Very merry Christmas, part 2

A new family tradition for Christmastime? "Imagination Dinner/Chopped/Top Chef" was a smashing hit in its first year, thanks to Mom's initiative. The six adult sibs were paired up and received a bag of surprise ingredients, which we had to use - along with any other ingredients we liked - to prepared one or more dishes for dinner. Fortunately we didn't have to receive any judge criticism after the meal, just a hearty "yum" and content bellies all around.

Noah and I - Jul - received shrimp, salad greens, a grapefruit and yeast. The end result: spicy citrus marinated shrimp salad with avocado, orange slices and a citrus vinaigrette; and yeast biscuits.

Jim and Tiff received cornish hens, Israeli couscous, kale and leeks. The end result: couscous salad with sauteed leeks & kale, and craisins, bacon & toasted pecans; and apricot-glazed cornish hens.


Steve and Katie received the trickiest ingredients: puff pastry, whole pineapple and coconut, and liqueur (can't remember the name). The end result was a custard-filled pastry topped with Nutella and coconut shavings.

Phew. And it All was Delicious. (and no fighting broke out in the process)

Meanwhile, Nonna had no trouble keeping the granddaughters occupied with books and the play kitchen.



Now it's off for a Christmas Eve walk, down the block, around Wheaton's campus and then back home before our noses and fingers get too cold.


The whole family! From Seattle, Memphis, Bloomington and Wheaton - what a joy to all be together this week.