see what Santa brought him - a bright shiny red wagon, and lots of other toys, too! It's been a long time since I've had children around for Christmas.

I miss my other two grown kids, but know that they are close to each other and can share the holiday together.

I'll clink everyone with my cuppa coffee and send warm thoughts and greetings to all!

Sally

Merry Christmas everyone! Chance woke up with the flu and my MIL just called to say her oven broke!! Who knows when we will be eating. Just laying around reading and watching TV.

Oh, and one of Chance's gifts was a PUPPY!! So that is taking up alot more time than I remembered! But Fiona is very cute.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Janet

Wishing all of you a wonderful, warm holiday season!

Sue

Thanks Jessy! Merry Christmas to Everyone! Sharon, I love your pictures as always. Your tree is beautiful, the turkey looks great and nice to see Minnie. Hope you and Wolf enjoy your day.

Last night we had our traditional Lasagna for Christmas Eve dinner. I froze most of it afterward but it's nice to have a bit of something besides turkey in the fridge after Christmas.

Heard from New Orleans last night and this morning. The kids loved the cookies and Jaymee really loves the Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pudding cookies. Lizzy is the fudge hog and Christy's sister Patty is hiding the big tin of it already.

Well Janet, it must be the Christmas for kitchen breakdowns. Our sink in the kitchen is clogged. It's hooked to the washer line in the laundry room. I've been working on it since last night and went through a big bottle of drano so far and it's sure being stubborn. Glad it's just us.

Enjoy your day everyone and enjoy your families and friends!

Merry Christmas!

Thank-you Jessy!

A most wonderful Christmas going here. I have in my lap "lee-lee" a fat tabby that loves to snuggle. Her owner is moving and can't take her much loved kitty so Lee-lee moved in with me this week. Lee-lee is a snuggle kitty that loves to crawl right up in my arms and lay her head on my chest.

Horrible money problems most of the week. Bank threw me a curve by taking several weeks to approve a line of credit. I'm investing in a local business and we had to have our cash this week. We just made it saving four jobs and at least one home from the jaws of the recession. A group of us in on it so we are having a party next week to celebrate... beer and doughballs!

Sis fed me spagetti for breakfast... finest chrismas dining a person could want. Topped it off with some merlot that tasted like cheap brandy and jalapeno chedder cheese from the local Amish farm. If I could do it over I wouldn't change a thing... it added up to perfection.

Just me and the animals tonight. I got the kerosene lamps lit so the house has that soft gentle glow. A big chunk of strip steak that is going in the oven with some garlic for a slow roast... done about midnight.

A run to Grandma's house tomorrow.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

: )
lyra