sneaking some time for a photo overview, Christmas 2006

This Christmas: the best food we have ever eaten; a frenzy of presents; hilarity. Stories galore.

It was our first Christmas together, the Chef and I. My family adores him. My mother adores his cooking. I can’t believe my luck, again and again. We just couldn’t stop giggling.

Certainly, my dear nephew Elliott was the star of the show. My favorite moment is when he opened his plastic, pretend chainsaw, which Santa brought him. A few weeks earlier, he had cried when Daddy said it was too expensive to buy. After his initial surprise and delight, he looked up from his chainsaw and said, “But I think this is too expensive for Santa, too.”

Oh, that kid.

Prime rib with veal stock-port-balsamic reduction sauce. Roast pork loin with mustard sauce. Gluten-free bread. Fingerling potatoes roasted in duck fat.Sugar cookies. Chocolate blocks. Ginger bites.

Oh, and some hilariously competitve games of Apples to Apples

I could go on and on, but I must go back to the book. I’m writing it for all of you reading.

We hope your holidays have been restful, and filled with the delight of a little guy discovering that it is finally, actually Christmas morning.