I’m hosting a small group of friends and family for Christmas dinner tomorrow and I’m only just now sitting down to write the menu. I’m in need of some inspiration. If you’re cooking dinner tonight or tomorrow, can you share what’s on your menu?
Thanks and Happy Holidays everyone!
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Made a prime rib over the weekend for our ‘Friendsmas’. Came out great and it’s pretty easy to get right as long as you keep an eye on the temp. Plus people who don’t cook are always impressed when you can cook a large hunk of meat properly.
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Having a lazy Christmas Eve dozing on the couch while my wife, her mom, and her grandma cook up a storm. Also waiting for UPS to show up with my new jacket from REI because I stupidly left mine at the gate at JFK 
I had braces for several years and it definitely does get better. It’ll still be uncomfortable for the duration that you have them and you’ll occasionally have issues like the wire popping out but it became tolerable.
Right now it’s really painful not just because you’re not used to it but also because it’s just starting to move your teeth into a new position. As they align with the positions your braces are set to, it’ll get less painful. Then the orthodontist will tighten/adjust the alignment and it’ll be sore again for a bit.
The first time’s the worst though so take comfort in the fact that it’ll get better!
No clue since I’m staying out of the kitchen (not getting in the way of three generations cooking up a storm 
) but I know we’re having apple pie and chocolate pecan pie. We also have a stupid amount of smoked pork shoulder so we had some pulled pork yesterday and I think they might be tossing some of it into a slow cooker with potatoes, green beans, and onions. Oh and roasted asparagus. We also had a delicious tomato soup with brown rice in it and tons of bread (focaccia, pretzel (the actual bread kind not the Snyder’s kind), some kind of dinner rolls, and Stollen).
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One of my guests is a well known chef in this area, so the pressure is on! I also promised him I wouldn’t serve beef tonight, lol.
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It sounds like you’re going to have an amazing meal. Enjoy!
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Then you only have one option - Duck.
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I’m about to go and wander around the store. If they have duck breasts I’ll go for it.
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I should probably take this downtime to practice Superflow but this couch is so comfy and this blanket so warm… 
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Meh.
Why do now…what you can put off for later?
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I had braces for a few years when I was
A kid. Applesauce and mac and cheese helped me through some rough days.
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Feeling loved 
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Braces as adult here. +1 applesauce, but I lived on spaghettios and other mushy type soups.
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Today (Christmas Eve) I have been cooking. I use food to supplement my Christmas presents. My great niece and great nephew each got a batch of my (locally) famous brownies with fudge icing. I fried 4 pounds of bacon, enough to fill a gallon ziplock bag, for my sister who likes bacon for breakfast but does not cook anymore. Tomorrow I will make a turkey and dressing casserole and mac and cheese casserole, the real mac and cheese that starts with a roux.
Later I may browse YYE and buy myself a new yoyo for Christmas. Like I need another yoyo. 
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Did you say Brownies? Wanna swap recipes? Mine is a modified Katherine Hepburn brownie recipe that is exceedingly dark chocolate and just enough bitter to make you want more. Much better fresh than a day old (but like any good brownie, like it will last that long).
Wait. Are we like timeshifted clones or something? I have a kickass mac and cheese casserole as well. It has beer and whiskey in it (the key there is to “cook” the noodles by letting them soak in beer and whiskey until almost done).
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To be honest, my brownies are probably just above average. The icing, much like the old time cooked chocolate candy icing, puts them over the top. My cousins and coworkers tell me that I can spread it on cardboard and they would eat it. It is just 5 ingredients, but I buy the best ingredients I can find and have modified the balance and technique over the years. Powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, milk and butter. Whip it with a hand mixer 3 different times. Cook it in a microwave twice. At the end I pour it over the brownies like a ganache. It cools to a soft candy.
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Oven @ 325
In double boiler melt;
1oz 70% chocolate (get the highest quality you can. 50-60% can be a replacement if you like a slightly more sweet brownie. I highly highly suggest Icelandic Sirius Noir brand chocolate for these brownies. Tcho chocolate comes in a decently close second)
1oz cocoa powder
8 tbsp butter
once melted take off heat and cool a bit then mix in;
3/4 cup sugar
then mix
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
then add
1/4 cup flour
Butter/flour line a 8in square pan
add batter
bake for 40mins
eat
If you put that ganache/icing on these brownies and you will probably be charged for manslaughter since people will die from deliciousness.
EDIT: suggestions on what chocolate to get.
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Thanks. I’ll try it.
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