Christmas Notes
© Laura Harper
Christmas 2003
I had appendicitis over the Thanksgiving holidays so could not do a lot by myself for this Christmas dinner party. My best friend, who is originally from Dublin, Ireland, was helping me with some of the large purchases for the party and told me about Christmas during his years in Ireland so I decided to TRY to make some of his favorites for the dinner party. I did Irish Christmas Cookies, Irish Christmas Pudding With Guinness, and an Irish Boiled Fruitcake - about the best fruitcake I have ever eaten. I could not get the pudding to flame but maybe next year!!!! We had Leg of Lamb with roasted vegetables (his favorite) for dinner with lots and lots of snack foods to go along with all the wine and Jager throughout the night and early morning hours. One dish that will probably be included in most of my parties for years to come is Dubliner Cheese Dip. Even my friend, who does not like cheese, ate quite a bit of this. It is really to die for!!!!
Christmas 2004
Dinner Party, December 19, 2004
During our first discussions about this year's dinner party Paddy suggested that we keep it small this year. Roy, Hermy, and I thought that was a good idea. I did not think we would keep it small but we did!!!
This year was mainly the members of The Group - Paddy, Roy, Hermy, Kerstin, Mat, Vickie, Lloyd, Allen, and Amanda, along with Kerstin's children, Ethan and Jessica, who entertained us with Jessica on the piano
and Ethan on the guitar. Bill had a concert and was unable to be here. It was a great evening with good quality time, something we do not have very often any more. Paddy, Bill, and I went to Wilmington
(Hell's Kitchen) the night before and I did not get back home until around 2PM on the day of the party so the menu was very different from past parties. I made mini sandwiches (barbecue, ham and cheese, rollups),
meatballs, Cheesy Ranch Chicken Dip, Dubliner Cheese Dip, with lots of crackers, chips, etc. I had lots of European cookies and candies along with the Irish Boiled Fruitcake. I did not make the pudding this
year but I DID FLAMBE THE FRUITCAKE!!!!!! YEAH!
Christmas Eve, December 24, 2004
We sort of started a new tradition for Christmas Eve dinner. Instead of the lasagna we decided to have Seafood Chowder. It was really a big hit. There was only Roy, Hermy, and me but it was great to have
comfort food especially now that I have a new table with very comfortable chairs. After dinner we played a game and then Paddy stopped by and we all opened our gifts and sat around the table chatting
until time for midnight mass. (Paddy liked his decanter and old-fashioned glasses. Yeah!!!!) Turned out to be a GREAT Christmas eve.
Christmas Day, December 25, 2004
This was the first traditional Harper Christmas we have had since 1995. The greatest surprise of all was that Jennifer came in from Tennessee - we did not have a clue she would be in town. Then Roy and Hermy
came over and we had quiche for brunch. Then we opened all the gifts, Jennifer had to leave, and I prepared Christmas dinner. The menu was the same as it used to be every Christmas - Prime Rib, Yorkshire
Pudding, buttered noodles, steamed broccoli, and freshly baked bread.
Christmas 2005
I was still TRYING to recover from labyrinthitis (vertigo) so everything was very low key this year. Vicki and Lloyd came over for dinner one night and I made an Italian thingy with sausages, pepper, and onions and grits (polenta).
Paddy joined the three of us for dinner another night and I did racks of lamb that night - one of my favorites. Paddy stopped by again on Christmas Eve and spent a couple of hours with us. It is always great to
have him sit around the table with us. The Christmas day menu was the same as always - Prime Rib Roast, Yorkshire Pudding, etc.