What is a must-have for Christmas?

[steve white]

Wide topic, I know. Strangely, at our house a must-have is QUALITY tamales--not easy to find these days! You almost have to find an individual maker which also means you don't tell anyone where you get them, as they almost certainly are limited in how many orders they will take. Found a great new source today, am stuffed to the gills on Christmas Eve, and expected to carve out a share tomorrow. Merry Christmas to all!

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

Friends and a Christmas movie like, Jimmy Stewart &Donna Reeds “It’s a wonderful life”. One of my most prized possessions is one of my business cards signed by no less than President Ronald Reagan and Major General Jimmy Stewart

 

[wesheltonj]

Wide topic, I know. Strangely, at our house a must-have is QUALITY tamales--not easy to find these days! You almost have to find an individual maker which also means you don't tell anyone where you get them, as they almost certainly are limited in how many orders they will take. Found a great new source today, am stuffed to the gills on Christmas Eve, and expected to carve out a share tomorrow. Merry Christmas to all!

You expect to find great Mexican food north of San Antonio?

 

[freefall]

We are watching the World's Greatest Christmas Movie even as we type.
Mixed Nuts
Steve Martin runs a suicide help line at Christmas and hijinks ensue.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

Friends and a Christmas movie like, Jimmy Stewart &Donna Reeds “It’s a wonderful life”. One of my most prized possessions is one of my business cards signed by no less than President Ronald Reagan and Major General Jimmy Stewart

Excuse me Brigadier General

 

[DieJager]

My family and loved ones. This year lost my granny, the older I get the more I do not take my health and those off others for granted.

Christmas dinner is a must have with family as is going to our church. Hope all of you are in good health and enjoying Christmas with your family and/or loved ones.

 

[CBH Australia]

A lazy day with too much food.
Sharing Christmas greetings with our AH family including Von Gruff through another platform.
A quiet drink after the family meal etc.

 

[BeeMaa]

Chinese food for Christmas Eve dinner followed by a movie. Last night it was "Scrooged" with Bill Murray.

Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage and coffee for breakfast while we open presents...aka boxes of ammo.

Tonights movie could be the 1966 How the Grinch "Stole Christmas" or maybe "It's A Wonderful Life". At the same time, "Die Hard" is always an option.

 

[Elkeater]

Chinese food for Christmas Eve dinner followed by a movie. Last night it was "Scrooged" with Bill Murray.

Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage and coffee for breakfast while we open presents...aka boxes of ammo.

Tonights movie could be the 1966 How the Grinch "Stole Christmas" or maybe "It's A Wonderful Life". At the same time, "Die Hard" is always an option.

For record I vote “Die Hard”!

For our house we try to keep things quiet. Christmas Eve service at church which we sadly missed last night due to a sick kiddo and fur breakfast I make pancake casserole and eggs Benedict casserole every year with mimosas for the Mrs and I.

 

[Warbeast]

On our family: Fondue

The only constant thing around xmas for me

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Wide topic, I know. Strangely, at our house a must-have is QUALITY tamales--not easy to find these days! You almost have to find an individual maker which also means you don't tell anyone where you get them, as they almost certainly are limited in how many orders they will take. Found a great new source today, am stuffed to the gills on Christmas Eve, and expected to carve out a share tomorrow. Merry Christmas to all!

How Mexican nuns saved a butcher's business and a Christmas tradition

In the culture of the Texas Borderland, braided tightly with Mexico, the tamal tradition begins with the cold weather.

www.usatoday.com

 

[SFRanger7GP]

For us, 24 December is the big day. This is the first time in 3 years to spend the holidays in the US, so it has been a very quiet holiday season. We always watch "A Christmas Story", "A Year Without a Santa Claus", "Little Drummer Boy", "Rudolph" and Santa Claus is Coming to Town".

We always have empanadas, natilla, buñuelos and croquetas de jamon serrano y queso. During the holidays breakfast will be tamales (Colombiano o Mexicano) or kedgeree. For dinner in the US, we have a more traditional meal. This year the main dish is cornish hens roasted on a bed of wild rice. In Colombia it is much different. The Novenas begin on 16 Dec and everything is happy and LOUD until 6 January. Lots of dancing, celebrating, eating and drinking with friends and family.

Wherever you are, happiness is always a personal choice. Make the most of these holidays with your friends and loved ones.

Happy Christmas

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

On Christmas Eve, we typically have a birthday cake for Jesus and read aloud the Christmas story in the bible. It hit me last night that maybe it's time the US take a census and register everyone.

Luke 2:1-20
New International Version
The Birth of Jesus​

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 

[Red Leg]

Chicken and sausage gumbo has been a tradition in our family for a long time. I'll spend a good part of the day making it. Traditionally we would pair it with a great Bordeaux, but in recent years it has been a Valpolicella or Tempranillo - this year the latter. Afterwards, we usually drift over to the guest house/ trophy room for billiards and music. The kids typically humor me with the latter. We had our Christmas yesterday, and among others, I made them listen to Melanie banging out Lay Down.

 

[steve white]

You expect to find great Mexican food north of San Antonio?

Like Reuben's tamales in San Antonio even if they are a commercial enterprise. Yeah, I can put you on Mexican food--you like cabrito?

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Like Reuben's tamales in San Antonio even if they are a commercial enterprise. Yeah, I can put you on Mexican food--you like cabrito?

We do! Where can you get good cabrito in the DFW area?

Safe hunting and Happy Christmas

 

[steve white]

We do! Where can you get good cabrito in the DFW area?

Safe hunting and Happy Christmas

The best is at El Ranchito on Jefferson Blvd in Oak Cliff section. Enjoy the mariachis! BTW, their bistek con chipotle is to die for.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

-My mother's Christmas honey glazed roast goose (made from greylag or bar-headed geese usually shot by one of us)

- My daughter's gingerbread Christmas cookies

- My eldest granddaughter's Pastel De Nada (Portuguese Egg Tarts)

Around evening, the whole family typically goes to an ice cream parlor (my favorite flavor being Ben & Jerry's mint chocolate cookie ice cream).

At night, we typically watch a Christmas themed film. In our family, it's been a long standing tradition to watch the first two "Home Alone" films back to back.

We also get lots of lunch & dinner invitations from our Christian family members, friends & neighbors (my son-in-law is Protestant Christian), so we try to visit as many of them as we can.

I also supervise a free lunch for the orphaned children of the Christian forest guards that lost their lives during the Kowum Tragedy of 2020.

It's very unfortunate being a white haired mustached man in my family. My parents bully me into dressing up as Santa Claus for the children.

 

[DmacD]

Christmas at Fire Station #3 with my work family this year. The boys are in the kitchen, whipping up something undoubtedly bad for me, yet so good for the soul!! They like to take care of their Captain! We'll run a few calls, I'm sure, might even catch a house fire (seem to get one around Christmas every year, for some reason) and take care of all that needs doing around here.
When I'm off tomorrow morning, all I really want, or need for that matter, is to go home to my wife and curl up with her and some coffee with Bailey's.
Oh, and if I've been good, a bottle of Single Malt will hopefully be my reward!
Best Christmas greetings to you all!

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I found this old hunk of meat:

I’ll trim it up to see if it’s still good…


Then we’ll probably eat some of these Pacific Saltwater Mud Bugs:

Maybe some old Elk BS I found in the freezer:

Little football… Go Niners!

Then relaxing near the fire: