Oh yes, it is Monday already THE EIGHTH OF DECEMBER, why does time behave the way it does? (I read an article recently about time that made my head spin but kind of addressed this very thing, in case you are interested.)
Let’s see. I wanted to update you on the cheesecake I made for Thanksgiving. I used the America’s Test Kitchen recipe and followed it to the letter, except I used gingersnaps for the crust instead of graham crackers. First of all, my oven WOULD NOT HOLD A TEMPERATURE. So I may have used the broil function to bring it up to the appropriate level… and then the top of the cheesecake got a little broily. Then, the recipe said to remove the cheesecake when the center registered 160 degrees F, and it NEVER DID. I finally removed it after A Very Long Time, and, predictably, the cheesecake was very dry. My parents were gracious about it, and ate every bite, but it was not my finest hour.
I did also make a back-up apple cake, and THAT was a bust because the alcohol flavor did not cook out and it tasted unpleasantly of rum. Sigh.
The pumpkin caramel sauce was, however, delicious, and really helped with the dry crumbly cheesecake.
I also made a delicata squash recipe, in an effort to recreate my delightful in-restaurant first experience with delicata squash. It was a bit fussy, the recipe (and I omitted the parsley because blech), with lots of steps and chopping and whipping… but the end result was quite yum. I think the whole thing could have used a bit more acid – even with the pomegranate seeds I added. I will definitely make this kind of squash again, though.
How are you feeling, holiday-wise? Did you know that Hanukkah starts THIS WEEK? We don’t really do a whole lot for Hanukkah, besides opening a present on the first night, eating Trader Joe’s latkes, and lighting the menorah. I picked up some gelt and a giant chocolate coin from Trader Joe’s, though, and I remembered to buy candles for the menorah when I was at Michael’s. The list price was something like $16.99, which seemed EGREGIOUS for candles, and then they were 50% off, which helped, but still felt pricy. But I don’t think we have a present for the kiddo yet? Is that possible??? Maybe I will requisition one of her Christmas gift books and use that. Goodness knows she will get PLENTY of gifts this season, even though I keep fretting that we haven’t gotten her anything FUN.
Speaking of gifts: a) I LOVED Swistle’s take on Christmas for the non-religious among us. Whenever my kid has gotten too carried away by the gift aspect of the holiday, I’ve said something like, “Gifts are not the reason for Christmas.” But then it seems like the correct follow-up is some stuff about Jesus, when really, we don’t DO a whole lot with Jesus in our family. I grew up Christian, but I’ve always been pretty agnostic, and then I married a half-Jewish guy who believes in science over religion, so I’ve always felt a little at sea with the whole “what does Christmas MEAN” thing. With Carla, I’ve usually defaulted to things like “it’s about being together with people you love” and “it’s about thinking of others instead of yourself.” But I’ve never really been able to explain why the season feels important and special despite our mostly-secular take on it. Swistle said it so well, in the words I would have wanted to use had I Swistle’s wisdom and eloquence.
Well, that list item got a little out of hand so let’s regroup. We were speaking of gifts, and we are at b): I think I am pretty well done with the gift buying portion of holiday prep. There’s one thing left to get my dad, but beyond that I think everyone is accounted for. Does my husband have enough stocking stuffers? Hmm. I need to think about that. The next BIG task is to wrap everything and mail all the things to our out of town loved ones. And, of course, some of those things have yet to arrive, which is a little panic-inducing.
In other holiday status news, our tree is up and Leo seems interested but not to the point of leaping on it. We have been taking a staggered approach to putting ornaments on the tree, and so far he has been more interested in the part where we hang ornaments on the tree than the part where the ornaments are already hanging on the branches.
I ordered our holiday cards last week and am anxiously awaiting their arrival. I probably need stamps and should go take care of that. My husband and I have not yet gone through the Christmas list to update addresses; we need to tackle that next.
We are also at that point in the holiday season where boxes seem to be arriving on our doorstep continuously and I feel gross and over-consumer-y and like I’m single handedly destroying the environment.
Leo, on the other hand, LOVES IT.
Okay, let’s talk dinners, which I have delayed for 700+ words already.
Dinners for the Week of December 8-14
- Butternut Squash Soup and Ham Sandwich: The ham sandwich is for those who partake.
- Sheet Pan Veggie Shawarma: Veggies and chicken and this cilantro dressing for color and zing.
- Slow Cooker Korean Beef: I am going to add bell peppers to this because I want to.
- Sheet Pan Cuban Chicken: Yum.
- Favorite Fall Salad: I have some quinoa from the bowls we ate last week, and I should be able to reserve some cubes of butternut squash from the soup, which means it will be the perfect time to make this salad. Maybe this is what we’ll have for the first night of Hanukkah, alongside our latkes?
Are you incensed that we have to think about DINNER when we are in the midst of HOLIDAY CHAOS? How are you feeling about holiday prep?
I feel a little weary of it all, to be honest, and would love something else to think slash post about. If you have any ideas or questions for me, my Ask Me Anything form is ready and waiting.
I really do not understand how it is December 8th when it was just Thanksgiving. Like, we just threw out some leftovers. Also, I feel like I really hit the ground running with Christmas this year, so it seems like I should be further along than I am.
I also cannot believe how many packages are arriving. The amount of cardboard I am recycling!!…after, of course, yes, the cats have their turn with it.
So. Much. Cardboard. But it does help, to have a cat. He gets so excited about every box as though it’s The First Box he’s ever experienced.
Oh I hate when things like that cheesecake don’t work out. Last week I hosted a Christmas lunch for the girls and because one of them is gluten free, I made cupcakes. I followed the directions exactly and then I had to make the executive decision to take them out of the oven – a toothpick should have come out clean but it never did. I am glad I followed my instinct because they were fine, but WHY DID THAT HAPPEN. This is why I don’t follow recipes! (mostly) (for baking I usually do)
I have to go pick up restaurant gift cards for a gift exchange party we are going to this weekend, and I think I will pick up extras to put in my boys’ stockings. For once I have a lot for Rob but not much for the boys.
It’s funny, I read but haven’t commented yet on Swistle’s post. I was brought up Lutheran but I feel like I had both religious and secular traditions growing up. We had a pageant that was always followed by the singing of Happy Birthday Baby Jesus and a cake, candlelight services, etc., but we also had Santa and all of that. Even my uber-religious strict Norwegian grandpa got his neighbour to dress up like Santa to come over and see us kids one Christmas Eve. So I don’t feel conflicted about it at all. I feel like the reason for the season is warmth in the winter, lights and love, and spreading joy and kindness to people.
I have decent instincts about some things, but not about baked goods, and so I am CONSTANTLY overbaking or underbaking. It’s so frustrating!!!! I’m glad that YOU have good instincts and were able to get your cupcakes out in time. Dry cupcakes — the horror!
My upbringing sounds similar to yours — we certainly had our share of secular. I find it a little unbalancing to NOT have the religious aspect at Christmas though, so I was glad to see Swistle articulate so many good reasons for why Christmas is valuable even without religion.
Sigh, I would love to make the Korean beef, but there is no way my husband would be able to tolerate gochujang. Oh well, let’s continue to rotate off the Bland Dinner List.
Ugh, it’s so insulting to put all of that work into the desserts and to have them fall flat. I’ve been there, my friend. Mind you, I can’t imagine rum being an unpleasant taste in a dessert. We went to an international grocery store over the weekend and got some German rum balls and oh my!
Baby’s first Christmas! I am sure that Santa will bring Leo something good.
Don’t get me wrong, Birchie. I ate most of the apple cake all by myself, so it did not go to waste — rum flavor notwithstanding!
Ooh, I’m definitely heading over to read Swistle’s post. And, could you put a link to the article about time? I’m intrigued.
Dinners, ARRRRG! Why can’t we be exempt from dinners during the month of December??? Luckily we’re eating out tonight because it’s my son’t birthday. For the rest of the week, my mind is a blank. Although- you’re reminding me of that sheet pan veggie shawarma. I’ve made it before and it’s good! Maybe I can get it together to make that this week.
Argh – I can’t find the article! I think it was in Popular Science? If I track it down I will send it your way. 🙂
I am with you on wishing we could be exempt from December dinners. It’s too much!
I think it got to December 8 so quickly because Thanksgiving was late this year. Also, I imagine pumpkin caramel sauce would fix a dry cheesecake (and a lot of other things).
My prep is as follows: Christmas card designed and ordered (just this morning); gifts maybe half bought, maybe more– but I know what I am getting almost everyone and I got paid for November today so I can buy more now; nothing wrapped that wasn’t wrapped in the store, nothing mailed; no decorating done; not much baking done, though I did make mint brownies yesterday. We aren’t traveling this year until after Christmas, though, so it feels as if we have a little extra time, and North will be home soon and they will be a help.
This is inspiring me to go to the post office today and buy stamps and maybe wrap some gifts today.
The pumpkin caramel sauce was great with the cheesecake AND with the apple cake.
You sound like you are making great progress!!!
Is it just me, or does that cheesecake kinda look tasty caramelized (if you scrape off a couple of spots)? That sauce must definitely be something though.
We haven’t started Christmas at our place as the college kid isn’t back yet, so I’m good.
Fortunately, the top did not taste burnt in the least! I was so worried it would be like eating charcoal.
Parsley blech, concur. I also have butternut squash which is the only squash I ever buy and know how to do anything with – I am a basic squash bitch unlike you fancy people with your delicata (I don’t even know what that IS).
Gross and over-consumery also check. Comforted that your christmas cards are not yet out, although I assume your postal system is faster than ours (it would have to be, really).
I pulled a long-frozen roast out of the freezer to cook, we’ll see what happens. Am also maybe making a butternut-squash-cauliflower-chicken-thighs sheet pan thing. Maybe. I have two dinners out this week so who the hell knows.
I don’t know how easy it is to get your hands on delicata squash — my regular grocery store didn’t have it, and the produce guy indicated it was a fall veg; I did find a display of them at Trader Joe’s though — but if you find it, it is WORTH IT. It is super easy to cook and you can eat the skin, so there’s no pesky peeling involved!
Delicata squash is my favorite squash. YOU CAN EAT THE SKIN. We would just split those bad boys in half, deseed them, and then bake them. Add as much Parm as you want in the last five minutes and then it is DONE. PERFECT. The world’s most perfect squash. Not fiddly at all.
I haven’t really started shopping. I am hoping to have time to do that Tuesday night. But if it doesn’t happen, everyone will get their presents late, AND I DON’T CARE. (I have to tell myself that. I cannot be stressed about this.)
I’m hoping to get cards out on Wednesday, but I need more international stamps, so I need to figure out how to get to the post office and it’s all so complicated. Why is life so complicated?
Late presents just extend the holiday fun! I am also pretty sure you will get everything taken care of, though. Ugh – international stamps! I need some of those too!
HOW is Leo so stinking cute???? 😍😍😍
Cats under Christmas trees, especially when the room is kinda dark and the tree lights are glowing, is like one the best things about holiday decorations. Top tier.
We’ve got most things acquired and waiting to be wrapped? There’s a few tidbits we need to get … but we’re in pretty good shape? I hope? LOL … I’ll be putting a fireplace ambiance YT on the television soon and having a major wrapping party.
Yay for a wrapping party in front of the TV fireplace! I have done some wrapping — it’s my least favorite part of Christmas but I feel glad to have some of it done.
Leo is such a beauty! He needs those boxes to play in. Holiday times seem to fly by. I understand your dilemma about explaining a more secular Xmas and what it means. I had the same issue with my daughters. Sorry about the baking snafus; what’s wrong with your oven?
Oh Margaret. What ISN’T wrong with my oven?! I have two ovens and they both have issues, unfortunately. And the one time I had an oven guy out here to look at them, he spent several hours testing them and determined there is nothing wrong with them! So I spent $300 and he didn’t fix them, because he said nothing was wrong, but they DO NOT WORK WELL.
I think I’m done with shopping for my mother in law and daughter in law (I’ll double check tomorrow) but am now in a scramble for my husband, son, neighbor & their kids – with no lists or suggestions to guide me. Slightly panicked about it, honestly.
Thank goodness Leo is not attacking the tree. Bummer about the desserts on Thanksgiving. Why is your oven not staying warm? What’s happening there? That would make me lose my mind. I failed to plan well when the college kids came home at T-giving and then overcompensated by cooking a ton of meals. We’ve been swimming in leftovers. Today I froze some chili and mashed potatoes (not together, mind you). I’ve never frozen mashed potoatoes before, so we shall see. All that to say, I’ve not had to think about dinner in awhile and I rather liked that.
OMG, I just read that the ovens behaved perfectly for the repair guy. HOW DARE YOU, OVENS! That happens when I go to the doctor. “Can you please look at this red spot on my forehead that has suddenly decided to disappear?” “No, we cannot. Please pay for this doctor visit now.”
I was raised atheist, so I have never had a problem with finding a reason to celebrate Christmas. We celebrate because it’s awesome and fun, and also it’s dark and cold outside, so let’s have fun inside. Of course I worry as much as the next person about hyper consumerism, and mostly enjoy family and friends, but yeah, giving and getting gifts is fun too.
I’m doing great so far. Gifts that have to be shipped are shipped, cards are mailed (last batch went yesterday), and only have a few gifts still to buy, plenty of time. My main problem now is my family asking me what I would like for Christmas and my birthday. I HAVE NO IDEA. A trip to Paris? Is that too much?
I think we might have some butternut squash soup too, thanks for the reminder. Also, I saw delecata squash at the store today, I may do something with that.
Bummer that your desserts didn’t turn out how you wanted them.
Right after you posted about putting Leo on they front of your holiday card I got a card from a neighbor with only their dog and last name on it. It took a bit of deduction to figure out who the card was from since we know them by first name only. All this to say pet pictures holiday cards are in and since yours also includes pictures of human family members it’s sure to be a delight.
Weary would be the word I’d use to describe myself right now. I am trying to find my Christmas spirit but it’s buried under a lot of other sh*t and I’m kind of too tired to dig for it much of the time. I asked Will if he had a good birthday and he said he did not get enough presents. Sigh. Where did we go wrong? So now I am nervous about Christmas because we don’t give a lot of gifts. But I guess he can just be disappointed. I haven’t shopped for the rest of the boys’ gifts because I wanted to get through Will’s bday and see what he got first. I really need to order things so we aren’t flirting with them coming too late. I haven’t wrapped a thing which is fine because we don’t put the gifts out until Christmas Eve to limit the messing with and counting of gifts.
Shifting to the positive! We have our first ever Hanukkah party at Will’s bestie’s house. I am very excited!! And I am going to a Christmas choir concert that afternoon at church with Paul. It will be so magical and wonderful and maybe, just maybe, I’ll find my Christmas spirit there.
For dinners I am once again making chicken tikka masala with cauliflower which we make all the dang time. I’m also making a turkey breast in the instant pot with mashed potatoes and roasted carrots. Then we will use some of the leftover turkey to make turkey wild rice soup. Except why did I say ‘we’ – it’s I who will be doing all of the meal prep. Gah.
100% agree on the time of year when packages come through and I feel materialistic. But also tradition? expectations? generosity? fun? I will definitely check out the Swistle piece. We are interfaith and holidays with differing expectations can be sticky, so I’m happy to read different takes on it.
Leo enjoying the box and the tree – so cute! Our kitties love to sit under the tree. One who is very playful will use it as a hiding spot and then pounce on the other. Much chasing around the tree ensues. No breakable ornaments on the bottom branches!
LEOOOOO. I’m glad he’s not messing with the tree too much. What is he getting for Christmas??? The girls got an expensive feeder but I may throw in some cheap toys from PetSmart. Not that they even know what’s going on!
I think I am officially done with buying presents so now I just need to make sure everything ARRIVES ON TIME and gets wrapped. Two gifts from Etsy that I ordered over a week ago haven’t even shipped yet, so I’m getting nervous.
I loved your holiday card this year, Suzanne. Thank you for including me in your list. 🙂
I also loved your question (and Swistle’s take on Christmas for the non- religious) because I am in the same boat, the difference being that I don’t have to “explain” the holiday to a child.