Yes… I had “two side dishes” for our family Christmas meal. So my second offering was a casserole dish full of baked beans… my step-Grandma Rose’s recipe! Yum… and I’m glad there were a few leftovers for my lunch today!!!

So typically I’m the “dessert guy” at my family holiday gatherings. But this year my sister Jen mixed it up and I became the “two side dish” guy. New culinary terrain for me to tackle. As our family meals are frequently a bit “beige”… I decided to go with a colorful & loaded kale salad! Full of yumminess like grilled chicken, roasted sweet potatoes & brussel sprouts, wild rice, apples, goat cheese & nuts!

Looks like it went over well with my family… healthy & beautiful in a handmade pottery bowl!!!

… and to all a good night!

Wishing you & yours a wonderful holiday season. Enjoying time spent with family & friends. Sharing old stories. Creating new memories. And extra special this year as the celebrations seem to all be lining up on this special day! Enjoy the holidays… no matter which you choose to celebrate. Make it merry. Make it special. Make it fun in your own special way!

Prepping in the kitchen for our Christmas meal… thinking these will go into a nice salad?! And then maybe back into the same serving bowl when it’s ready to go?! I mean, we all know that homemade food tastes even better in handmade pottery!

Remembering the childhood Christmas Eve nights driving home from my grandparents house in our pajamas… watching out the car windows to see if we could see Rudolph’s red nose & listening to the radio as they broadcast the “Santa Tracking” updates. Enjoy the night, cherish the memories.

Holiday preparations are in the works.
I know what I’m making for tomorrow’s Christmas feast… I’m on “two side dishes.”

The real question is what will they be served in???

Just a couple more holiday star ornaments making their Christmas Debut… one glazed & one soda-fired! Thanks Julie & Lisa for sharing pics from your beautiful Christmas trees!

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”…
and it appears as though one of my holiday stars has made it to its new home… err, tree!!!
Thanks for the festive photo Anna!

What’s better than seeing WICKED for the first time?… seeing it a second time in 3D today!!!

And then soon enough… WICKED the sing-along version coming soon to a theater near you!!! Who else is ready to “defy gravity” with me?… singing & “dancing through life” together!!!