The family that cooks together, stays together

...that was our trial motto this Christmas at my Aunt and Uncles.

Christmas morning started with brunch and then opening presents amongst my mom, dad, brother, his wife, myself, and all the grandparents at our house. Then we went to my Aunt and Uncle's where, knowing ahead of time we would be delegated kitchen tasks (because we volunteered to help), we were each assigned a recipe. They had already bought the ingredients, and basically said there's the cookbook - go! With a family full of manager-type or otherwise strong personalities, it was interesting to see us all negotiate for stovetop space, and maneuver around each other in the kitchen. My dad, who was spared the recipe assignment until my mom put him to work on hers, was enjoying the show and snapping photos along the way.

But, the cooking was interspersed with wine tasting of three amazing Cabernets (a 97 Kenwood Reserve, a Legacy, and a Cain something or other). Chop chop, sip. Stir, stir, sip. The main course was prime rib, and the other dishes were a scallop soup, green beans sauteed with garlic, butter and tarragon, garlic mashed potatoes, and poached pears in a port sauce for dessert.

All of this was following appetizers of salmon with capers and onions on crackers, jumbo shrimp with cocktail sauce, and a champagne tasting. After that tasting we are now all blaming my Uncle for ruining what we thought was a good champagne by tasting it against an even better, and more expensive, version that now we all think is how champagne *should* taste. Oh well :)

In the evening, my brother commandeered the golf cart, and we drove around the neighborhood looking at the beautiful homes made even more attractive with Christmas lights and decorations. Even though I sometimes lament the Southern California Christmas weather (which at times has been 80 degrees in the daytime), it was nice to have a cool evening where you can be outside and not be fighting off rain, snow, or bone-chilling temperatures, and yet, still enjoy the warmth of the fireplace when coming inside.

Christmas Day is definitely my favorite day of the year. My family and I always have a good time, usually the "cousins" all play a trivia game of some sort, the food and wine is absolutely fabulous, the homes are tastefully and warmly decorated, and it's a time and a place where I feel grounded and feel like, "this is me". It's good when you can feel that way around your family.