Nice and Relaxing

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I was awaken at 6:00AM this morning to excited children and an even more excited wife. She was extremely anxious to see the expressions on everyone's faces and have fun with gift opening.

As for me, it was perfect. I ended up getting an Atari gaming system. You remember Atari with the games like Pitfall, Asteroids and the such. Well, the company makes a product that is basically the Atari, without the cartridges. It has 40 of the games and plays exactly like the old ones did. For me, it was like going back in time and getting the Atari that I always wanted but never had. I had another game called the Magnavox Odyssey. There were not nearly as many games.

Avery gave me a Hot Wheels Spiderman truck that she picked out her own self. Everyone tried to convice her to get something else, but it was to no avail. Avery was getting me the Hot Wheels. Just fine with me. I like Hot Wheels and I can put it in my new office.

Other wonderful things to note are the All-American Rejects CD, Lots of white socks (since I am down to two pair now), a new coat, and plenty of peanut butter kisses (which I didn't know they made).

This brings me to my point (as I almost always have one). Diets are automatically on hold for holidays. I know I have put on another 5 pounds since I have been here. Between last night's delicious lasagna, and tonight's monstrosity, I have taken in more calories than a football team bulking up.

Tonight was especially bad. Most Christmas dinners consist of turkey or ham, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, figgy pudding (whatever that is), and some fruit salad dish. Not for the Warrior household this year. This year, everyone in the family was in charge of a dish of some sort (their favorite).

So, the menu looked something like this ham, crab cakes, au gratin potatoes, baked old english macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, cornbread, and deviled eggs. Everyone had what they wanted and there are plenty of leftovers.

When traditions require you to have certain items at Christmas dinner, add your own tradition. For us, Christmas dinner is whatever we as a family want to fix.

Did you know...

Figgy Pudding with Custard Sauce

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 cup granulated sugar

3 large egg yolks

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons rum extract (or flavored extract of your choice)

1 apple, peeled and cored and finely chopped

1 pound dried figs, ground or finely chopped

Grated peel of 1 lemon and 1 orange

1 cup chopped nuts

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 1/2 cups dried bread crumbs

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 large egg whites, stiffly beaten

Custard Sauce (recipe follows)

Sweetened whipped cream (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 325*F (160*C). Generously grease an oven-proof 2-quart bowl or mold; set aside.
2. Cream together butter and shortening. Gradually add sugar, egg yolks, milk, extract, apple, figs, lemon and orange peel. Add next 6 ingredients, mixing well. Fold stiffly beaten egg whites into mixture.
3. Pour into prepared bowl or mold and place into large shallow pan and place on middle rack in oven. Fill the shallow pan half-full with boiling water and slowly steam pudding in oven at 325*F (160*C) for 4 hours, replacing water as needed.

Custard Sauce:

2 cups milk
1 large egg
3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon butter

1. In saucepan, scald milk and allow to cool.
2. Mix together remaining ingredients, except for butter. Add to cooled milk. Cook over low heat until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in butter, mixing well.
3. Serve pudding warm with custard sauce or sweetened whipped cream. Store unused portions in refrigerator.

Makes 12 servings.