It's a rare thing, when you move away from home as an adult, to spend the holidays with your family. You're so much more appreciative of the simplicity of spending time with your parents once you don't have the opportunity.
Christmas and Christmas Eve with my family and off of work. What a wonderful dose of domesticity!
Mom and Dad flew in on the 20th, Thursday night, and Jeff picked them up. Call me crazy, but I tracked their plane's arrival and then Jeff delivering them home on "Find my Friends." Even though I was due not to see them for another few hours, being at work. Let's skip ahead to Saturday, when my vacation really began.
Mom and I went to the spa, Dad and Jeff went to see a movie. We rendezvoused at the mall. My parents' Christmas gift to us was a wonderful set of nice Anolon frying pans - 3 skillets of varying sizes, a square skillet for pancakes, and a nice chopping knife. Oh, the things we get excited about when we grow older.
Saturday night, I tried to make a reservation for the Salt Cellar, but it was full until 8 p.m. Old people don't eat that late (sorry Mom and Dad). So I decided to throw something together.
This creation is a mix between Asian and Italian - yes, I know, a curious combo.
I absolutely despise deveining shrimp. It's gross. And my boyfriend was conveniently not home to participate. The marinade for the shrimp was lemon juice, cilantro, ginger-honey balsamic vinegar, onions, garlic, and oil -- emulsified in a blender. No butter or cream here! We marinated the shrimp for about a half hour due to time constraints, then I cooked up some soba noodles. All I had, ok? Well, it turns out Asian and Italian foods make a delicious food baby. Everyone enjoyed.
We went to church Sunday morning and afterwards, I made banana oat and nut pancakes. No pictures of that one, sadly.
Sunday night we went to the Salt Cellar and ordered our delectable fish dinners. Of course, Jeff and Dad fought about who was going to pay. Age trumped, and Jeff drove home in a huff. I thought it was kind of amusing that both my men are so generous.
I got up Monday to make a brunch quiche -- one of my favorites ever -- kale, shallot and Gruyere cheese. It didn't turn out exactly like I remembered. Those of you who know Gruyere knows how bold it tastes. This variety was pretty weak-tasting. That made me sad, because it's my favorite cheese. Still, it turned out pretty good, and everyone raved.
The fam and I took Monday afternoon to drive around the valley. We toured Fountain Hills, and I tried to convince my parents they could rent a little townhouse there for half the year and really enjoy themselves once they retire. Then we drove down to South Mountain and up to Dobbins Point, where a little pueblo sits on top of a large staggering mountain.
Monday night - Christmas Eve - came and gave me yet another chance to feed my parents and let my mom relax from cooking and hosting, something I'm sure she's been exhausted of doing after hundreds of holidays. I don't like seeing her running around and serving and stressing and never getting to sit and enjoy a bite. This time I made meaty meatless chili, with Gardein crumbles, mixed chili beans, peppers, onions, and corn. Topped with shredded cheese and cilantro, with crusty bread on the side. This chili could've fooled any meat-eater. These leftovers were very much enjoyed by Jeff and I.
Then Mom and I started making cookies. Mom is the cookie queen. I guess when you make something every Christmas for 3-4 decades, you get pretty good at it. First it was making the dough, chilling it, then we cut half the dough and left the other half to continue chilling.
Rolled it out to the perfect thickness, and cut. Cut dozens of trees, stars, hearts, candy canes, gingerbread men, and flowers. Thank God for Wal-mart, that's where these little cookie cutters came from, the last in the store on Christmas Eve. We had about 6 baking sheets going into and coming out of the oven like a relay race. We then cut and baked the other half. Next came the decorating.
We made three different kinds of frosting -- 1 vanilla, 1 almond, and 1 chocolate. And we got a little bit creative with the sprinkles, as you can see. Even dug out the shredded coconut.
Christmas is here! We woke up and went to church, then came home and made cinnamon rolls, a Rose family Christmas morning staple. Then we opened presents in the living room. Jeff and I took turns opening up our presents for each other. I think he really liked everything. Best... girlfriend... ever??
Then we went down to the theatre to see Les Miserables. Jeff and I saw this earlier this summer on Broadway, when we were visiting in San Fran. It was his first acquaintance with the show. I had been soooo looking forward to seeing this movie. I teared up every time I saw a preview. Tissues in hand, it definitely met all expectations. Sooooooo good! Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman killed it. And Russell Crowe somehow made Javert just a little likeable. But I digress...
We came home and now it was time for the Christmas finale, the meal. We had bought lobster from Brazil, which may be a little off-the-beaten-path for lobster, but it was crazy good. As you will soon find out. Jeff did the dethawing and butterflying of the lobster tails. But he got off easy because there were no veins to devein. Pssssthhht.
We threw on a butter, lemon juice, and paprika marinade, pepper, and baked the lobsters up, while I worked on the mash potatoes. I roasted garlic and shallots in a dish in the oven, and was very impressed to see shallots roasted much like garlic, if not in a little more time. Throw it in the potatoes with butter and cream, and viola! Creamy garlickly shallotly mashed potatoes. The rest was greens tossed with raspberry orange balsamic vinegar, oil, tomatoes and cucumbers. Magnifico!!! My crowning victorious moment. Most delicious lobster ever. Good thing we made 6 tails, because I was definitely having half of another one.
And so, a superb and spectacular Christmas visit. The only thing to worry about is, how am I gonna top this next year.
Christmas and Christmas Eve with my family and off of work. What a wonderful dose of domesticity!
Mom and Dad flew in on the 20th, Thursday night, and Jeff picked them up. Call me crazy, but I tracked their plane's arrival and then Jeff delivering them home on "Find my Friends." Even though I was due not to see them for another few hours, being at work. Let's skip ahead to Saturday, when my vacation really began.
Mom and I went to the spa, Dad and Jeff went to see a movie. We rendezvoused at the mall. My parents' Christmas gift to us was a wonderful set of nice Anolon frying pans - 3 skillets of varying sizes, a square skillet for pancakes, and a nice chopping knife. Oh, the things we get excited about when we grow older.
Saturday night, I tried to make a reservation for the Salt Cellar, but it was full until 8 p.m. Old people don't eat that late (sorry Mom and Dad). So I decided to throw something together.
This creation is a mix between Asian and Italian - yes, I know, a curious combo.
I absolutely despise deveining shrimp. It's gross. And my boyfriend was conveniently not home to participate. The marinade for the shrimp was lemon juice, cilantro, ginger-honey balsamic vinegar, onions, garlic, and oil -- emulsified in a blender. No butter or cream here! We marinated the shrimp for about a half hour due to time constraints, then I cooked up some soba noodles. All I had, ok? Well, it turns out Asian and Italian foods make a delicious food baby. Everyone enjoyed.
We went to church Sunday morning and afterwards, I made banana oat and nut pancakes. No pictures of that one, sadly.
Sunday night we went to the Salt Cellar and ordered our delectable fish dinners. Of course, Jeff and Dad fought about who was going to pay. Age trumped, and Jeff drove home in a huff. I thought it was kind of amusing that both my men are so generous.
I got up Monday to make a brunch quiche -- one of my favorites ever -- kale, shallot and Gruyere cheese. It didn't turn out exactly like I remembered. Those of you who know Gruyere knows how bold it tastes. This variety was pretty weak-tasting. That made me sad, because it's my favorite cheese. Still, it turned out pretty good, and everyone raved.
The fam and I took Monday afternoon to drive around the valley. We toured Fountain Hills, and I tried to convince my parents they could rent a little townhouse there for half the year and really enjoy themselves once they retire. Then we drove down to South Mountain and up to Dobbins Point, where a little pueblo sits on top of a large staggering mountain.
Monday night - Christmas Eve - came and gave me yet another chance to feed my parents and let my mom relax from cooking and hosting, something I'm sure she's been exhausted of doing after hundreds of holidays. I don't like seeing her running around and serving and stressing and never getting to sit and enjoy a bite. This time I made meaty meatless chili, with Gardein crumbles, mixed chili beans, peppers, onions, and corn. Topped with shredded cheese and cilantro, with crusty bread on the side. This chili could've fooled any meat-eater. These leftovers were very much enjoyed by Jeff and I.
Rolled it out to the perfect thickness, and cut. Cut dozens of trees, stars, hearts, candy canes, gingerbread men, and flowers. Thank God for Wal-mart, that's where these little cookie cutters came from, the last in the store on Christmas Eve. We had about 6 baking sheets going into and coming out of the oven like a relay race. We then cut and baked the other half. Next came the decorating.
We made three different kinds of frosting -- 1 vanilla, 1 almond, and 1 chocolate. And we got a little bit creative with the sprinkles, as you can see. Even dug out the shredded coconut.
Christmas is here! We woke up and went to church, then came home and made cinnamon rolls, a Rose family Christmas morning staple. Then we opened presents in the living room. Jeff and I took turns opening up our presents for each other. I think he really liked everything. Best... girlfriend... ever??
Then we went down to the theatre to see Les Miserables. Jeff and I saw this earlier this summer on Broadway, when we were visiting in San Fran. It was his first acquaintance with the show. I had been soooo looking forward to seeing this movie. I teared up every time I saw a preview. Tissues in hand, it definitely met all expectations. Sooooooo good! Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman killed it. And Russell Crowe somehow made Javert just a little likeable. But I digress...
We came home and now it was time for the Christmas finale, the meal. We had bought lobster from Brazil, which may be a little off-the-beaten-path for lobster, but it was crazy good. As you will soon find out. Jeff did the dethawing and butterflying of the lobster tails. But he got off easy because there were no veins to devein. Pssssthhht.
We threw on a butter, lemon juice, and paprika marinade, pepper, and baked the lobsters up, while I worked on the mash potatoes. I roasted garlic and shallots in a dish in the oven, and was very impressed to see shallots roasted much like garlic, if not in a little more time. Throw it in the potatoes with butter and cream, and viola! Creamy garlickly shallotly mashed potatoes. The rest was greens tossed with raspberry orange balsamic vinegar, oil, tomatoes and cucumbers. Magnifico!!! My crowning victorious moment. Most delicious lobster ever. Good thing we made 6 tails, because I was definitely having half of another one.
And so, a superb and spectacular Christmas visit. The only thing to worry about is, how am I gonna top this next year.
