In keeping with my ‘vegetables are like gemstones’ theme, brussel sprouts are like emeralds and chestnuts like topaz. Sadly, they are actually much better looking before cooking.
I recall brussel sprouts being a much maligned vegetable when I was growing up; today they seem to be loved by foodies (people actually order them in all the trendy restaurants) and cooks around the world are sure to have them on their holiday tables. I don’t know how that happened, but we’re no different. We like brussel sprouts with holiday dinners, especially those starring Mr. Tom Turkey. Continue Reading
As I’ve said many times and in many ways on this blog, I love color on the plate. It’s the FOODalogue mantra (well, that and finishing touches).
As I set out the dishes I made for our Christmas Day dinner, I realized that vegetables are like gemstones. And we had a treasure chest full: rubies, pearls, carnelian, garnet, emerald and topaz. In fact, they’re more valuable than conventional gemstones because they’re not only beautiful, they’re edible. No wonder I like them so much. 
As mentioned in Part 1 (Christmas Eve), we celebrated Christmas Day in Jim + Julie’s new home.
My son, who many of my readers know, is an excellent cook and a food blogger (albeit sporadic these days). He’s also a very good photographer and, as he keeps reminding me, a great son.
I recently said here that I’m still in awe of being in Florida for the holidays so, along with our family celebration and food (of course), I thought I’d share a few images to illustrate just what that means — starting with this open door and sunlight streaming through the house.
In our family we’ve always celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. And, of course, by ‘celebrating’, I mean we get together and we eat!
All 17 and four generations worth of us!
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To all my readers and occasional visitors, thanks for your company and conversation this past year. It meant a lot to me.
I wish you and your families a joyous holiday season. I know it’s been a tough year for a lot of people, but I hope your hearts are filled with hope as we approach 2011.
I’m recalling my first Christmas(es) in FL and making a few resolutions for FOODalogue and me.
It wasn’t until we were cleaning up from dinner and getting ready to put out the dessert that I realized I left one of the side dishes in the oven. I had prepped it the day before and all it needed was about 30-minutes to heat through thoroughly. So I popped it in the oven when the roast came out…and promptly forgot about it. The discovery was made a good hour or more after it should have come out. Suffice it to say, it was toasty. But was it salvageable? We decided to put it to the test and bring it back out with the family lunch today.
I’m in a semi-catatonic state today after several days of festivities (read: overeating and drinking). Aside from a few must-do things, I’ve had little oomph to do anything much more than tinker on my laptop so I made a few photo mosaics to share some of the special moments from this year’s Christmas holiday. Pictured here is the all-crystal tree in the lobby of the Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach. I started the holiday season with a fabulous tasting dinner and wine pairing at Scott Conant’s ‘Scarpetta’ restaurant in the Fountainebleau. That dinner helped shape our Christmas Day menu — as did my recent trip to SF for the FoodBuzz Festival. Come see some merry photo mosaics…
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