Fun and Festive Christmas Dinner with Family & Friends and lots of Greenery, Roses and Pomegrantes

Greenery & Berries with Pomegrantes and Roses

Barbara, Teresa, Mary

Peggy, Mother, Percy

Steve and Calvin

Menu Cards at each place setting

Skyros Dinner Plates laden with dinner

Holiday entertaining should be fun for all including the cook. This past weekend, family and friends from Alabama joined us for dinner. I decided to serve a New Orleans themed menu and prepared most ahead of time. It was just an issue of plating when we were ready for dinner. So as everyone finished their last cocktail or punch, my cousin and I slipped off to the kitchen to plate the hot food and serve the table. It was really easy and since there were only nine, we had a little assembly line.

Christmas music was playing continually in the background, thousands of white lights were twinkling, orange evergreen candles scented the air as temperatures dropped outside. And of course Senator was the perfect host either going from one guest to another for treats and attention or lying quietly watching us as if he knew it was Christmas time.

Dinner was served in the breakfast room rather than a more formal setting. It was comfortable and festive. Holidays don't mean fancy. Festive place cards and menu cards were on the table, both make great book markers and are fun mementos I think. I like to list the names of guests below the menu, years from now I may need a hint to jog my memory.With computers, everyone can pretend to be a graphic artist these days, so create away! The centerpiece consisted of greenery and berries from my yard with a few punch colored roses. The candles were lit and with all the love and laughter around the table, it became magical.

M E N U

Red Creole Pears
With Roasted Walnuts and Gorgonzola
Madam Lavaeau Vinaigrette

Cajun Cranberry Grillades
Plantation Grits with Balsamic Cranberry Syrup

Potatoes Dauphinoise

Carrot Soufflé

Green Bean Casserole

Yeast Rolls with Butter

Pecan Pie Evangeline
With Brown Sugar Ice Cream

New Orleans Bread Pudding
With Butter Rum Sauce

Poinsettia Cocktails Tea Coffee

Josephine, Libby, Teresa
Barbara, Calvin, Senator
Mary, Steve, Peggy, Percy