My husband Demetrius and I do not exchange Christmas gifts. Instead, we have a Holiday Dinner buffet and invite our friends who otherwise have no place to go, or don’t want to cook for just two people. This is our sixth year for this tradition, so we barely need to send invitations anymore. (Photo left taken Christmas 2008. No tree this year due to pup Osage.)
Jim and Judy come every year, as do Richard, Don and Mary, Misty and Tom, Terry and Nancy. We have so many friends whose children live out of state and they’re unable to be together. And face it, who likes to cook for two people?
Demetrius and I built a “his and hers” kitchen (two sinks, two garbage disposals, two refrigerators), because we love to cook together.
Usually we cook a turkey at Christmas, but because Thanksgiving and Christmas came so close together this year, we’re having a spiral ham and pork tenderloin. We have fresh green beans, fingerling potatoes and ham hocks in two crock pots. I make a vegetarian version of my stuffing and filled it in green peppers, then another batch with the sage sausage added. Deme made cornbread, cookies and a Caribbean salad with grilled corn, apples, lime juice, mayonnaise. Others will bring pies, grits, salads and other side dishes. We never know what to expect until it’s all here!
It’s come and go all day – very casual and relaxed. We’ve even had friends nap upstairs, then return to graze again. We want everyone to feel welcome in our home – as if it were their own.
Our Christmas Gift to each other
And I’m excited to have new clients coming this year! Not sure where Annie and Todd’s kids disappeared, but they’re coming. Tim and Amie are bringing Tim’s mother visiting from out of town. This is John’s first year to come, as his Mom is traveling to see his other siblings. And a newly divorced colleague who has no clue what to do with his daughter this year . . . So, yay – we’re growing!!
And this is our gift to each other because nothing makes us happier than our home filled with love, laughter and grace. And food. And humility and blessings.
Although my husband DID surprise me with a bottle of Rombauer Chardonnay by my laptop this morning, which I’ll of course save for New Year’s Eve!!!
Merry Christmas from the Cain-Bereolos Casa to yours!!!
Content written and published by Lori Cain.
