In My Kitchen this month I have lists, lots of lists. I bet you have them as well. For the first time in many years we are hosting Christmas dinner up in Fort Bragg. We usually have Christmas Eve dinner with good friends in Oakland, then travel back up the coast on Christmas Day. This year is different. Don’t worry, those friends are still the very best, but this year we are hosting them to our condo in Oakland prior to the big day. A simple casserole of chicken with sweet potatoes and dates was on the menu.
Braised Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Dates
I’ve been playing with puff pastry lately. This recipe from Tara Bench (known as Tara Teaspoon) came from the cookbook Delicious Gatherings. It’s titled spinach and artichoke tarte soleil and it does look like the sun. It was absolutely delicious and wonderful way to start Christmas dinner.
spinach and artichoke tarte soleil
spinach and artichoke tarte soleil
The rest of the meal was simple. Baked chicken, a shaved Brussels sprout salad, and baked butternut squash.
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- Christmas Dinner 2023
In My Kitchen I have some new cookbooks, they are always under the tree for me on Christmas morning.
Christmas Dinner 2023
Salad Freak is not new but one of my most frequently opened books for ideas.
This dish of roasted spareribs with tomato-wine sauce from Super Tuscan was a big hit. Slowly braised they turned succulent and the kitchen smelled like heaven. This is definitely a postable recipe and perfect for blustery winter evenings.
Roasted Spareribs with Tomato-Wine Sauce
New Year’s Eve was quiet, just the two of us. I made Melissa Clark’s recipe for crispy potato and sour cream tart. That, plus a simple salad and a bottle of sparkling wine, made for a feast.
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- Crispy Potato and Sour Cream Tart
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- Crispy Potato and Sour Cream Tart
Our usual New Year’s Day chili party had been canceled due to a water leak in the house.
The Friday before the New Year’s weekend we woke to see a steady stream of water coming down the wall of our bedroom. It turns out there was a broken water pipe. The insulation between the house siding and the wall had finally become saturated with water, causing it to overflow at the intersection of the ceiling and the wall. Oh my! Our angel of a contractor sent over one of his best workers to fix the problem. He was able to isolate the leaky part until it could be repaired. We lost water to one bathroom but thankfully the rest of the house was okay. However, the water had to be turned off for a large part of the weekend while repairs were underway and I was not able to do any cooking. Hence the cancellation of my favorite way to start the new year.
We were able to join in on our annual New Year’s Day hike. Here is the group in front of the waterfall in Russian Gulch State Park.
New Year’s Day Hiking Group
I’m not in this one as I was the photgrapher.
In My Kitchen is a collection of posts from around the world describing what’s new in all our kitchens. It’s hosted by Sherry of Sherry’s Pickings. You can read all of the amazing blogging stories here.
It’s been stormy here and the waves are huge. I often walk the dogs along the coast and saw this amazing pod of brown pelicans a couple of days ago. There must have been a thousand of them perched on the rocks just off shore. It was an amazing sight and heartening environmentally.
Pod of Pelicans
This was only one of the rocky outcroppings. They were crowded on several more.
The near-extinction of the California pelicans in the 1970s was a warning about environmental fragility, and their comeback, as you have illustrated, is impressive. Now if only we could repeat it for so many other situations including our own!
Have a great year in 2024.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Happy New Year Mae. Yes, seeing so many of them is a spectacular sight. I also saw them earlier in the fall on the beach. I wonder if they will establish a colony here or if they are migrating through on their way to nesting grounds in S. CA.
I think I want your life!!! Happy New Year!
Hi Mimi, without the water leak though!
You’ve mentioned that Salad Freak cookbook a few times; I really must get it!
Love your new recipes- that spinach and artichoke thing looks beautiful and everything else looks delicious!
Thanks for sharing- sorry about the water leak!!
It has become one of my most used books. But then, Steve and I love salads in any form. I think you would enjoy it.
Lots of delicious foods in your kitchen this month and the tarte soleil looks impressive, would love the recipe of that one. How scary initially to have water pouring down your wall. Lots of really good recipe goods there, have fun with them. And the pelicans are so inspiring. Happy New Year! Best wishes, Pauline
It’s on the menu to post, thank you.
I’ve just had dinner but I would still like to taste all of your food.
Hopefully your water leak issues are now resolved and that they don’t come back
Our angel of a contractor sent one of his workers and we were able to get water back to one bathroom, the kitchen, and laundry room. It’s mostly fixed everywhere now except for some painting to the drywall in our bedroom and the siding on the house that had to be torn away. It could have been worse. Thank you and Happy New Year.
Lots of colourful flavoursome food inspo. Thank you.
Nagi is so popular here in australia of course, as is her gorgeous dog. Her recipes are terrific! I keep buying cookbooks, and hubby gave me some for christmas. My poor groaning shelves. Hope your new year is going well, and thanks for being part of IMK.
My own groan as well, and bend a bit. I really should do a purge but as soon as I pull one down to get rid of it…by magic it opens to a recipe that I just have to try. Oh well.
i know what you mean!! I keep adding to my get rid of pile but then take ’em back …