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I couldn't count the giggles I let out on that one.
All she would've needed to make would be the main
entrées – the turkey, ham (or both), and the mashed potatoes, because that's
all that's expected of the host. The rest of the family members always divvy up
the side dishes and breads and goodies and bring those to the table. Nobody
wants the hassle of keeping mashed potatoes fresh and warm during a one-hour
drive, so the host always makes them.
But this particular daughter wouldn't know what to
do with the turkey, and she'd be calling me – Do I have to peel the potatoes before I mash them?
It worked out that we didn't need to move Christmas
dinner to her house after all, and I'm sure she sighed a thousand breaths of
relief. But for any of you who get in a panic over Christmas dinner, here's the
easiest last-minute one you can make. It will also work for you, daughter, if
ever again there's the possibility of having Christmas dinner at your house. Although
a few adults might quirk an eyebrow, the kids will love you for it. Who wants
that boring stuffing and cranberry sauce with those awful red berries anyway?
Make a Christmas tree taco dinner.
First, you will need two-thirds of a yard of nice
green fabric (honey, that's 24 inches, so don't buy a whole bolt.) Green
construction paper would work as well, but you might need to tape about four
sheets together to make it large enough. If you don't like that idea, and you
have no fabric, use aluminum foil over cardboard and you will have a silver tree. Fold your 24
inches of fabric (or substitute) in half. Then cut the shape of Christmas tree
branches out on the unfolded side. You
did this in kindergarten, so I know you can do it. Unfold the fabric, and then
you will have the shape of a very nice Christmas tree.
It is your choice if you want to put on any garland
or not. You can string anything that you would put in a taco bar. Green olives,
diced tomato, diced onion. You can make an all olive garland, or one that is
all tomatoes, or one that alternates every other color.
You want nice big bulbs for the taco-bar tree, so
for that you will use aluminum foil and cut a number of 8-inch circles, easily
done by using a small dinner plate as a pattern. Then bring up the edge all
around each circle, so that you are shaping them into a nice round bowl. These
little bowls will be filled with diced onion, grated cheese, green olives,
black olives, diced tomatoes, taco sauce (double your bowl for sauce so it
doesn't leak), and anything else you'd like for tacos. Be sure to fill a few of
the bowls with taco meat. Last, make a trunk-sized dish in more of a square
shape and fill it with the taco meat. That will be the trunk of your tree.
Your dad and I would both love a meal like this,
because quite frankly, by the time we're done having Thanksgiving with all of
you, and Thanksgiving with a few other people, we are a bit tired of ham and
turkey and all of that hoopla anyway. To look at the same meal again for
Christmas is a bit of a bah-humbug, if you ask me.
Love, Mom
P.S. Merry Christmas!
