Thursday, December 25, 2008

Send in the clowns!

Christmas Morning!




*Reilly got the makeup center she's been dying for (I call it the brothel kit)

*Jake finally got a DS (Santa wrote him a letter advising him to use it responsibly)

*Ellie got her "Baby Chou Chou Make Me Feel Better" doll


Reilly was thrilled to receive her massive barbie collection (courtesy of Granny Sherry)


A fun time was had by all! (These two fellas really hit it off)


Dora!!!!

Everyone at their little corners of the world

Christmas PJs
After opening gifts, we had our traditional orange julius' and a breakfast casserole.
The rest of the day was spent lounging, and playing with new toys. We ended the evening with a wonderful Christmas meal.
Menu: Roasted Rib Roast
Smashed Red Potatoes (recipe below)
Steamed Green Beans
Polly's Christmas Salad (recipe below)
Martinelli's sparkling cider



This potatoe recipe is wonderful because it can be made up to 5 months in advance. The potatoes are creamy and rich and oh so yummy.

Creamy Smashed Potato Casserole

5 lbs. potatoes, (peel partially and quarter)

2 tsp. salt

2 (3oz) whipped cream cheese with chives

4 T. butter

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 3/4 c. heavy cream

2 T. butter

Cook potatoes with 1 tsp. salt until tender (about 30 min). Drain and mash until smooth. Add cream cheese, 4 T. butter, salt, pepper, mixing until smooth. Gradually add heavy cream, mixing until smooth after each addition. Put in 3 qt. 9 x 13 pan, cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. When ready to bake, dot top with remaining butter. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes, then add an additional 30 minutes at 375.

**Can be made up to 3 days ahead of time. Can be frozen (unbaked) up to 5 months.

Polly's Christmas Salad (my favorite!)

Romaine lettuce

Red leaf lettuce (or mesculin or spring mix)

Green onions

Craisins

Clementines or mandarin oranges (each slice cut into 1/3

Shredded parmesan chees

Caramelized sliced almonds (caramelize with butter and sugar. Toast on stove till browned. cool)

Dressing:

1 c. sugar

3/4 c. cider vinegar

2 T. poppy seeds

2 tsp. salt

2 T. Grey Poupon Mustard

2 c. canola oil

1 small purple onion chopped fine (optional)

blend all ingredients in a blender

5 comments:

  1. well.... reilly and i have something in common, as i bought myself a make-up kit this Christmas (minus all the pink plastic and bright lights) :) it sure is fun, though!

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  2. Hah. When I called and talked with the kids earlier today, Reilly was all excited about her make-up kit and Ellie was about her dolls and a suitcase? While I was talking to Reilly, Ellie was telling Reilly 'and I got this, and you got this, and I got this...'. It was fun!

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  3. also thanks for the recipes. I'll print them out and make them some day:-)
    The rest of my Christmas has been fine. At the crisis center, I have to work 3-11pm. All the 2 kids left by 5, so there's nothing to really do, so I watched Little Women, which totally reminds me of us sisters by the way. I always feel like Beth.

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  4. It's never too early to reinforce the primping gene.....

    The recipes look divine and I shall definitely try them!

    Merry Christmas to all.

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  5. Your home looks absolutely beautiful!!

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