Multi-family Xmas Dinner

This year I was thrilled to welcome friends and family for Xmas dinner.  Given that it was my first Christmas without either of my parents, it was very special to me to host a multi-generational holiday fest; with friends for my nephew to play with and their parents (my long time friends Aimee and Dave) and grandparents.

The kids dove into a full scale Beyblades frenzy, and barely came up for air to eat.  My sister regaled the more mature crowd with interesting tidbits from her latest research.  But for me it was mostly about the meal. 

My Mom always insisted on starting Christmas dinner with soup; partly because my Dad loved it, and partly because it was a more formal occasion.  Full china and crystal were set on the table, and usually held a good cut of beef.  This would be my first chance to use the china since I unpacked it from the boxes in June.

We each brought some of our favorite recipes to the table, and carried on just enough Gage traditions to provide a connective thread.  It had been surprising simple to plan with 3 cooks involved in the menu.  And it shone through in the food - no one had too much work and everything came out great.  (Luckily there were no strong objections to butternut squash. ) Here's the menu...

Cheese cookies
Hot crab dip
   *
Butternut squash and apple soup
   *
Beef tenderloin with mushroom ragout
Spiral sliced ham
Butternut squash bread pudding
Roasted brussel sprouts and carrots
   *
Pecan pie
Chocolate cream Buche de Noel

I provided links to recipes for the dishes that I made.  I didn't actually make the port sauce listed in the recipe, but took a recipe for my friend Stephanie's mushroom bolognese, thinned it with some beef stock, and presto - a mushroom ragout for beef!  Nicholas has already requested that I learn to make Aimee's chocolate cream bouche, and if I can wrangle the recipe from her I'll post that too.

I guess I got a little wrapped up in my guests and left Maisy to her own pursuit of dinner tidbits from new friends.  Before I knew it, I was stepping in a little puddle in the dining room as I cleared the  soup bowls. Ugh.  Hopefully that's not one of the traditions that will make an appearance next year!

For many years growing up, we always had holiday meals in our small nuclear family.  But I have to say that my fondest memories are of the Thanksgiving dinners we spent with our neighbors.  And now that I have responsibility for the actual work, I find the allure of the collaborative holiday meal even more appealing. ;)  So as I think about establishing new traditions, this is the one that speaks the most to me. Let me know if you'd like to join us for Christmas dinner next year!

PS- I did get the Buche recipe - here it is. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Buche-de-Noel/Detail.aspx