A good time was had by all

How do you top an evening of Mixed Nuts and Chinese food.  Easy! Decide to cook a dish for Christmas dinner that is complicated especially one you have never attempted before.   When I read Retorte Solstice Dinner entry I knew I had to try the spiral cut, sausage-stuffed, bacon latticed pork loin roast.   On Christmas morning as I lay in bed sipping my tea I questioned my own sanity.  The stuffing I prepared on Christmas Eve.  Of course I deviated from her recipe.  I used Cajun spice instead of chipotle, omitted the cheese and used dried cranberries soaked in maple syrup.    Often when I am up for a new adventure my DH becomes the voice of reasoning.  Put me and a sharp knife in the same room and one of us will be rushed to the hospital for  stitches.  As we did not know which doctor was working at the Emergency room Christmas Day, DH suggested he spiral cut the pork.

With a newly sharpened knife the cutting was incredibly easy.  His basket weaving ability shone through and made the bacon lattice seem simple.  Within 30 minutes the roast was cut, stuffed, tied, latticed, in the oven, the entire work surface sterilized and the knives scalded with hot water.

I made two gluten free desserts, Pumpkin Filling (once again thanks to Retorte) which I served as a mousse without the crust and Raspberry Layered Dessert with a cornflake crust.  As we were doing potluck with the neighbours, I cooked mashed turnips with carrots, and a side of steamed Brussels sprouts.   The neighbours arrived with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, chicken biryani, mixed vegetables in a cheese sauce, trays of sweet and a gluten free trifle.

The entire day was peaceful and unhurried.  DH sat the dinner table with our Christmas china immediately after breakfast.   I can handle any cooking disaster as long as the table is set.  Telephone calls from my children, my sister Wanda, my brother, Julia arrival to spend the night and a call to our cousin San were really the highlight of our day.  To me that is what Christmas is all about, being with the ones you love.