Oh Holy Night...

Christmas has come and gone, which is always a sad reality. However, it doesn't feel like that this year, since it never really came and thus never truly went! I am still humming away to "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree" (the Brenda Lee version of course) and sucking away on my candy canes. In any event, Elsa and some friends and I managed to bring together a lovely Christmas Eve meal that was both festive and brought friends together in the way I love around christmas time.On the menu:

Roasted Asparagus - lightly drizzled with Oliv

e oil, salt and pepper

Sauteed Potatoes with Thyme, Olive oil and S & P

Guacamole - not truly fitting I know, but definitely Delicious :)

Pan fried Kebabs with Onions, Garlic and Mushrooms

Dessert:

Bananas, Frozen Blueberries, Strawberries, Apples dipped

in melted white and Milk chocolate

And of course, lots of wine - we know that Red wine would have gone better with the meat, but my French roommate doesn't drink red wine, can you believe it?? I know, she must not truly be Parisian!

The Potatoes were a recipe from France that Elsa brought to us and they were cooked as followed:

Cut as many potatoes as you like into small 1 inch cubes - the more uniform the pieces the more even the cooking process

Through them into a screaming hot pan layered with Olive Oil - or Butter :)

When the potatoes being to brown, add sliced onions and garlic - being careful not to burn, easily burnable garlic

This takes a fairly long time, I would say about 30 minutes, until the potatoes have cooked, and become nice and crispy

About 5 minutes before the Tatters are finished, add a handful or two, however much you like of S &P, and fresh Th

yme.

Serve HOT and Enjoy! :)

These turned out so nicely, and very crisp and satisfying!!

The fruit with the melted chocolate was just to die for, Now I am allergic to milk chocolate, but white chocolate is ok since it really isn't chocolate at

all, and just a synthetic sub

stitute - but a delicious s

ynthetic substitute, of which I ate far too much. We melted the white/milk chocolate chips just in two coffee mugs in the microwave, which, I know, sounds totally déclassé, but it was easy and worked like a charm. The only tip I have for

this process is to be VERY careful not to burn the chocolate, because it is VERY easy to do, and burnt chocolate tastes just as awful as burnt ga

rlic -bitter, sour and just awful, which is why true chocolate melters use a double boiler, but oh well there was no burnt chocolate for us!!

The dinner was lovely, felt very festive and satisfied my need for familial bonding and overindulgent eating that, to me, go hand in hand with Christmas. Finally, when I went to my brothers the next day to celebrate his wife's 40th birthday party, low-and-behold, he had found me a LARGE (over 6 feet!!!) christmas tree which he had adorned so sweetly with lights and a lovely hand made stand. I was so touched. So, all in all, my Holy Land Christmas turned out quite nicely, and I learned that although it wasn't the same as the christmas I am used to at home, as long as I made sure that I ate well, spent time with family and friends, and kept the Christmas tunes blaring, I wasn't missing much :)