A christmas eve to remember

As far as Christmas eve's go, this one was filled with the same people who are always with us....my family, my sister and her family, my other sister and her family and my mom. This year I was lucky enough to be the host for the dinner and dessert portion of our evening. Everyone also seemed to hang out at our house all day - and by everyone I mean a 6 year old, 5 year old, 4 year old, 3 year old and 6 month old - plus all of the adults that are attached to these children. For me, that meant a lot of chaos and a lot of kids fighting.

The fighting and crying, I think that it was put our chi out of balance. I had a great dinner planned, at least for me a great dinner (because I don't really cook). So, the plan was whole chickens on the grill (the kind with the beer can, ya know). Then some au-gratin potatoes, salad, asparagus salad thing, rolls, and dessert.

I thought I was ahead of the game as I actually went to the grocery store BEFORE christmas eve (as my friend Kathy can attest to, and I was so happy to see her while I was there with my list, in torn jeans, no make up and greasy hair......I was not so happy to see all of the other people in her family that were there along with her, but that is the price one must pay for going out without showering first). Anyhow, I was prepared.

Well, the chickens were still frozen on christmas eve. No biggie, the hubby was doing them on the grill, he had made an entire turkey on that thing just a month before, the grill could certainly handle two little chickens.

I was making a new recipe for the potatoes. You see, generally you should make the recipe first, eat it, then tweak it for guests. I read reviews on it before I made it....I thought that was enough. I cooked the potatoes before I put them in the pan. I made the augratin sauce twice because I did not have enough the first time. Then, I had it all done, and added the bread crumbs with some smoked papricka.

The asparagus was also a new recipe. It was grilled asparagus with garlic, salt, pepper, sun dried tomatoes and oil. Very simple to make, not too many ingredients.

My sister (the cook) made a brie wrapped in a puff pastry with brown sugar and toasted almonds. With the left over puff pastry she made these little mini muffin sized puffed pastries with peanut butter, marshmellow, and chocolate chips.

It sounds very very good doesn't it?

The chicken was still frozen after being on the grill for over an hour, but only frozen in parts, other parts were fully cooked - we ended up eating left over ham from the night before

The augratin potatoes were a bit crunchy despite being precooked and in the oven for well over an hour, plus the smoked papricka was a bit much and the cheese sauce was too thick

The asparagus was good, but I didn't pay attention while mixing it up and I added waaaayyy too much pepper so they had a garlic and pepper KICK

The dessert puff pastries were undercooked and are still sitting on my counter

Next year, we are going to someone else's house for dinner!