Christmas Feasts

It's Christmas

A Day of Feasting

That "Feasting" begins early

as breakfast is on the sideboard

coffee to the left . . .

Stollen to the right

And ever since Daughter Sarah moved to Minneapolis, there's been a Kringle as well

but she and Andy flew in . . early

So we were back to Stollen only for Christmas breakfast.

Always bought -- never made

(although I have looked at recipes)

On the sideboard

Quick trips to refill coffee cups and snag another piece of stollen slathered in butter

while we open gifts.

Not too much breakfast

For there is Christmas Dinner

But enough -- just enough to stave off the hunger pangs.

After presents, 

After the sack of discarded wrapping paper

(some ribbons are saved for next year)

We get busy in the kitchen

The table was set the day before

With the Christmas china, of course!

A silver bowl full of Christmas greens and red and white flowers

The two glass sleighs full of antique Christmas ornaments

The Christmas china

Royal Doulton's Tartan

(bought actually 20 years ago on a trip to England at the factory -- in the seconds shop -- 8 plates, 8 cups, 8 saucers -- for $12!    Sigh -- why didn't I buy 24?)

The salad plates are Lenox holiday that look well with the Tartan

Jim's grandmother's cutlery

And a damask napkin in a silver ring

The menu?

With the glut of Harry and David pears, the wonderful

roasted pear salad from Ina Garten

It's fantastic!

(And was Daughter Sarah's favorite part of the meal)

A roasted pork loin with a roasted onion and balsamic vinegar sauce

And roasted Brussels sprouts

Emeril's cornbread and andouille sausage dressing

(It's become the traditional Christmas dressing because it goes so well with pork)

And for dessert?

A pear tart awaits on the sideboard.

(That glut of Harry and David pears)

Not a found recipe but one I created.

Both Sarah and Andy thought it fabulous.

Andy so much so that he had a second piece!

Simple -- pear, cream and a bit of sugar in a pastry crust.

Served on Lenox holiday

(We bought double the amount of the Lenox because you can use them for both salad and dessert -- friend Shirley Ann was the wise one who  told me this tip)

And later . . . after dinner . . . and a nap for some . . . and a rousing game of Monopoly for others

And with the living room cleaned up a bit from the

madness that was Christmas present unwrapping

We have a Christmas tea

Lenox holiday tea plates, Royal Doulton Tartan cups and saucers, tea napkins and tea spoons

With not much luck at breakfast or dinner, Dolly sees food at her level and is running to see if she can snag a bite or two!

The silver tea pot and tea kettle

and my newest Christmas creamer and sugar

And on the curate,

Mince pies made just for tea

And slices of fruitcake

We play a lot of carols on Christmas Day

While we open presents

While we eat dinner

While we take tea

I love the carols of Christmas

And especially like the service of Nine Lessons and Carols

from King's College in Cambridge

Heard on Christmas Eve morn on NPR

And then the service of carols and candles that night, Christmas Eve

It's Thursday and I'm sharing my Christmas Feasting with Susan at Between Naps On the Porch, with Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish, and with The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.