Trader Joe's run

Beth and I just got back from a Trader Joe's run.  That place is hopping but we found everything we wanted. I had Beth choose five bottles of wine for herself, hoping she could get the centerpiece done before she popped the cork.  lol (Not really) The wine is part of her Christmas present.  We found so many good things at Trader's, some I had tried before and liked. Their flowers were so fresh, we kind of lost it and bought a bunch but they fit beautifully in the cut glass bowl.  I'll take a picture of the finished table tomorrow, it's dark now at 5:00 if you can believe it.  What is this, Alaska?

Prime rib

This is our meal of choice when there is a special occasion in the Lechler house.  No longer is it the every Sunday roast back when people could afford a good cut of meat on a weekly basis. So we do not take it for granted.  I have been watching a lot of Food Network cooking shows this season--not the games and challenges, but the one- cook showing us something new and different.  I even have a new potato recipe since my make-ahead cream cheese mashed potatoes looked like glue for Thanksgiving. I am not having a buffet this time: the roast, the potatoes, a vegetable, and a salad. I guess dessert, but I'm not enthused about that at this point.  Then, poof, everyone scatters later on Christmas Day and I can put my feet up and relax. I can think about how nice it was to see the New Orleans gang and wonder what my scattered family is doing--bet they are not eating beef!

It's an expensive meal when you are serving this baby.