What a wonderful time of the year. Today is the 26th of December (boxing day in the UK), The carols have been sung, the Christmas presents opened, the Christmas dinner consumed and all through the house, everyone is moving a little slower. Maybe it was too much to eat, too much wassailing, or spiked egg nog. In this house, it is age and energy. We had a marvelous Christmas day, while I was preparing the Prime Rib roast and messing in the kitchen. My son was connected to his PD Cycler and my wife was watching her Sunday morning shows. We opened our gifts around 9 AM and did not do much of anything the rest of the day. Nothing but cook for me. My Prime Rib roast was slow-cooked in the oven for around 4 hours, I made Cloverleaf Dinner rolls from scratch, and My son made a green bean casserole. I used my Ninja Foodie Air Pot to Pressure cook the Yukon Gold Potatoes to make homemade mashed potatoes with a small bit of freshly fried bacon, Heavy cream, and just a smidge of garlic.
Yes, the prime rib was cooked to perfection… It was wonderful but I couldn’t finish it so leftovers will be excellent this year. Now that you are salivating, why did I share our Christmas Day with You? Not for envy or bragging, because we wish you had a great Christmas as well. Families are great. As time goes by, we lose some of our loved ones, and grieve for them during the holiday seasons; My Mother went to Heaven in 2020, Her mother went in 1996 her Father in 1976, all around Christmas time. It was hard for my grandmother for my grandfather passed suddenly on Christmas eve. She never really enjoyed the holidays after that. When she died on the 21st of December in 1996, My Mother found it a little harder to enjoy the holidays for a few years. That is until our son was born! Children can change the entire mood of Christmas; their energy and excitement are so very contagious. I made the decision to keep the excitement even after My mother passed in 2020. It was not easy but when I decided to remember her last few Christmases and how much she loved all the preparations and wonderful aromas, I realized that remembering the good memories made for a lot stronger memory of each Holiday from that point on. Now we share happiness and remember our loved ones at the same time. We make it a point to remember the true meaning of Christmas and the celebration of the birth of baby Jesus some 2000 years ago. So now we say “Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday. “