Christmas Eve Dinner

I just love photos of excess food, don’t you?  They make me happy 🙂

Per our usual tradition, my brother-in-law and sister graciously hosted Christmas Eve dinner.  My brother-in-law is a seasoned cook, though he would be the first to tell you otherwise; he just whips up a bunch of stuff and it tastes good.  He constantly tells me that his secret ingredient is “ketchup” a fact that amuses me to no end.  However, honestly, the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen him do – and this ties directly into my complete inability to bake properly – was him pulling out a bowl, dumping some flour, … well, I don’t actually know what goes into it, so I can’t say, but he started dumping dry ingredients and then some wet ingredients without measuring anything and in a half hour or so, we had freshly baked oatmeal cookies that were to DIE for delicious.  WITHOUT MEASURING.  He said it’s because he’s done it so many times before, but seriously?  I saw him eye the batter/dough, stick his hand in the bag of flour and take out another handful or so of flour.  I totally can’t do that.  My cookies would come out hard and gross or whatever happens when you add too much flour to them.  Ridiculous. 

Anyway, the point is, any dinner thrown by my brother-in-law is one not to be missed.  I was actually bouncing around in my seat at work – yes, I worked Christmas Eve – dying to be told to go home, something that has not once happened in the history of my working here (well, there was this one time, and I got docked 2 hours’ pay for leaving 2 hours early.  I’m serious).  Dinner was slated to start at 5; I got off work at 5:30 and the way the LIRR runs, I would have made it around 7 pm.  NOT GOOD.  Sure there’d be food leftover but I didn’t want leftovers!  I’m a brat, I want to eat with everyone else! 

A Christmas miracle: at 3:15, my boss came out and told me that he was leaving and if I liked, I should leave too.  I didn’t have to be told twice, I was out the door in the wink of an eye and on the train by 4:01 (the time it departed).  I arrived with plenty of time to spare, in time to help set the table actually and take pictures of the food prep!

Fresh pineapple; grilled chili lime shrimp; grapes.

At each place setting, this awaited us!

Mango cilantro salad with a wonderful citrus vinaigrette (yes, homemade). 

Club crackers for the… lump blue crab with corn salsa and cherry tomatoes; lobster & apple salad.  His lobster salad is totally a family favorite; I think we might riot if it isn’t on the table one year.  Well, no, we’re too polite to complain if he doesn’t make it, but I would definitely miss it if he decides not to make it one year 🙂

Our “meat” course: teriyaki salmon (homemade teriyaki glaze); sauteed mushrooms; steak (I would tell you the cut but I’m not 100% sure and would rather avoid the headache of saying definitively and then getting yelled at, haha); tender crisp asparagus spears.

Our pasta course: spaghetti fra diavolo (actually, I didn’t check with my brother-in-law, so I’m not sure it was actually fra diavolo, which is meant to be spicy, a la the devil), tons of seafood.

Mmm… mussels, clams, scallops, oh my!  Delicious.  The marinara was homemade by his mother as well (not enough space to make everything in one shot in his kitchen, unfortunately).

Last but not least, my cousin made peppermint bark for everyone!  I didn’t actually get a chance to try it, but holla, that’s pretty cool.  I think she said it was white chocolate with peppermint pieces and rice krispies.  Mmm.

Hope your Christmas Eve was at least as good as mine!!!

Happy eating, always!!!