Thursday, December 30, 2010

Our Christmas


The few days after Christmas is always a little bitter-sweet isn't it. You start boxing up your decorations, cleaning out your fridge and reminisce over Christmases past. We just barely cleaned up from Christmas, including vacuuming about ten pounds of dead pine needles. It feels good to have our house back to normal, but there's also a small emptiness it leaves behind.

We had such a lovely Christmas this year. Normally we go back to Idaho to spend it with family, but this year we stayed in Philly and kept things fairly quiet. I was a little homesick, but ultimately it was really nice not to have to travel and we got to establish traditions for our own little family.

Once of those traditions has always been to eat nothing but appetizers on Christmas Eve and watch Christmas movies until we go to bed. It's a lot of fun and adds to the excitement of the upcoming morning.

Since I was too excited to dig in, my pictures are less then blogworthy, but here's what we enjoyed Christmas Eve with the help of some friends...

Mini Caprese Skewers sitting in a layer of pesto, one of my favorite combos of all time!

I tried my hand at another cheese platter this year. Brie, Gouda and a very pungent Stilton made for a very delicious cheese platter, along with fruit and crackers. The Gouda was by far the crowd pleaser. This was actually my first time trying it and it just might be my new favorite cheese.

We also had a veggie tray, green olives, cured meats, a shrimp platter and a french onion dip with potato chips.
Gotta have chocolate chip cookies for Santa, they're his favorite ;)

Homemade baklava brought by our friends. It was so delicious that my husband ate some despite his pecan allergy. He said it was worth it.


Cream puffs, so easy to pop in my mouth, which is exactly what I did.

These were easily the star of the show. Baguette with Brie and caramelized onions. My friend brought these and I ate about four of them. The onions are sweet and the cheese is creamy, making these an almost dessert-like treat. With the extra Brie left in my fridge, I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing for New Years!

There were also bacon wrapped scallops and water chestnuts, but I'm pretty sure they were eaten too quickly for pictures. And while I think I'm still full a week later from this feast, what are the holidays without good food right? I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season too, enjoy your last two days of 2010!

20 comments:

Ann said...

Looks like you had a wonderful time establishing new traditions for your family. I love an evening of only appetizers! They all look delicious.

chow and chatter said...

great tradition to nibble and watch movies :-)

Happy New Year sweet Teresa

heres a cup of tea for you

Rebecca

Arlene Delloro said...

There isn't one thing pictured that I wouldn't love to eat right now, particularly those carmelized onions on baguette with cheese. Yum! A quiet Christmas is such a rare treat, despite missing the larger gathering.

Brownieville Girl said...

Over here it is considered bad luck to take down the decorations before little/women's Christmas on 6th Jan (after the 12 days of Christmas) - things are getting pretty tired at that stage and we are glad to see the back of them!!

Love the nibbles.

Lara said...

Sounds like a wonderful (and yummy) Christmas! Enjoy your New Year!

Natalie said...

your christmas eve sounds just like ours! lovely!! :) those cream puffs...YUM!

Julie said...

That sounds like a killer spread! Now I've gotta mega craving for pesto :)

Mary Bergfeld said...

What a wonderful tradition. I really like that idea. Everything looked delicious. I'm so glad you had a good time. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

The Blonde Duck said...

Happy New Years!

Gloria Baker said...

I love all specially your cream puffs! Are amazing!! gloria

Velva said...

I love Christmas but, it exhausts me. I am glad to be feeling back to normal. :-)

Your holiday food spread is quite nice. I know I would have enjoyed all of it, and a glass of bubbly too.

Happy new Year to you and your family.

Velva

Debbie said...

I would hit that baklava right away!!! Everything looks great and I love eating just appetizers! Have a wonderful new year!

Leslie said...

Looks like a wonderful spread!!! Dont you just love all the pine needles???

Sophia Lee said...

What a lovely cozy, yummy Christmas, Teresa! Brie and good bread is always a fantastic combo. :-)

I hope you have an even better New Year!

À LA GRAHAM said...

They all looks so amazing! Happy New Year!

Joanne said...

Your Christmas sounds decadent and delicious! And yes I need to try that brie caramelized onion mix. Brie is a HUGE favorite in my kitchen.

Happy new year teresa!

Erica said...

Not having to travel for the holidays is a WONDERFUL thing. But it is tough to be away from family. Your appetizers looks delicious- especially the Caprese Skewers, one of my favorites! I recently tried brie for the first time and I am obsessed now! amazing. Happy new Year!

theUngourmet said...

It all looks fabulous! I wish you could bring me over a big plate of it all right now! Happy New Year, Teresa!!

Diana's Cocina said...

What a lovely Chirtmas Teresa ~ and they all look and sound delicious!

Beth said...

Your baguettes look wonderful! Sounds like a delicious and simple appetizer!