Cheese, glorious cheese!

I generally didn't like the Rankin-Bass holiday specials, even as a kid. Waaaay too cheesy for me even when I was a seven-year-old. I've been cynical a long time.

However, I always loved the Heat Miser song from A Year Without a Santa Claus. Kind of hated the rest of it, but I still occasionally have this go through my brain.

( Clicky for YouTubey )

And on that note, Four Bad Lessons Rudolph the Red-Nosed-Reindeer Teaches Kids. Or, if you prefer, The Year Kenny Loggins Ruined Christmas. Which made me fall out of my chair laughing.

Xmas (Un)Wrap-Up

My dad came over Xmas Eve. That was the tradition he grew up with, and it makes scheduling easier. We had a pleasant low-key evening with fresh Dungeness crab, sourdough bread, and garlic butter. I made a yogurt cheesecake with dried apricots and Dad brought a >40-year-old port. The port was a bit past its prime but still quite tasty.

We spent Xmas day with etaine_pommier and J! A quiet, silly, cat-filled day with good food, booze, and most importantly company.

Today we met my mother for dim sum. That went fine. It works out well for various reasons and this is the second time we've done it; I think it will continue as tradition.

This week's Resolution Recipe comes from a cookbook ldyanna gave me for my birthday. It's the first one I've tried from it. Gratin of Scallops with Jerusalem Artichoke Puree and Proscuitto.
( Jerusalem Artichokes are neither from Jerusalem, nor are they artichokes. Discuss. )