A Christmas Menu for Two

This year, C and I are staying home for Christmas and we're not entertaining, either. It's really... weird. I'm just not used to these small little holiday dinners, and I hardly know where to begin. I mean, it's not like I can cook a prime rib roast, because anything under three ribs just isn't worth cooking -- and three ribs easily feeds five or six people.

Right now, I'm leaning towards Beef Wellington, but haven't found a recipe that I really trust yet. Does anyone have one?

C is also requesting Nannie's Party Potatoes, though I made them for Thanksgiving with these guys, and while they are awesome, they're a dish you can really only make once a year (under threat of immediate myocardial infarction). But, knowing me, I'll end up making a small batch anyway.

Though it's definitely a little weird to be having such a quiet holiday, it's really fun to start our own traditions, blending the ones we both grew up with. 

So, tell me, what are your holiday traditions? Oh, and if you have a Beef Wellington recipe you love, throw that my way, too!

Comments

[john]

I like roast goose. The frozen ones from Minnesota etc. are good--I generally look for one on the small side, 9 or 10 pounds, on the theory that larger = older = tough, though I'm not sure how sound this belief is. Or you can get a fresh one--but act fast!--from S&B Farm in Petaluma, phone 707-763-4793. Last time I actually poached the bird, tail uppermost, in a tall stock pot of water, for an hour; took it out and air dried it thoroughly, then finished it in a 500° oven for about 40 minutes. Of all the methods for dealing with fat, getting crispy skin and not drying out the flesh, this worked better than any other I've tried.

[Rene]

It's usually only two or three of us for Christmas dinner. My mother is a "traditionalist"...which means if we don't make Pansit, it's a Honeybaked Ham, canned string beans, frozen Pillsbury biscuits...at least I get to put some evaporated milk in the standard russet mashed potoatoes! Hmmm...I'm wondering if I can sneak in the party potatoes????!!!

[Pretending Not to be Me...]

HELLO!

This is your world wide interweb of freedom conscious speaking…

***MAKE the party potatoes; you KNOW you want to!?!***

Thank you, that is all.

:)

[Fatemeh]

John - I remember the discussion we had about goose; that's not a bad idea for a tasty dinner!

Rene - PLEASE do try the party potatoes; you'll love them, and they are "simple" enough for anyone to love them. Seriously.

"Pretending"... - yeah, yeah. You win, OK?!?!?

[sam]

I tried the starting your own tradition thing last year but someone ruined the whole evening by having a temper tantrum over the secret santa gift they ended up with and stormed out of the party. i have been so OFF Christmas ever since!

Boulettes larder were prepping geese for orders, i think i saw.

[Ian Scott]

One of my Christmas traditions, for when I'm celebrating the day with just a few (when the rest of the family are all scattered over the continent) is slow cooked lamb shoulder roast.

Cooked with leeks, parisienne potatoes, carrots (sometimes parsnips) and of course, a bit of garlic and rosemary.

It's quick to prepare, easy and oh so yummy.