Holiday Blessings To Everyone!

Merry Christmas, a Blessed Solstice, Happy Chanuka, Peaceful New Year and Joyful Holidays to Everyone!

I was up at 5:30 this morning, not by choice, but because the battery in our smoke alarm decided we had all had sufficient sleep. Why hasn't anyone invented a remote to disable those devices?

Ah, well, since I was up, I finished the last of the holiday cookies by 7 am., and now can think about early prep for Christmas Dinner.

The pork roast is finally defrosted (I hope,) and ready to be rubbed and rolled with herbs, and tied up with string like a present before slow roasting for 6 hours on Christmas morning. Root vegetables - golden and sweet potatoes, onions and carrots - will go in the roasting pan for the last hour.

Fresh green beans arrived at our store as we were shopping yesterday, so those will be cooked with onions today, then reheated with bacon and almonds and more onions tomorrow.

I'll cook up the same Simple Cranberry Sauce that we had at Thanksgiving, with Christmas additions of pineapple, currents and pecans. The second, Mother Stamberg's craberry sauce, is ready and waiting in the fridge.

I think that's all there is to do. Mother-In-Law is bringing bread and rolls, and Sister-In-Law promised a cheese ball and fruit salad. The Applesauce Cake has been mellowing for a week and  we have plenty of ice cream and sorbet to serve with the cookies that are currently stashed in a mountain of tins and Tupperware.

Now tell me all about your holiday feasting! What is the best dish you are serving? And what is the best new recipe you've discovered this year?

Most of all, a Blessed, Loving, Joyful Holiday from Starr's Kitchen to yours!