Celebrating Christmas

Despite all the chaos, our Christmas turned out awesome. I wanted to take a quick moment to talk about holiday food, the meals we serve our guests and what service method do you use? Buffet, family style, served dinner?

My family get togethers are pretty big for a Christmas meal, so we do buffet style dining. It works best for allowing folks to eat, browse, graze and go back for more of whatever they like.

We have a few different times to share food with loved ones. First up this year, we had Christmas Eve celebrations, when my Aunt, Uncle and cousins join my whole crew (parents, kids, grandkids). This year I served Sloppy Joes and Chili along with sausage balls and chocolate Coca Cola cake.

Some yummy food for sure! Sloppy joes and chili are great for feeding a crowd, I believe there were 20 of us here and we decorated “ugly Christmas sweater cookies”.

How fun is that?? By the way, the red and black striped sweater cookie was the winner of the ugliest, it was my moms. My cookie is the second row second cookie from the left. This was a lot of fun!

When the night ended I was ready for bed! The next morning, my husband and I shared a small breakfast of homemade buttermilk pancakes!

I didn’t get a finished picture, I guess I was too hungry! There’s really nothing better than homemade pancakes, none of that box stuff…so yummy!

Following our breakfast came the big cooking time for me! I made my first ever Prime Rib Roast! You guys! It was delicious!! I cooked it a little more done than would be my choice, but my husband won’t touch meat with even the slightest bit of pink in it. He is opposed. I cooked this roast at 500 degrees for 15 minutes then lowered the oven to 325 and cooked for another 3.5 hours, I removed the roast when the inner temp was 145 degrees. It has to rest for 30 minutes or so (mine rested for an hour) then I sliced it up and dinner was served! I used the pan drippings to make a delicious beef gravy! Y’all, it was delightful. I believe this will be our tradition from now on! Along with the roast I also made a ham (I buy a spiral cut and cook it all day in the crockpot with brown sugar, honey and pineapple. Oh heavens it is delicious! I made skin on, red potato mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, grape salad, and rolls. Family brought green beans, deviled eggs, cherry delight, corn casserole (aka corn pudding). I’m not kidding when I say we ate like Kings!

Have you ever had grape salad? Oh my gosh, it is so good! You take a pound of red grapes and a pound of green grapes, all seedless, and you make a creamy coating with cream cheese, sugar and vanilla mix it all up and then sprinkle brown sugar and chopped pecans on top, I am not kidding when I say it’s the best thing, EVER. So much yumminess.

I will share a few images of my family enjoying the holidays. I hope you had a marvelous celebration for Christmas and have a blessed New Year! Here’s to 2020, cheers!