parley view parsnip... new tradations.

People, families and traditions are always evolving.

Where is it written in stone, that we have to celebrate a certain way.
A huge dinner on Christmas Day or 500 hundred presents under the tree ?

Running ragged buying presents for people who will possibly dislike the gift ?

Just because we should or it is a tradition.
Or even running around buying, cooking and driving ourselves crazy even for people
we like and love.
.
For the last few years I enjoyed what few Holiday traditions I liked.
A tree, a few decorations and of course Christmas Cards.
.

One of the best parts of the X walking out one morning on our family,
is we got the chance to say how we would like to celebrate the holidays.

We started by having something different for Christmas dinner.
Why do we need another Turkey dinner, we just had one.
In America we just had Thanksgiving in November.
Plus why do we really need all that food ?

If your having 30 plus people and 4 tables of family to feed that is different.
But as a small adult family with no little ones, we don't need all that.
.

Since moving to Tucson, Daughter and Son decided to cook on Christmas Eve.

Then sit down to a nice quiet enjoyable dinner. 

On Christmas Day we have a brunch open presents
then warm up the leftovers for dinner. So easy no fuss and muss.
.

Well this year we changed it even more.

This year we went very simple.
So for Christmas Eve Dinner we decided on a Japanese Hot Pot.
.

 We didn't have the right pot so we used my electric pan.
Daughter beautifully cut mushrooms, leeks, turnip, cabbage, carrots and tofu.
.

Potatoes, chicken and a miso based soup was then added and cooked.
.

We ate family style where one picks out what they would like and put
into their small bowl.
Fabulous.
And if you think this weird, Japanese Son made Tacos for Christmas Dinner !

For Christmas Day we had brunch.
.....

Deviled Eggs, Stuffed Mushrooms, fruit, Monkey Bread, cheese plate and crackers.
Easy fun and very delicious.
.

Daughter always makes her fruit and vegetables look so wonderful.
She tried to make Monkey Bread but I didn't have the right pan.
Looks different but tasted great.
Later Christmas Day for dinner we made Panini's
using what (little) was left from brunch.
.
 So we changed it all up had a wonderful quiet no fuss or muss Holiday.
Just what I needed.
We enjoyed the weeks leading up to Christmas and the day very much.
Traditions evolve and we made it work for our very small family.
 .
And just because I can
in case you missed the best part of our Christmas.
Here is your pretty to start the week.

The Square Ones under the tree.
Dreaming of "chkikin" strips.
Since they are such gud dugs Santa was very very gud to them !


cheers. . . parsnip
music. . . In The Bleak Midwinter,  Annie Lennox