Early Christmas Dinner

Since we moved to Nashville we've been getting together with my parents and sister most Sundays for a family dinner. This is always put on by my parents. But since we'll be spending Christmas with Pat's family, Pat and I decided we wanted to host my family for a holiday dinner. Last night Mom, Dad, E, and Mark came to join us for supper. We cooked something new - duck! We had crescent rolls, asparagus roll ups, mashed potatoes, pan seared duck, and blueberry chutney to go on top of the duck. We love duck but had never tried cooking it before. Yesterday morning Pat went on a wild goose chase, or rather, a duck hunt. ha! He ended up with 4 duck breasts.  This is what they looked like after Pat scored them.

And here we are sporting our matching aprons.  These were a Christmas present from my parents a couple years ago. :) 

Here is the duck all cooked.  We saved the excess fat from the pan to use for future cooking.  Duck fat potatoes sound pretty good to me.  Alton Brown calls duck fat culinary gold.  I didn't get a picture of the chutney I mentioned, but it was great.  It was made with 2 cups of brown sugar, some red and white wine vinegar, 4 cups blueberries, 1 lemon juiced, 1 cup minced onion, some freshly grated ginger, and green peppercorns. 

Here we are about to eat on our fine china! (for the first time) 

Here we are after the great meal, before exchanging gifts and having my Mom's chocolate pecan pie. 

It was so nice to have them over for a great meal.  We have a lot to learn as far as hosting meals, but you have to start somewhere and we are learning from the best (my parents and Pat's parents). 

Thanksgiving 2011 continued

Turkey butt!  Since Thanksgiving was a long day, CQ dressed with comfort and cuteness in mind.  ;-)

Uncle John and Charlie

My cousin Caroline's husband Jeremy and my Dad talking bees. 

I dare you to say my cousin Peter III isn't cool.  Yeah, I didn't think you'd try. :)

This was some of the best Thanksgiving weather we'd had in a long time, so we got plenty of outdoor time in.  Shucking oysters, drinking from the keg, visiting, snacking, etc.

 Cousin Susan and her farm grown greens. 

 Coloring Corner (I got in on the action Friday) 

my cousins, Libby and sister Kate

more cousins, Henry and Alexander 

 Libby, Elizabeth, Charlie, Kate

Oh boy!  Finally time for dinner.  My parents (and helpers) put together an amazing meal and fed 28 of us.  1 smoked turkey and 2 fried, the best dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, ambrosia, asparagus, collard greens, cranberry sauce, and more  (like desserts)!

 CHEERS!

On Friday it was a little more of the same.  More eating and hanging out. 

And before some people headed home (some people left Friday, some on Saturday) we got a great group shot:

And this one for our good family friend Dave who is in Afghanistan.  Sign reads: We Miss You Dave!

Rachael and her dad Jeremy (she rivaled Charlie in my number of photos taken over the holiday)

 E and Rachael. 

It was really wonderful to have Pat's parents hang out with my extended family.  Everyone got along great and I'll certainly never forget Charlie's first Thanksgiving.  I am one lucky gal to have such an amazing family, that is for sure!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Sorry for my week long absence.  It wasn't for lack of content, rather it was the opposite.  Hard to know where to begin...

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving we took Paul and Kate to the nearby Radnor Lake for a short hike.

 Can you see the deer?

That afternoon we cleaned ourselves up to head over to my parent's house for the start of Thanksgiving fun. 

Family members arrived from California, Florida, and Alabama.  Thanksgiving has always been a big get together for my Dad's side of the family and is sometimes the only time a year I get to see these wonderful people.

Charlie got to meet lots of relatives!  Him and my cousin Randolph

Randolph's son Henry was great with Charlie.

 Randolph and his Dad, my Uncle Peter

There was a great kid showing this year! 

Henry, Rachael, Kate, Libby, and Alexander

My second cousin Rachael, in from California.

As much as I want to call these Gameboys, I think they are called DS players...wow, that had their attention!

Rachael and my Uncle John

Aunt Patty and her first grandchild, cousin Melissa

Charlie wanted Frannie's yarn :)

Are you thinking, that looks like a nice family Thanksgiving?  Well, it sure was! But that was only Wednesday so let's continue on with the rest of the holiday tomorrow.  Until then...