I have people coming in Sunday and leaving early on Monday, just a quick round trip, so started pickling peppers yesterday for antipasto. Also made multiple batches of pizza dough so I have plenty for focaccia, calzones, garlic knots, and pizza.

Anyone else starts already?

No

Next question

Hell no. Goin to water burger

Hell no. Going to the Waffle House (seriously). Will probably buy a couple of pies, but that's it for "cooking."

Sir it's just Saturday..

I put a turkey leg up my ass. Does that count?

No, but I did break into the stocking candy supply a bit early!

Nope, all mine is day before (dessert) / day of (Carving Ham, Mac & Cheese).

I was cooking for five, it has now become eight.

Made Italian sausage yesterday, used that to make meatballs and sauce.

Plan so far:

aperitivo: wine

antipasto: prosciutto, provolone, pickled peppers, roasted peppers marinated in olive oil and garlic (peperoni e olio)

primo: stuffed shells, penne

secondo: meatballs, sausage

contorno: haven't decided if we're having one

insalata: caprese

Dolce: Guests are bringing desserts

caffe: coffee, espresso

digestivo: limoncello

I love to cook, so I just cook. It's just the three of us, but people are coming over the next two days.

Fried oysters last night. Tonight is chili and tamales.

Tomorrow our Hebrew friend is coming over, so I'm roasting lamb.

Christmas Eve, we I'll make our traditional fish chowder. I use Snapper. My mom and the husband are coming. Then church at 6pm. I love the Christmas Eve candlelight service. They are staying and going with us for the first time since we switched churches two years ago.

Christmas we are going to the bride's family. Her family always does a tenderloin for Christmas.

Fins Up! said:

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Tomorrow our Hebrew friend is coming over, so I'm roasting lamb.

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What do you mean, he don't eat no meat? Actually, that sounds delicious.

He eats meat, just not pork. Except for bacon. He calls it crack for Jews. lol. When he comes for Christmas he loves the tenderloin. He says we cook the best of all his Gentile friends, and will come to Christmas dinner at our house over anyone else's. But we aren't hosting this year.

I do ok on lamb, so it's a treat when I cook it. And I know he appreciates it.

I started making my hot nuts for gifts tonight. I didn't realize I had about 10 pounds of pecans, so lots and lots of hot nuts.

Ryan the Temp said:

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I thought HEB had ridiculously good deal on brisket when I bought a 17 pounder for $25. It was after I got home I realized it had been mislabeled as bone-in pork shoulder for $1.79/lb.

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I preordered a Prime1, 3 bone from the chuck end roast from HEB and picked it up yesterday. They priced it as a select grade roast at $4.49/lb instead of $15.99/lb. It was labeled as Prime1 and from the fat flecks it was definitely not select.

No. The wife and kids want a steak dinner for Christmas, so I'll be firing up the grill to do some Ribeyes on Christmas Day.

Mathguy64 said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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I thought HEB had ridiculously good deal on brisket when I bought a 17 pounder for $25. It was after I got home I realized it had been mislabeled as bone-in pork shoulder for $1.79/lb.

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I preordered a Prime1, 3 bone from the chuck end roast from HEB and picked it up yesterday. They priced it as a select grade roast at $4.49/lb instead of $15.99/lb. It was labeled as Prime1 and from the fat flecks it was definitely not select.

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Truly a meat judging school.

Lamb turned out amazing!

I started making tablet tonight. It's a Scottish candy that I grew up with and learned how to make it a few years back. It's sorta like fudge with a different texture. You can never really a lot at once because it's so sweet.

One batch is 4 pounds of sugar, couple of sticks of butter, vanilla, milk, and Lyle's Golden Syrup.

We did a draft for Christmas dinner where each family member got to pick one dish to have. Ended up with brisket, tamales, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, mac and cheese, salad, rolls, cheese log, deviled eggs, cherry pie, and chocolate chip cake.

Pretty busy tomorrow, so brisket went on the pit tonight. Will slice it tomorrow and reheat Wednesday.

Doing chicken Marbella with mashed yams, green beans and salad. Kids/grandkids fly out on the 27th and demand snow, so to the mountains we will go.

Mmmn. That sounds good. I'll have that.

Pre-Christmas chicken and dumplings have been made...and devoured. Guess I'll need another plan for tonight. Tomorrow is Filet Mignon

Making a lemon tart for tomorrow.

Tomorrow I'll deep fry a turkey and cook a ham.

nai06 said:

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One year I just want to say **** it and order Chinese food for Christmas dinner.

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We started going out to a Chinese restaurant Christmas night a few years ago. One of the best decisions ever. No one has to cook all day, no dishes to clean, no stress.

Anchorhold said:

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Mmmn. That sounds good. I'll have that.

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I'll take a pic later as it's just setting now. It's become a Christmas Eve tradition with my Scottish mother who claims she "doesn't like sweet things" but will eat her weight in tablet. As a bonus my parents house now smells amazing.

Just made a pan of brownies.

I finished a double batch of pistachio salad and a double batch of strawberry pretzel salad.

Neither of these things are actually salads but more of a "Midwest Salad" with plenty of whipped cream.