Russell & Donna

 

Brother Russell and Sister-in-Law Donna came over for Christmas Eve supper.  Yesterday I'd made out a time-table for what needed to be done and when.  Using that actually worked out rather well.  First, of course, was soup.  We had creamy tomato soup with a side of little glass dishes of raspberries topped w/ whipped cream and a sprinkling of crushed peppermint.  The next course was salad and I went w/ green and red bib lettuce leaves topped w/ feta cheese , dried cranberries, and sugared walnuts.  Dressing was a balsamic.  I also served some quick breads- pistachio, cherry, and banana/chocolate chip.  The filet mignons had been seared, finished off in the oven, and rested by the time we were ready for them as the entree.  Had a bernaise sauce simmering on the stove.   Zapped some peas last minute and everything arrived at the table at pretty much the same time.  Yeah!  By the end of that course we were all stuffed.  Had to keep going though - there were gifts to open.  I tried to make as much of a mess as I could.  In the middle of the night I'm sure the cats will be in and out of boxes and jumping into piles of tissue paper as if they were autumn leaves.  It wasn't until  Donna and Russell were about to leave that I realized I'd forgotten to serve dessert.  It was a plate of various types of cookies, fudge, and peanut brittle.  I wrapped them up and sent them home w/ two small boxes.  Neither Russ nor Donna have to work on Christmas.  Tomorrow they can munch on them while they watch movies.