Christmas 2012

Christmas Dinner was a family affair. You have food and you have presents what more could you want. Peace and happiness in the world? I'm asking too much, yeah I know.

Growing up Christmas Eve was the big day. I don't know if it's the same for others, but for our family Christmas wasn't a big deal. You see for us we spend Christmas Eve making this big meal and eat in the afternoon with any family that comes over to exchange presents.

I remember going to other houses and getting dressed up when I was younger. We would walk in with presents and hand them out and then people would offer us a meal and of course you say yes. Unless, now here's the kicker, unless you have made plans to eat at someone else's house. As a kid I hated that part because you're hungry all day you can't eat and then you have to drive around to people's houses that smell like heaven, torture.

Finally when you arrive at the house which your parents have agreed to eat at you feel like you can inhale and breath in all the wonderful smells. You exchange presents and then bam plates are handed to you. You don't even have to sit at a table because there are so many people and not enough seats. I would just find a nice spot on a couch where my drink was easily accessible. That was awesome for me. Once we were done eating you would hang out with the kid closest to you in age and wait to either go home or for midnight to open presents.

Once morning came along it was time for opening presents and that was Christmas for me. Now that I'm older and cook the meals and we no longer visit anyone its all about the meals. My parents have stopped trying to guess what I want so a few days before they ask what I want and I usually order it online or drag them with me to the store so they hand the nice person their credit card.

Now for the rundown of our wonderful meal. For dinner I went non-traditional, because I just hate being predictable and I like trying new things.

Every holiday everyone whines for the last couple of hours before the meal that they're hungry and when will the food be ready. So this time I made nachos as an appetizer. Using festive red and green chips a layer of beans, a layer of cheese, another of chips, a layer of beans, cheese, chicken and more cheese. Lastly was the sour cream and guacamole.


Next was a blue cheese, pecan salad with a red wine vinegrette.

Along with Caprese. 

Then came the main course, potato salad, chorizo with a pesto sauce, forbidden rice, honey glazed ham and garlic bread.

Potato Salad

Forbidden Rice

Garlic Bread

Unfortunately, the family was so hungry that a few items were unavailable for pictures.  

Honey glazed ham

So until I see you again in a few days when the next meal is served, enjoy your left overs. 

Holidays

The Holidays are here and for those who have family, they know how annoying it can be. The 20 question game where everyone wants to know what is going on in your personal life. You also have the family who only comes around once a year and wants to catch up on all the gossip.

Its funny how your aunts and uncles will try to use their kids, your cousins, to divulge information from you. Sneaky bastards I tell you, but stay on your toes and trust nobody. At these family gatherings it's every man for themself. I mean when you get cornered you try your hardest to throw it somewhere else. For example, So Johnny who was that girl I saw you with at the movies. The conversation gets the hell away from you and now you are safe.

Then there are always the, so are you seeing anyone or when are the kids coming? But see here is where I am still in the clear I have an older cousin who is neither married nor with children. Although many have lost hope for her because she is in her late 30's and still living at home. I pray for her to find happiness. Personally I think she's gay because a few years ago she moved in with her female Dr. "Friend" and then moved out a year later saying she didn't really like it.  My assumption is she liked it panicked and ran away when shit got real. Then there is my older brother who is also neither married nor with children. Leaving me and 2 younger ones in the clear because hell we're at least still young.

My mother thinks she is the most clever with her questions. 'So my co-worker asked about you. He was saying oh so does your daughter have a boyfriend and she leaves it up in the air like so do you?' No mom I have a wife who I have been with for 7 years and who spends every Holiday with us and whose family I spend every holiday with. I mean seriously how can she not know. My grandmother on the other hand is fine with whatever I do, at the moment I can do no wrong in her eyes. Even when I cut my hair she was totally for it, unlike every other female in the family, who swore it made me gay but didn't say it out loud. Yeah right, me eating pussy makes me gay, me cutting my hair short just makes me even more attractive. I know it sounds conceited, but your are mistaken, its just confidence take my word for it.

I only look to the holidays for one reason and that is the cooking. As you may have previously read in Thanksgiving dinner 2012, I love to cook and I truly enjoy it. I usually plan the menu weeks in advance and since I it takes place at my parents house my father provides the groceries. We stay away from traditional meals mainly because we feel turkey is dry and we tend to crave our ethnic traditional food throughout the year and so it's not as special since we may have just had it a few weeks prior.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to these last two holidays because pretty soon the wedding will be official and the cat will be out of the bag and you never know how anyone will react. My mother has grown a lot over the years so I hope she will at least try to understand but my dad worries me. I think and I'm sure he knows but once you say it out loud shit hits the fan.

So, for everyone out there enjoy your holidays with whoever you have by your side. This is the time we remember the good and forget the bad to enjoy the present. Remember you're still alive and kicking. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.