Fancy schmancy

A few months ago we got my Dad some oysters from here.   The recipient gets a pretty little certificate letting them know that they have received an oyster bed lease and a card to send in when you'd like to receive them.  My Dad figured that Christmas would be an excellent time to have a bunch of oysters to enjoy so my brother, Dad and I enjoyed some raw oysters (my Mom and Hubby declined) and then we decided to get a little fancy and make some Oysters Rockefeller.  My Dad unknowingly picked out a lighter recipe for them but in the end we were all pleased to enjoy slightly lighter version without the heavy cream sauce they sometimes feature.  Here is the recipe via epicurious

• 1 garlic clove
• 2 cups loosely packed fresh spinach
• 1 bunch watercress, stems trimmed
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons Pernod or other anise-flavored liqueur
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, ground
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

• 1 pound (about) rock salt
• 24 fresh oysters, shucked, shells reserved
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 450°F. Finely chop garlic in processor. Add spinach, watercress and green onions to garlic. Process, using on/off turns, until mixture is finely chopped. Transfer mixture to medium bowl.

Combine butter, breadcrumbs, Pernod, fennel and hot sauce in processor. Process until well blended. Return spinach mixture to processor. Process, using on/off turns, just until mixtures are blended. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover; chill.)

Sprinkle rock salt over large baking sheet to depth of 1/2 inch. Arrange oysters in half shells atop rock salt. Top each oyster with 1 tablespoon spinach mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until spinach mixture browns on top, about 8 minutes.

Here they are going in the oven.

Here is my father and I staring at the oven trying to figure out what they are supposed to look like when they are done.

Here they are out of the oven.

Yummy and perfect with a glass of bubbly!  Ok, so it isn't a recipe that I'll be making weekly, or even monthly but it was a super fun special treat for the holidays. 

Try it, you'll like it : )

Feeling all Christmassy

This morning I opened the front door and saw this.

The sun was pouring in and my front door with its swag looked so pretty.  I have always loved the holiday season and this has been a wonderful one.  We went to chop down our own Christmas tree for the first time.

 I've really enjoyed decorating for the holidays this year.  As our house has come together more and more I've had a better sense of what I wanted to add for our Christmas decor and the house feels so cozy.  I'm afraid I'll be talking myself into leaving them up as long as possible.  I've already been thinking about how I could maybe leave some of them up as "winter" decor for a while. 

We have been able to get together with friends and family to celebrate.   Look at these cookies my amazing friend made this weekend.

Now look closer at those snowflakes.  No two are the same, she is just incredible!

Now we've got less than a week until Christmas.  I've got just a few things left to do and we are really looking forward to having time with family.  Our little guy is just old enough to happily point out Santa and although he knows what a present is and is happy to receive them he is more than happy to hand them out as well.  I'm imagining some serious shock and delight on Christmas morning when he sees what Santa has brought him.  Watching him will be the best gift we could get. 

Hope everyone has been enjoying this season and you are done with your to do list or nearly there!

You are due some house tour this week so I'll get to work and give you another room or two.  Happy Monday before Christmas!

Christmas!

We had a lovely weekend visiting with friends.  In honor of a holiday celebration today I made the dining room look a little more festive.  I held out on any red decorations in the living room and dining room this year and instead opted for a more neutral palate but today called for some good old red and green!

We decided to make gingerbread houses with our dear friend today.  Since our kids are 5 and under we figured I'd construct them and the kids could decorate.  I was a little nervous about baking construction worthy gingerbread so I opted for a kit.  I wanted to have a nice base to build on so I cut two pieces of cardboard from the boxes that we have laying around.

I wrapped them up in shiny tissue paper, just like I'd wrap a gift.

Which gave me two nice shiny bases

Perfect to construct these on

So cute eh?

We set out the candies that came with the kit along with some extras and I'm happy to say that we all had a blast decorating.  In case you are wondering what ours looked like in the end here you go.

Yes, there is a spoon in there and a partially eaten cookie.  We took some artistic risks. 

I will leave you with some other views of our holiday decor.  Have a happy holiday evening.

I'm linking up to the Christmas Home Tours party over at The Inspired Room