Christmas Eve…

Christmas Eve

 

The table is set for four.

A first. That only the four of us will be having Christmas together. We usually invite family, friends, blogging friends, or people I have met on the streets to our Christmas table. But this year since our family hasn't been altogether for nearly six months it felt like a sweet, tender, inviting Christmas to have just us four.

A different Christmas. A needed Christmas. A holy Christmas. A thankful Christmas.

 

 

Christmas Eve

 

On foot I went shopping for Christmas dinner (which is served very late tonight) with every other French person in Paris. Buying food ahead of time, before Christmas, must be a crime, at least it feels like it is. Christmas dinner shopping is a highlight I look forward to: Everyone is bundled up, is out with a list in hand, the counters are extra packed, with long lines at the cheese, wine, butcher, baker, florist, pastry shops. In a country where food plays big in their culture and families, Christmas day and New Year's Eve are monumental when it comes to grocery shopping. I love it! It is like buying jewels.

The gum ridden sidewalk look like polka dots today. Christmas puts a pretty spin on daily life. I thought how the gum drops never looked like that before. I smiled and thank Christmas for letting me see things as magical instead of ordinary. 

I bought the chestnuts for soup, the Mont d'or, wild mushrooms… and after my arms could hold no more I headed back home to cook.

 

Christmas Eve

 

Christmas decor by Donna O'Brien.

I have such a loving collection of gifts that many of you have sent me. 

Friendship treasures.

Chirstmas decorations are like little friends with big memories, I love that!

 

Christmas Eve

 

My handmade Christmas decor.

My attempt to make the table look festive.

 

 

Christmas Eve

Okay back to cooking.

What is on your menu?



Comments

16 responses to “Christmas Eve…”

  1. cynthia regan

    Oh, our tradition food wise started years ago while we were in the Air Force. Always being far from family, we would “jammies up”, order pizza (a big treat back then)and soda (another rare rare treat. Yann would think us heathens, I’m sure. But it was a wonderful way to chase the homesick right out the door.
    Cynthia

  2. Merry Christmas to you and your family! I think it’ll be “roast beast” 😄 for the family members who eat red meat, something else for the rest of us who don’t. And, homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast!

  3. Have a very special Christmas with just you four. Treasure each moment.
    My family will be at my house for breakfast and gift opening, then dinner will be later in the day at my daughter’s. I don’t know what the menu will be because it is always a secret. My son and daughter cook and it usually represents another country. Lovely just to let them do the meal and I get to play with my little grandson.

  4. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas Corey. Our menu with friends: artichoke dip, turkey with stuffing, homemade cranberry with orange and clove, baked yams, cream puffs and pecan pie. And King’s Road Cafe coffee, after…you can buy their beans by the pound now.
    My aunt, though, was a stellar cook. She always made goose with oyster sauce for Christmas. And that was good! And she made a Yorkshire pudding for Thanksgiving.

  5. Christmas Eve dinner is all about homemade tamales. I’ve never attempt to make them myself, not when I can literally buy them on any street corner. I live (28yrs) in a community that is 60% (could be higher now) Hispanic. The best tamales ever. This is a Mexican tradition ( in my community) that I have embraced. Merry Christmas ~ Happy Holidays

  6. The guests (Mom and family friends) told me to not fuss, so I obeyed, but did buy more food than needed.It was a midday buffet of cheeses, sliced turkey, beef and ham, fruit tray, veg. tray, pickled herring and those little loaves of pumpernickel and rye bread. Everyone ate a lot, talked a lot, relaxed a lot. Guests were sent home with some leftovers and there is enough food in the fridge to serve drop by company the rest of this week.

  7. First time ever-we went out to dinner! We had a groupon for a fancy French restaurant so we bundled up and went out to dinner. It was great. I didn’t miss cooking one bit! When we got home I made a big pan of (baked) French toast for the morning, while we open gifts. Then we sat around the fireplace and gabbed. Lovely. Tomorrow, I start the marathon of Turkey dinner prep. Another first-I ordered deserts from a fancy schmancy bakery-buche de noel, bourbon bread pudding, frangipani prune tart.
    Merry Christmas everyone!

  8. chardonnaylynn

    Christmas Eve, always…..fresh Dungeness crab, warm sourdough bread, tossed green salad. Only in Cali!!!

  9. Thomas Ed Cole

    It is said that God gave us memories so we could have roses in December. So many Decembers ago..so many memories ago of Pecos Abbey. How I miss the river..the Pecos river outside my window singing me to sleep each night as i slept in the chicken coupe that was my home. I miss the friends I made there, knowing I would never see them again .So you have your memories…your roses in December.
    So tonight, so many Decembers ago, God gave His rose to us…to remember. God gave His all…He can give nothing more..he gave us His Son.
    What a precious gift..
    A rose in December.
    Blessings Corey…

  10. it is a different christmas! just the four of you.. imagine the journey all four of you have been on since you met yann in san francisco.
    the many separations and coming together..the shared passion for both sides of the families.. teaching each both cultures.. the children watching you navigate through the french culture and watching their dad through the american side.
    coming together, sharing meals, sharing friends, sharing hobbies, sharing dreams..
    so much more to come, too! you’re raised your family to be open to new experiences and people. how lucky they are.. you have even touched so many of us as well.
    our lives are enriched by you.. thanks for inviting us into your family.
    sending much love and hope for the many years to come.
    merry christmas

  11. Christmas will be lunch with a friend. We’ve decided on just starters and dessert…so champagne, foie gras, oysters sabylon, a goat cheese tart and your recipe for carmelized onions and cranberries!! A Buche noel, of course and my mother’s ambrosia for dessert. Merry Christmas, Corey!

  12. Joyeux Noel. Christmas Eve is always tourtière .
    I will be sharing some special gifts w family from your wonderful Brocante.
    Enjoy the family

  13. Christmas Eve after church time with my daughter and her family here at my home. I have prepared some vegetarian dishes and appetizers to bring to my daughter’s home today where more family and friends will gather for the meal and time to share. We have a white Christmas after a night of snowfall…beautiful, crispy, bright morning with blue skies peeking through the clouds.
    Happy holiday time to your and your family, Corey.

  14. Ah, traditions seem made to be evolved. Many family changes going on here this year leading to new foods, new additions to family and arms wide open to it all.

  15. My father is in a coma, my mother is at le Maison Basque de Cambo, I need to move themout of their apt. next week without knowing if there will be one or two and where they will go…my children and grandchildren are in the US. AND YOU bring me light Corey, Thank you…

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