Figure we can all share how our Christmas was. Mine was smashing. We had about 25 people, which is the usual. I did a 12 pound ham but, not spiral cut. It was so much moister and flavorful than the spiral cut. I did a bourbon maple glaze and I absolutely singed some of my hair doing it. All in good fun. My sister-in-law's boyfriend is actually a chef in the North Carolina area, and came over in the afternoon. We had a blast drinking some awesome beers and he was directing me through the stuff that I was doing. I told him I wanted to be the head, and I wanted to just check in for his approval. I wanted to see if all of my Jacob training has paid off. It definitely did. We did a veggie dish that consisted of parsnips, fennel, carrots, peppers, squash and zucchini, shallots and eggplant with a balsamic reduction. It was a whole hotel pan full and people just kept scooping and scooping. Very rustic. My mashed were roasted garlic and parsnip mashed. I used a hand masher because I like sort of lumpy homestyle potatoes. I just kept throwing pads of butter at it. They were insane. My uncle did a military sized pot of meatballs and a very spicy pepperoni laden tomato sauce for sandwiches.
It was definitely the best food year we've had, and that says a lot, my family is full of pretty damn good cooks. I had a great year, and so much more confidence then you can last year when I was already a Stella/FCS follower. It just keeps getting better. I hope everybody's holiday is going as awesome as mine.
Dave
