Hickory Smoked Lemon Cognac Herbed Turkey (on the BBQ)
Lamb Bracciole stuffed with Pesto and Goat Cheese
Fig, Fennel and Almond Stuffing
Cauliflower Puree Soup with Lobster Dumplings
Scarlet Poached Pears with Blue Cheese and Pecan Topping
Persimmon Pomegranate Salad with Cumin, Lime and Honey Dressing
Sweet Potato Spoon Bread
Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Pecans
Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish (from NPR)
Homemade Lion House Rolls
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Pumpkin Pie
Eggnog Ice Cream
Raisin Filled Cookies
Lamb Bracciole stuffed with Pesto and Goat Cheese
Fig, Fennel and Almond Stuffing
Cauliflower Puree Soup with Lobster Dumplings
Scarlet Poached Pears with Blue Cheese and Pecan Topping
Persimmon Pomegranate Salad with Cumin, Lime and Honey Dressing
Sweet Potato Spoon Bread
Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Pecans
Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish (from NPR)
Homemade Lion House Rolls
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Pumpkin Pie
Eggnog Ice Cream
Raisin Filled Cookies
Nah.....we weren't feeling ambitious at all and no, we didn't cook all of that! Many items came from another chef close by. Thankfully we had a wonderful family around our table to enjoy all those flavors, textures and aromas.
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This time of year lends itself to reflection and gratitude. We are so blessed every day of our busy little lives. We have two incredible children who delight and amuse us constantly. They are so smart and have such great humor-which helps when you live in this house! Brett is SO CLOSE to finishing his PhD and we are trying hard to be patient in all the details it takes to finish. Brett has had such a long, hard road with this final degree and I am deeply proud of him for finishing strong.
We have lived these last 8 years on love and prayers and hope that someday soon we will see what it's like to live on a bit more money....may be interesting! We have learned how to shop very creatively. We have learned how to yard sale and have decorated our home with items that are by all means considered cheap. We have learned to cook very simple dishes and we don't go out to eat much at all! We adore the library, we adore being home and hanging out together and we make the best we can out of not going on big vacations once or twice a year. It has been a humbling and simple time but we are better for it. The lessons we have learned will stay with us forever and our desire to "have it all" has gone out the window.....
This coming year we are looking forward to seeing Brett graduate. We could not afford to go to his Masters graduation so this one is a MUST! It looks like Minneapolis will be our destination and I think we will find plenty to do there. We have promised the kids this year will be the start of collecting their passport stamps with a jaunt into Canada after Brett's graduation. They are excited to start seeing parts of the world around them.
We are grateful for our home we live in and for all the people who have helped us stay in it. I feel so blessed knowing our children are safe, have an excellent school and amazing friends. It has been worth all the sacrifices and all the hard work to see them growing strong and happy. I am grateful for every shovel full of dirt Brett and I have lifted to plant trees and grass and flowers. We have learned how to tackle jobs in small bits and see the end results in stages. We have grown together through it all.
It has been an amazing year and although I have loved every minute of it, I really don't want to repeat it! Here's looking forward to a wonderful Christmas then on to a clean slate for 2010.
