A Bittersweet Christmas Eve...The 2012 Menu

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This year Christmas will be a low key affair at Lindaraxa's. Madame Mere, the glue that binds this family together, won't be coming up for the holidays as travelling during Christmas has become too much for her. Getting on a plane these days is a major production and older people simply get overwhelmed.  Sh*t, I get overwhelmed and I used to travel quite a lot in my day.

I will be spending Christmas Eve at my son's house and staying overnight so I can share in my grandchildren's joy when they come down in the morning and see all the presents under the tree. I don't want to miss a thing, especially this year.  After all, kids are so precocious these days I wonder how long before they find out who the real Santa is. I will feel extremely lucky if we get a couple of years under our belt.

Yes, I will miss having the big dinner for the family, that I can't deny; but I look forward to the new era when I, as a grandmother, get to go over to my children's home to be entertained. We'll see how long that lasts,...perhaps as long as Santa.  Besides, after the recent events I would travel til the ends of the earth to spend this special evening with them.  It's all about the children this year and that's the way it should be. 

On the other hand, I would not miss a Christmas Eve dinner for the world and I will be having it tomorrow for close friends, my daughter and the dogs.  The invitation has gone out for Christmas Sunday Dinner and it will be very low key, although a little champagne never hurts.

Since it's a small group I am going to indulge in duck, something I usually save for New Year's Eve.  What is non negotiable, ever, is the chestnut soup, a tradition now for many years and a favorite of my brother's.  (If you are reading this, I am saving some chestnuts for when I see you next week!).

Have a Merry Christmas, don't sweat the small stuff, and give the little ones two extra hugs.  My prayers and thoughts are with the families of the children and teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Christmas Eve Dinner 2012

 

Cocktail Cheese Biscuits

Christmas Bar Nuts

 Champagne

 

 Cream of Chestnut Soup

 

 Roast Duck A l'Orange

Wild Rice with Cranberries and Toasted Pecans

Petit Pois and Roasted Small Onions

 

Ginger Cake With Orange Sabayon

 

Spanish Turrones

 

 

 

Photo via Habitually Chic