Christmas dinner may have been a day late, but it tasted just as good as it would have on mom’s china!
We worked up an appetite with a power walk in the snow.
It was frigid!
Snowflakes attacked Larbs
And I promise I didn’t have a fan set up on set to blow my hair – this is 100% strong bluster!
Upon our return to the Marsh Harbor Inn, we cracked open the brews. You faithful readers know how much Matt and I like high quality, interesting beers. But did you know how many beers were exchanged within our family this Christmas!? We have the best bar selection on the island.
I am trying to stick with one to two drinks a night – mostly just because I tend to overdrink on Bald Head and feel sick during the night / in the morning. So if I’m going to just stick to one a night, it better be a good one!
I cashed in my token on the Dogfish Raison D’Etre, but I wasn’t bowled over by it. It was a bit metallic!? I passed it off to the taste test panel.
I ended up literally tasting my way down this line – just an ounce or two here or there. Ended up equaling a full beer, I suppose!
Two plus one equals three!
Appetizers included chips and guac and salsa
And entertainment was provided by our new friends, the innkeepers daughter and friends!! They are such sweet, nice girls!
A festive crew
Christmas Dinner did make its appearance –
Mom’s sweet potato casserole (which I LOVEEEEEEEEEEE with the marshmallows and brandy!!) and Karen’s brussels sprouts cooked in bacon and balsamic and lastly, Karen’s heirloom beans cooked from scratch with a homemade sundried tomato pesto. Recipe coming in the future because it was amazing pesto!
We also had leftover shrimp and meatballs, but neither were calling my name tonight. I was perfectly happy with my three favorite side dishes!!
I think I enjoyed them even more as a triangle on my plate than if we’d had the entirety of Christmas Dinner to choose from (we left ham and pears and more in Hillsborough).
I went back for seconds on the sweet potatoes – brandy crunch love!
Also had red wine with dinner from Espana
For dessert we loved on Candace’s Pumpkin Pie – so sorry she wasn’t here to enjoy it! (Candace is Matt Allen’s mom)
And my new girl friends gave me a mini cupcake too – shared it with mom and Larbs, fellow icing lovers!
Hopefully I’m all fueled up for a sunny run tomorrow morning. As soon as this storm passes in the night, we can’t wait to get out and explore the island.
[I finished my book!!]
I absolutely love the pic of all three of you ladies sipping your drinks… too cute!
It’s lovely to see how much happiness and love there is in your family! And that sweet potato casserole makes me miserable because I’ve never had any such dish topped with marshmallows!
Ha ha Kath, so funny. I think you mean bowled over, not “bold over.” Merry Christmas!
Mom’s sweet potato casserole (which I LOVEEEEEEEEEEE with the marshmallows and brandy!!) =
That looks soooooo good! If it’s not a family secret and you have recipe anywhere, I’d love to try that one!
Enjoy Bald Head! Your beer bottles and part about overdrinking cracked me up.
I found the entire 5 yrs I lived in NC/SC I tended to over-drink 🙂
Your day looks perfect!
i remember it was around this time last year that i started reading your blog and LOVED all of the amazing holiday food! this one’s no exception 🙂
The sweet potato casserole looks amazing!
I’ve never tried the marshmallows with the sweet potatoes- not sure how I feel about it!
sweet potato casserole is one of my favorite dishes too! and with brandy? oh myyyy 🙂 this year my aunt made cranberry sauce with brandy and it was the best it’s ever been! i made sure to bring home the leftovers 🙂
Your family looks like so much fun! Like, if I were to hang out with you guys I would never stop smiling. 🙂
I would have been all over that casserole 🙂
You guys must be having a blast!!
You are so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family–i’m envious 🙂 Merry Christmas!
What a beautiful Christmas dinner! Better late than never 😉 glad you’re having such a wonderful holiday!
I loveee the pictures with you and your family collages!!
and YUMMM to the sweet potato casserole! I made some yesterday for my fam on christmas eve too!
this inn looks like it’s from the movies, it’s beautiful
All the pictures are lovely! and mmmmmmmmm pumpkin pie! wish it was a trad dessert here! xx
I have never had a sweet potato casserole before; I think it’s more of
an American thing? I am intrigued by the marshmallow topping…seems a
little strange, but good
You have such a beautiful family! what a wonderful holiday
This is such a lovely Christmas. You guys really do know how to spend the holidays. 🙂
so nice that you have so much of your family together there!
All sides is the way to go!! What I always do- the main dish is rarely veg friendly! Hope you have a great day today!
Christmas DInner a Day Late is no problem and looks delish as ever!!
Those pics of you, your mom, and sis are too cool, especially the one with larbs in the front drinking beer!
SO glad you all had a great christmas dinner!
xoxo
What a crazy fun day!! Love the taste testing part. How fun!
That is a GREAT “strong bluster” pic…seriously!
Looks like a lovely time. 🙂
I introduced my parents to my (roasted) Brussels sprouts when I hosted our Christmas dinner this year. They liked them, even though they thought they wouldn’t! Win.
My Mom contributed her famous Sweet Potato Casserole, which is topped with butter, brown sugar and pecans galore. It’s like candy, seriously. I love it, but in very. small. doses. (sugar coma!).
~
The beans look amazing, can’t wait for the recipe.
Christmas is still Christmas, even a little late 😀 Glad you were able to enjoy yourself and all the nice company…and a cupcake! Enjoy your day, Kath!
Brandy in sweet potatoes? Brilliant. I thought there was no way that sweet potato casserole could be more delicious. Clearly I was wrong.
Looks like a great meal!
Dinner looks absolutely delicious- definitely something toi warm you up after the snow drizzle and wicked wind!
Loveeee your pictures! 🙂 Looks like such a fun time!
Your family has some very photogenic genes 🙂 Beautiful
I love that breezy photo of you Kath!! Looks like you had a great time!
Looks like so so so much fun!!
Brussels with bacon sound amazing!! I think that’s going to make an appearance in my mom’s kitchen pretty soon…
Oooh…my mom does a delicious brusslel sprouts with balsamic and bacon also! Hers has butternut sqush in it too, but I wonder if they originated from the same recipe… I think it’s originally from Bon Appetit. Sooo yummy.
I’m a side dish girl myself. Dinner looks yummy 🙂 Dustin would absolutely love that pumpkin pie!
That dinner looks delicious, but that pumpkin pie looks like it stole the show. 😉
love the pictures!
i don’t know if anyone has asked this already, but how do you make those collage photospreads? photoshop?
PS Elements + Picasa 🙂