FROM BECCA

christmas brunch with dean’s immediate family…we had winter fruit salad, blueberry french toast, and bacon!

for dinner, we had vegetarian hotpot with dean’s extended family. there was much laughter, shared conversation, and happy young children running around – exactly how hotpot should be.

while the adults sang karaoke in one room, most of the kids hung out in another room playing pictionary, playing guitar and piano, and singing songs (with some nerf darts flying around us as well)

AND JULIE…

christmas at the home of friends in arlington, va, enjoying a leisurely afternoon and evening of beautiful food, much merry-making, and lively conversation! our friend roy did the cooking, and his wife wendy did the baking.
dinner started with wine and cheese at 2:30 p.m.
and then we slowly moved to a spicy butternut squash soup with goat-cheese croutons.
and a sit-down entree later in the afternoon: standing prime rib with the most exquisite red-wine reduction that involved a whole bottle of wine (among other ingredients) and several hours of cooking; mashed organic sweet potatoes with blue cheese; green beans with bacon; brussels sprouts with vidalia onions and chanterelle mushrooms; rolls and butter on the side.
in the evening there were desserts of homemade tiramisu and cookies…
and birthday cake!

HOPE YOUR CHRISTMAS WAS JOYOUS, WARM, AND DELICIOUS!