Home for the Holidays

New Year’s Day, and we were awakened before dawn by a boisterous toddler, which makes me very glad we decided to forgo the champagne and get to bed early. It’s been two weeks since the "blizzard" of 09. The snow is pretty much gone thanks to a warm wind around Christmas, but the sense of cabin fever remains. The weather’s been cold and drizzly for the most part—not so propitious for a forced march. There’s been plenty of scrapping and screaming going on around here (not just the kids I’m talking about either). Mama’s been pretty snappish for most of the week, thanks in part to a chest cold that seems to have moved to my head. On the upside, I’m still alive, still married, and everyone’s relatively healthy. Plus we got a heating oil delivery the other day so we should be warm for the rest of the winter.

Trying to take advantage of the indoor scene by doing some hearty winter cooking. Have been giving my kitchenaid and my beloved dutch oven a workout. Let’s see, for Christmas dinner there were my usual fabulous vegetables (roasted Brussels, sweet potato gratin and a butternut squash dish) plus a roasted turkey breast and stuffing. We had one of my sisters and her crew over plus some old friends who live in Baltimore and some holiday orphans they brought along. I swear every holiday meal should involve a few strangers—keeps things from getting boring. The Baltimore crowd comprises a bunch of musicians and we were rockin the carols into the evening ending up with the 12 Days of Christmas (my late father’s favorite). Very merry.

We’re gearing up for our traditional New Year’s Day meal: pork loin, black eyed peas and greens, with hopes that prosperity will ensue. Kept it cozy during the week between holidays with some yummy soups (carrot ginger, split pea), roasted root vegetables, kickass braised chicken thighs and lots of homemade bread. And then there’s the venison…