This year, for the first time ever, we didn’t travel for the holidays; instead, we stayed home and spent Christmas as a family. Although we missed our families very much, we were very excited to create our own traditions and be together, just the four of us.
The night before Christmas, I set out all the presents on the couch so that Logan and Taylor could easily reach them when they walked into the living room. As soon as Logan and Taylor woke up, before we even got breakfast, Billy and I took the boys to the living room to open up presents. The boys went straight for the huge stuffed animals Santa had brought them. Then we helped them to open up the presents from grandpa and grandma, bon-papa and bonne-maman, Uncle Paul and Aunt LeiLani, Tonton Fred and Taty Marie, and finally us. Logan and Taylor loved all the toys, books, and movies they received. It was so fun to see their excitement and amazement at all the presents. It almost made me want to spoil them even more…
The night before Christmas, I set out all the presents on the couch so that Logan and Taylor could easily reach them when they walked into the living room. As soon as Logan and Taylor woke up, before we even got breakfast, Billy and I took the boys to the living room to open up presents. The boys went straight for the huge stuffed animals Santa had brought them. Then we helped them to open up the presents from grandpa and grandma, bon-papa and bonne-maman, Uncle Paul and Aunt LeiLani, Tonton Fred and Taty Marie, and finally us. Logan and Taylor loved all the toys, books, and movies they received. It was so fun to see their excitement and amazement at all the presents. It almost made me want to spoil them even more…
After a few hours of playing, we ate a light lunch, showered and got dressed, and while Logan and Taylor were taking a nap, Billy and I started cooking a fancy dinner. P.S.: I made the apron I am wearing in this picture with the help of my sister-in-law, LeiLani. I also made one for my sister-in-law, Marie, for Christmas. Hers was my first attempt but actually turned out better.
We started off with some appetizers and crab cakes. 
Then we ate the main course, which included honey-glazed ham… 
… sweet potatoes… 
… mashed potatoes… 
… asparagus and Hollandaise sauce… 
… basil-garlic green beans…
… traditional holiday stuffing… 
… and a Tiramisu… 
We usually don't get very fancy with dinner, so this was a bit of a stretch, but it was a yummy one. Too bad doing the dishes took just as long as making the dinner.
Later that evening, we went to check out a house in Grimes, IA, that was completely decked out with Christmas lights. It was AMAZING! I had never seen so many Christmas lights in my life. Unfortunately, we didn't stay long because it was about 15 degrees out that night, and Taylor was not happy!
I could not have hoped for a better Christmas with our growing family. Everything went perfectly. Logan and Taylor were busy playing all day. Billy was happy with his presents and having the day off. And I was happy just to watch my 3 boys happy.
Here are the recipes for those interested:
Sweet potatoes:
3 c. mashed sweet potatoes
2 tbsp. butter
¾ tsp. salt
2-4 tbsp. brown sugar
1 egg, well beaten
1 dozen marshmallows
1. Butter baking dish
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat 2 tbsp. of melted butter, brown sugar, mashed sweet potatoes, egg and salt.
3. When mixture is smooth, transfer to dish. Dot with 2 tbsp. butter and top with marshmallows. 4. Bake in a preheated 350 oven until the tops of the marshmallows are golden brown.
Mashed potatoes: (not a formal recipe)
4 large potatoes, mostly peeled
Approx. ½ c. heavy cream
Approx. ¼ c. sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste
1. Cook the potatoes in enough water to cover the potatoes, 15 min.; drain.
2. Mash the potatoes while slowly pouring in heavy cream then sour cream.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste
Asparagus and Hollandaise sauce:
4 egg yolks
1 tbsp, lemon juice
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
Pinch cayenne
Pinch salt
1. Whisk the egg yolks and lemon juice in a bowl and until the mixture is thickened and doubled in volume.
2. Placed the bowl over a saucepan containing barely simmering water; continue to whisk rapidly.
3. Slowly drizzle in the melted butter and continue to whisk until the sauce is thickened and doubled in volume.
4. Remove from heat; whisk in cayenne and salt.
5. Drizzle on top of cooked asparagus.
Basil-garlic green beans: (12 servings)
3 lbs. fresh green beans
5 tbsp. reduced-fat butter, cubed
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. dried basil.
1. Place beans in large kettle and cover with water. Bring to a boil; cover and cook 8-10 min. or until crisp-tender. Drain and keep warm.
2. In the same pan, melt butter. Add garlic; cook and stir until golden. Add basil and green beans; toss to coat.
Traditional holiday stuffing: (24 servings)
1 pkg. (12 oz.) reduced-fat bulk pork sausage or breakfast turkey sausage links, castings removed
3 celery ribs, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 tbsp. reduced-fat mayo
2 tbsp. prepared mustard
4 tsp. rubbed sage
1 tbsp. poultry seasoning
2 loaves day-old white bread, cubed
1 loaf day-old whole wheat bread, cubed
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
1. In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook the sausage, celery and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Remove from heat; stir in the mayo, mustard, sage, and poultry seasoning.
2. Place cubes in a large bowl; add sausage mixture. Combine the eggs and broth; pour over the bread cubes and stir gently to combine. Transfer to two 3-qt. baking dished coated with cooking spray.
3. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 min. Uncover and bake 12-18 min. longer or until lightly browned and a thermometer reads 160.
Sweet potatoes:
3 c. mashed sweet potatoes
2 tbsp. butter
¾ tsp. salt
2-4 tbsp. brown sugar
1 egg, well beaten
1 dozen marshmallows
1. Butter baking dish
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat 2 tbsp. of melted butter, brown sugar, mashed sweet potatoes, egg and salt.
3. When mixture is smooth, transfer to dish. Dot with 2 tbsp. butter and top with marshmallows. 4. Bake in a preheated 350 oven until the tops of the marshmallows are golden brown.
Mashed potatoes: (not a formal recipe)
4 large potatoes, mostly peeled
Approx. ½ c. heavy cream
Approx. ¼ c. sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste
1. Cook the potatoes in enough water to cover the potatoes, 15 min.; drain.
2. Mash the potatoes while slowly pouring in heavy cream then sour cream.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste
Asparagus and Hollandaise sauce:
4 egg yolks
1 tbsp, lemon juice
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
Pinch cayenne
Pinch salt
1. Whisk the egg yolks and lemon juice in a bowl and until the mixture is thickened and doubled in volume.
2. Placed the bowl over a saucepan containing barely simmering water; continue to whisk rapidly.
3. Slowly drizzle in the melted butter and continue to whisk until the sauce is thickened and doubled in volume.
4. Remove from heat; whisk in cayenne and salt.
5. Drizzle on top of cooked asparagus.
Basil-garlic green beans: (12 servings)
3 lbs. fresh green beans
5 tbsp. reduced-fat butter, cubed
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. dried basil.
1. Place beans in large kettle and cover with water. Bring to a boil; cover and cook 8-10 min. or until crisp-tender. Drain and keep warm.
2. In the same pan, melt butter. Add garlic; cook and stir until golden. Add basil and green beans; toss to coat.
Traditional holiday stuffing: (24 servings)
1 pkg. (12 oz.) reduced-fat bulk pork sausage or breakfast turkey sausage links, castings removed
3 celery ribs, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 tbsp. reduced-fat mayo
2 tbsp. prepared mustard
4 tsp. rubbed sage
1 tbsp. poultry seasoning
2 loaves day-old white bread, cubed
1 loaf day-old whole wheat bread, cubed
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
1. In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook the sausage, celery and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Remove from heat; stir in the mayo, mustard, sage, and poultry seasoning.
2. Place cubes in a large bowl; add sausage mixture. Combine the eggs and broth; pour over the bread cubes and stir gently to combine. Transfer to two 3-qt. baking dished coated with cooking spray.
3. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 min. Uncover and bake 12-18 min. longer or until lightly browned and a thermometer reads 160.
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