NuTcRaCkEr, CoUsInS, zOoLiGhTs, and a ChRiStMaS cArOl PaRtY

Wow December has flown by and been cram packed with fun adventures! Pretty much all these adventures have happened in the past week. Nothing like waiting until the very last minute to do festive things. 

Last week I went with my SIL and niece to see the Nutcracker. I LOVE the nutcracker and was really excited to go see it. Jeff was also really excited for me to go see it...with someone other than him. ;-) BAH! One day he will be made to enjoy the amazing ballet with me. Mwahahahahahahahahhaha! Any way, Amber and Rylie had never been to the Nutcracker so this was an extra special experience. And of course, Rylie LOVED it! Ok....so  I know this is cheesey, but I totally became choked up at the first of the ballet because it was such a wonderful feeling being able to share something I love with two people I love and have them love it too. Awwwwwwe!  Yay for the Nutcracker goodness!

Getting beautiful. 

Rylie showing off the beautiful. 

A few day's later we had a Christmas celebration with the Dahl side of the family before my cousins from Norway went back home. Can you tell which ones were adopted? Yeah, yeah, I totally stand out. ;-) 

Later that night Jeff and I took his niece and nephew to Zoolights. So fun! I had never been but I totally recommend it. 

Last but not least, Jeff and I hosted a Christmas Carol themed dinner party. 

SO, I am sure you are wondering where in the world I would get and idea for something like that. 

Well, One day Jeff and I were shopping at Walmart, ugh! I know, I know! I hate Walmart but it really is the closest option and open all night long. Any way, there we were at Walmart buying some Cornish game hens when out of the corner of my eye I happened to notice a goose. A frozen goose that is. This spurred the topic of never having eaten a goose before. 

THEN, a brilliant idea started forming in my creative mind. 

We should have a Cratchet inspired dinner, goose and all. For then next month I researched everything I could about traditional old English Christmas feasts.

 It came down to a menu of the following: 

Roasted Goose

English roasted potatoes

Glazed carrots....(these ended up just being boiled)

Stuffing

Rolls

Mincemeat tarts

Sugar plums

Christmas pudding (also known as figgy pudding or plum pudding)

Brandy sauce

Butter Rum sauce

Wassail

I also added a pumpkin pie and a cherry pie for good measure...mostly because all those alcohol soaked dried fruit deserts made me a bit frightened. 

In the end, the roasted potatoes didn't get roasted enough...although the duck fat did give them an EXCELLENT flavor, the goose fell off the bone, the brandy flavored sauce was bleh, but the rum saturated sauce was excellent. Mmmmmmmm. Half the table loved the plum pudding...the other half, including myself, could do without eating it again. Same with the mincemeat. Half the table, including myself and Jeff, really enjoyed the mincemeat with a hardy helping of rum sauce, the other half....just enjoyed the rum sauce. 

An excellent party! Good food, good friends, and some totally awesome jokes from the Christmas crackers.