Lots of shoes = happy house! During this winter holiday season, we celebrate Christmas, mochi-tsuki and New Year's. Plus, an acknowledgement that we are in the middle of Hanukkah.
Our annual Christmas party is going strong for over twenty years, with lifelong friends who are truly part of our ohana. We have laughed and lived through all of us getting married, changing jobs, having kids, getting divorced, losing loved ones and watching our kids grow up...this party is one of the household's most treasured holiday traditions.
A full house is a happy house for me with our friends and now our kids' friends DRIVING over too. Obviously, we eat a lot. This year, we opted for pre-purchased ham and turkeys (yes, plural) from Dickey's BBQ. Even with close to 30 people, we still have LOTS of turkey and ham, plus ham bones, a turkey carcass, a Silicon Valley shutdown and lots of cooking time!
Here's what's cooking this week.
Our annual Christmas party is going strong for over twenty years, with lifelong friends who are truly part of our ohana. We have laughed and lived through all of us getting married, changing jobs, having kids, getting divorced, losing loved ones and watching our kids grow up...this party is one of the household's most treasured holiday traditions.
A full house is a happy house for me with our friends and now our kids' friends DRIVING over too. Obviously, we eat a lot. This year, we opted for pre-purchased ham and turkeys (yes, plural) from Dickey's BBQ. Even with close to 30 people, we still have LOTS of turkey and ham, plus ham bones, a turkey carcass, a Silicon Valley shutdown and lots of cooking time!
Here's what's cooking this week.
Mystery Manapua Sunday
My Daddy's Fried Rice with leftover ham, topped with eggs of each household's preference. One sunny-side up, one over-easy, one scrambled, and one in my father's 'rubber egg' style.
Prep: I've been boiling a ham hock since this afternoon. The house smells like bacon!
#LeftoversRoulette Monday
A variation on My Mom's Portuguese Bean Soup, with hock-stock from Sunday. One of our friends (from the above-noted party) gave us a ham soup starter pack to try. Mahalo ACT :)
Bonus #1: Getting homemade mochi and an-mochi from a friend. Mahalo and Merry Christmas KU!
Bonus #2: Making Jelly granola shortbread cookies with the kids. Full house is a happy house.
Experiment: Chia Seeds with yogurt for breakfast. Apparently 1/2T goes a LONG way and you need to ramp up.
#LeftoversRoulette Tuesday
Pillsbury Manapua with leftover turkey, brie, apples and dried cranberries. I love the flexibility of this recipe!
Bonus
Ginger Sugar Cookies and requisite decorating.
I had the audacity to suggest buying Trader Joe's gingerbread non-gender specific people to decorate, and was soundly and appropriately smacked down. Even though the kids are well past the Santa Claus stage, the tradition of cookie making is still important and essential. Family rules :)
Prep: Boiling turkey bones today for another round of stock!
Christmas Eve Wednesday and #MeatlessOneDay
Spinach Salad is our annual responsibility for Christmas Eve potluck. I'm eating sides and so at Ieast one household member will be meatless.
Merry Christmas Thursday to All!
#LeftoversRoulette Friday
Japanese Turkey Curry, with leftover turkey and some of the stock from boiling the turkey bones.
Thank you all Ohana-ers for hanging with me. Wishing you and your ohaha Mele Kalikimaka and onward we go toward the year of the Sheep!
My Daddy's Fried Rice with leftover ham, topped with eggs of each household's preference. One sunny-side up, one over-easy, one scrambled, and one in my father's 'rubber egg' style.
Prep: I've been boiling a ham hock since this afternoon. The house smells like bacon!
#LeftoversRoulette Monday
A variation on My Mom's Portuguese Bean Soup, with hock-stock from Sunday. One of our friends (from the above-noted party) gave us a ham soup starter pack to try. Mahalo ACT :)
Bonus #1: Getting homemade mochi and an-mochi from a friend. Mahalo and Merry Christmas KU!
Bonus #2: Making Jelly granola shortbread cookies with the kids. Full house is a happy house.
Experiment: Chia Seeds with yogurt for breakfast. Apparently 1/2T goes a LONG way and you need to ramp up.
#LeftoversRoulette Tuesday
Pillsbury Manapua with leftover turkey, brie, apples and dried cranberries. I love the flexibility of this recipe!
Bonus
Ginger Sugar Cookies and requisite decorating.
I had the audacity to suggest buying Trader Joe's gingerbread non-gender specific people to decorate, and was soundly and appropriately smacked down. Even though the kids are well past the Santa Claus stage, the tradition of cookie making is still important and essential. Family rules :)
Prep: Boiling turkey bones today for another round of stock!
Christmas Eve Wednesday and #MeatlessOneDay
Spinach Salad is our annual responsibility for Christmas Eve potluck. I'm eating sides and so at Ieast one household member will be meatless.
Merry Christmas Thursday to All!
#LeftoversRoulette Friday
Japanese Turkey Curry, with leftover turkey and some of the stock from boiling the turkey bones.
Thank you all Ohana-ers for hanging with me. Wishing you and your ohaha Mele Kalikimaka and onward we go toward the year of the Sheep!
