Family Feast

Christmas Dinner with the Gays and the Hunts included our boys and daughter-in-law Michelle's family.  What a treat to have Michelle's family back home to West Virginia after moving to the west coast!

I found a great price on a whole tenderloin, Australian grass-fed beef, and froze it until a few days before Christmas.

 
I think everyone likes Shrimp Kabobs:

Our kabobs included local butternut squash.

Maple Roasted Carrots included colorful farmers market finds:

Chris made the Mozzarella Tomato Basil Salad and it disappeared quickly:

Michelle whipped up her famous pies in no time:

I loved the apple-cranberry pie, full of all the fruits of the season.

She put the boys to work cutting the unpeeled green and red apples.

Warm Cranberry Wassail says Christmas, and the orange slices were good too.

Our house is small but the plates were large and the buffet line moved right along.

Michelle's Dad Doug made my day saying "Mmmmm"  after each bite.

Bob tried out the portable picnic table the kids got him for his birthday.

The Tenderloin and the Kabob recipes are from McCormick.

The Wassail recipe is from Ocean Spray.

I cut the carrots and marinated yesterday and roasted today with the tenderloin.  The recipe inspiration was from Bon Appetit.

Maple Roasted Carrots
(Serves 8)

1 pint container Carrots, assorted colors
Peel and slice evenly.

2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves, finely grated
1/4 cup Maple Syrup
2 teaspoons Cumin Seeds
1 Lemon, thinly sliced, seeds removed.
Roast for 40 minutes.   

I was so pleased with the copycat recipe for "Uncle Ben's" Long Grain and Wild Rice seasoning. 

Copycat Uncle Ben's Long Grain & Wild Rice
(Serves 4)

1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/4 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Turmeric, ground
1/2 teaspoon Cumin, ground
2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
1 cup Long Grain or Brown Rice
1/3 cup Dry Wild Rice
Combine spices and broth in a saucepan.  Add rice.  Bring to a boil, the lower heat to simmer and cook throughout.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!