Newlywed Christmas.

Our first married Christmas was altogether more wonderful than I could have imagined.  But who am I kidding, everything is especially wonderful with Alex around.  

Hanging our stockings.  Next year there will be three! 

One of my favourite traditions my family has is our way of celebrating Christmas Eve.  The day itself is filled with last minute preparations (decorating, pre-Christmas baking, etc.), but it's the dinner before  Midnight Mass that is really exquisite.  I did my best to replicate this meal for our Christmas Eve, and I have to say that it turned out really quite well.  When my siblings and I were small, my parents were very determined that we be made familiar with the traditions of our ancestors, and that is how the Christmas Eve dinner was born.  This meal consists of a meat pie, called Tourtière.  This was a staple dish in the French Canadian tradition of the Christmas Eve réveillon (a long party, generally lasting till after midnight).  Made from ground pork, beef, and spices, it is deliciously savoury and moist.  Oyster Stew comes from the Irish Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on Christmas Eve.  During the mass immigration of Irish to America during the Potato Famine,  there was a burgeoning supply of oysters along the Eastern Coast, and the Irish substituted oysters for the salted fish they stewed back in Ireland.  Though simple, this soup is decadent (oysters, butter, and cream? yes please).  Just to fill out the meal, we have a plate of good cheese and fruit, which always compliment the pie and stew so very well.  Alex claimed it was the "best meal he's ever eaten".  I think he's just being great as usual, but still, there is something so delicious about this food that I might say it is the best meal I've ever eaten as well.

Forgive the poor quality of the iphone pictures...

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Christmas Day

Christmas Stars. 

German Braid Bread with coffee during presents.  

Best gift of all. 

Spiced Pear Gorgonzola and Toasted Walnut Pie from Local Milk.  SO yummy. 

Mid-afternoon Baked Brie.

Merry Christmas!