Saturday night was dinner with old friends: London broil, gratin of yukon gold and sweet potatoes, roasted asparagus with truffle oil, baby romaine with pears and herbed goat cheese, served with 2008 Twisted Douro. For dessert, there was honey panna cotta with caramelized balsamic strawberries and a Taylor Fladgate 10-year Tawny Port. Over the course of dinner and dessert, we decided that next year’s trip may or may not begin/end in Paris, will likely involve a river cruise and/or the Orient Express. Or we may go the Sao Paolo for the Brazilian Grand Prix, then go to Buenos Aires and Mendoza. The world is just too damn big!
Sunday, Mom and MJ came for a marathon cookie-baking session. I got up early, and put a big batch of beef stew in the crockpot. On arrival, I made scrambled eggs and toast for Mom. We had doughs ready that could be hand-formed, so Mom could work sitting down. Lunch was turkey soup made from the carcasses of the Thanksgiving turkeys. The jerk turkey gave it a mild spiciness, and the roasted bird contributed a deep roasted flavor. After lunch, I was instructed in the fine art of springerle, with moderate success. In all, we made 5 batches of cookies, a fair day’s work. The beef stew was delicious, we taste-tested some of the cookies for dessert, then I drove Mom and MJ home. It felt like midnight, even though it was only 6 pm.
The baking session made Mom so happy. She was chatty, reminisced about Christmases growing up, and laughed more than she has in a while. I am resolving to do more of this; Mom needs to get out and connect, and I need to cherish the time I have with her. So, the week of Christmas we will make the traditional German stollen, and in the New Year, we will bake bread.
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