Holidays in my family start in November but end sometime in February. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and then birthdays spread out the gatherings and celebrations. Scott's side of the family all live in the same place, so planning meals and gatherings is relatively easy. My family, however, is a little spread out. My parents, and the Johnsen side live in south Georgia, right on the Florida line. My brother and his family lives on the west side of Georgia, right on the Alabama line. Scott and I, of course, live on the other side, right on the South Carolina line. We love our state lines, right?! And my grandparents and the Porter side live in Charleston. Needless to say, its a little difficult getting everyone together all in one place.
Scott and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving with the Brown family on Turkey day, with cousins and nieces, aunts and uncles, grandparents and friends. It was a beautiful day of buffet-style food and desserts that never end. My side of the family came up that following Friday for a Turkey Day event that weekend. My brother, his wife, and two kids came and stayed at our house, and my parents and grandfather came as well. S and I were so excited to host our first Thanksgiving meal together as a married couple. We decided on our menu and got to work!
It is no secret that S loves to cook. And by golly, he is pretty darn good at it. Not only does it taste good, it looks good, too! Here was the menu:
Charcuterie Plate
Cheese, Herb and Nut Pull apart Bread
Green Olive and Pomegranate Dip
Roasted Root Vegetables with Soy and Star Anise
Golden Cauliflower with Pine Nuts and Currants
Prosciutto Wrapped Green Beans with Tangerine Glaze
Sweet Potato and Turnip Gratin
Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips
Rye, Kale, Mushroom and Pumpkin Seed Dressing
Roasted Turkey with Lemons and Herbs
and my Mother's famous Cranberry Chutney
Pecan Pumpkin Pie
Apple Spice Hand Pies with Vanilla Ice Cream
Scott and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving with the Brown family on Turkey day, with cousins and nieces, aunts and uncles, grandparents and friends. It was a beautiful day of buffet-style food and desserts that never end. My side of the family came up that following Friday for a Turkey Day event that weekend. My brother, his wife, and two kids came and stayed at our house, and my parents and grandfather came as well. S and I were so excited to host our first Thanksgiving meal together as a married couple. We decided on our menu and got to work!
It is no secret that S loves to cook. And by golly, he is pretty darn good at it. Not only does it taste good, it looks good, too! Here was the menu:
Charcuterie Plate
Cheese, Herb and Nut Pull apart Bread
Green Olive and Pomegranate Dip
Roasted Root Vegetables with Soy and Star Anise
Golden Cauliflower with Pine Nuts and Currants
Prosciutto Wrapped Green Beans with Tangerine Glaze
Sweet Potato and Turnip Gratin
Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips
Rye, Kale, Mushroom and Pumpkin Seed Dressing
Roasted Turkey with Lemons and Herbs
and my Mother's famous Cranberry Chutney
Pecan Pumpkin Pie
Apple Spice Hand Pies with Vanilla Ice Cream
It was so much fun having so many people over. Saturday night we had My parents, grandfather, brother, sister-in law and two kids, Scott's parents, grandmother, aunt and uncle, their grandson, and our niece all in our house. I love when both of our families can get together!
I feel like Christmas came and went, so fast! I have been secretly planning our first Christmas card ever since we started dating! I have a whole lot of respect for the families with children who get it all together to take fun pictures and make fancy cards. S and I had this great idea, but with him working in Atlanta most of this season, it was hard to coordinate begin together in our spot with a photographer. Or even a camera, for that matter. So we are saving our fun idea for next year, but I was still pretty excited to send out our first card. I guess its not every year you can put your wedding picture and engagement session photos on your card anyway. And they just happened to coordinate with our tags and wrapping that we bought for this year.
I feel like Christmas came and went, so fast! I have been secretly planning our first Christmas card ever since we started dating! I have a whole lot of respect for the families with children who get it all together to take fun pictures and make fancy cards. S and I had this great idea, but with him working in Atlanta most of this season, it was hard to coordinate begin together in our spot with a photographer. Or even a camera, for that matter. So we are saving our fun idea for next year, but I was still pretty excited to send out our first card. I guess its not every year you can put your wedding picture and engagement session photos on your card anyway. And they just happened to coordinate with our tags and wrapping that we bought for this year.
S and I decorated our second tree together! He made the star the first year when we were dating. I love our hodgepodge of ornaments and trinkets. I made his stocking last year for Christmas, and he got me mine. I had plans to make a stocking for Sudie and Hendricks, but that will have to happen next year!
It has been so fun starting new traditions and sharing with each other the traditions we had growing up. He watched Rudolph and The Grinch every year on Christmas Eve, so I was excited to buy all the original Christmas movies. They were always on in the background, but I had never actually sat down to watch them. So, this year I watched Rudolph for the first time!
I had LOTS of commissions this year, so I spent most of my Christmas Break from school painting. I painted all the way up to Christmas Eve! Among all the presents and greenery was also lots of paint, brushes and canvases. Thats the way I like it, anyway.
Christmas Day we went to the Arthurs, and then went to Scott's parents house for lunch, and then came back home to settle in and sit still. It was a beautiful day of family, friends, and good food.
My parents came up a week later to celebrate Christmas. It was so nice to have a relaxing weekend with just my parents. Scott, of course, wowed them (and me!) with a beautiful meal. He prepared a rocket and pampelmousse salad, scallops in a lemongrass and sundered tomato broth with bacon and cucumber, purple potatoes with tarragon and mustard, and then a beautiful and scrumptious Arctic Char. The finale was a blueberry creme brûlée.
I had LOTS of commissions this year, so I spent most of my Christmas Break from school painting. I painted all the way up to Christmas Eve! Among all the presents and greenery was also lots of paint, brushes and canvases. Thats the way I like it, anyway.
Christmas Day we went to the Arthurs, and then went to Scott's parents house for lunch, and then came back home to settle in and sit still. It was a beautiful day of family, friends, and good food.
My parents came up a week later to celebrate Christmas. It was so nice to have a relaxing weekend with just my parents. Scott, of course, wowed them (and me!) with a beautiful meal. He prepared a rocket and pampelmousse salad, scallops in a lemongrass and sundered tomato broth with bacon and cucumber, purple potatoes with tarragon and mustard, and then a beautiful and scrumptious Arctic Char. The finale was a blueberry creme brûlée.
So, into January we were(are) still celebrating the Holidays! The following week was Christmas in Lagrange, and then the birthday celebrations begin! In January, we have five birthdays!
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