Christmas Down Under

Ok, not THAT far down under but as far down as the blues, barbeque, and the smokey mountains of Tennessee. Christmas came twice this year, once with my family and then again with Joe's family. This was our first christmas as an engaged couple and we were finally taken seriously by our families and allowed our own guest room instead of slouchy pullouts, air mattresses, unheated backhouses, and couch cushions (all true stories). Due to an incredibly busy week at work and being in heels for 5 hours on marble floors for two days in a row followed by a red-eye to the south, I was a wreck and happy to eat home-cooked meals by someone else, and have a bed to recoup.

Our trip started in Knoxville, where my sister and husband currently live. We had Christmas part 1 on December 19th with french champagne and foie gras, presents, a honey baked ham and porcini-gorgonzola risotto. Ahh, and of course, home-made creme brulee. Divine. While in Knoxville we also drove to the smokeys where all the roads were closed from ice and snow. It was funny because it wasn't even snowing that much and coming from VT if they closed roads for that it would be like The Shining all winter long.

Christmas part 2 was in Memphis, where the weather was a little warmer, the blues a little louder and the wake up call a little earlier. We have a two-year old niece who kindly kept us from over-sleeping during our stay. For me though, there is nothing like getting out of bed, going down the stairs, and hearing the most joyful good morning holler of all: "MIMI!!!!"It was priceless. For this part of the trip my dad finally met Joe's parent's. It was exciting, stressful, necessary, and actually successful.

Christmas dinner number 2 was a bigger production for ten people: for starters, muhammara and baked brie (by me), for dinner, a smoked Turkey from Central BBQ, A vegetable pot pie, sweet potatoes two ways, cornbread dressing (an amazing southern version of stuffing), cauliflower the southern way, homemade rolls, and my contribution, a chard torte. All followed by southern pecan pie and southern ice-cream pie. Yes you heard me, pie filled with homemade ice cream.

On Christmas morning, another first: My first stocking under the fire place. In Brazil there are no traditional stockings and even rarely traditional fireplaces. Joe's Mom made us matching stockings and I actually teared at seeing my name so neatly sowed on it. All the stockings were filled with goodies from Santa, how did he know I liked chocolate with sea salt and Lush bath products.

So much else happened in our ten days in the south but here's how i'll sum it up in ten words: Snow, Blues, Oz, New Super Mario, Rock Band, Bibimbap, fondue, Karaoke, Magic Hat, family.