Santa came this weekend.Â
And by Santa I mean Vegas.Â
We decided to be adults this year and buy ourselves a new couch in lieu of expensive gifts. Â Vegas, as per usual, did not follow the rules.
This is what Santa brought me:
A professional series Kitchen Aid with a 6 quart clear glass bowl AND a stainless bowl!!! Â Plus the pasta-making attachment. Â And the cart to keep it on. Â I didn’t know what to say! Â I’ve wanted one of these for YEARS. Â I wish she’s videoed me walking into the kitchen and seeing this. Â I’m sure my eyes were HUGE!
Allegedly, Vegas was quite the pasta maker back in the day.  I’ve yet to witness this, but I’m promised a pasta dinner soon!  For my part, my first project is going to be a Red Velvet Cake.  It’s Vegas’ favorite. 😉
IÂ obeyed the rules and didn’t spend a ton on gifts (sorry Vegas). Â I think this one small gift was her favorite. Â The Post-Trump Cards Against Humanity expander pack… it even came with 20 pesos and an Obama locket.
Before we dove into gifts on Christmas Eve, I made an ambitious dinner. Â Lobster tails stuffed with shrimp and mushroom-stuffed eggplant. Â Both were new-to-me dishes.
I’d just gotten the lobster from Sizzlefish and couldn’t wait to try it! Â The eggplant was another Julia recipe (it’s in the book as Aubergines Farcies Duxelles), so you know that was ambitions. Â Thankfully, they both turned out!
I love Christmas with Vegas. Â Not just because she gives good presents! Â She is one of the most festive people I know – between the tree, the redneck outdoor lights, the constant Christmas music… it’s the sweetest thing. Â She makes me more excited!
We even had a fire-ish place. Â #hightech
Now for the food.  This day of Christmas eats is only two “meals”… but we basically never stopped eating.  HA!  Read on for my whole day of eats, and link up to Jenn’s WIAW baby right here today!
Brunch:
The usual morning cocktail followed by my vitamin gummies.  We actually did this before opening presents!  Granted, it’s a little easier when you opened most of them the night before.
Then came the real show. Â We had 4 friends join us for brunch. Â It was semi-impromptu, so I didn’t do anything crazy. Â We had French toast, scrambled eggs with Swiss cheese, sausages, bacon, strawberries… and a assload of sparkling wine. Â Typical!
Did I mention this was a pajama-themed party? Â It’s the only way to brunch!
I wish you could see these mini Polaroids better… I was rocking a leopard onesie.
Dinner:
When our friends left, we changed into real clothes and headed to another friend’s house for dinner. Â We met this rockin’ couple in Tulum a few weeks ago… one is a chef and the other is a food-lover and music expert. Â Basically, it was a dream dinner party.
We started with cocktails and champagne with a beautiful cheese plate (which I totally forgot to take a pic of).
Then it was on to the main show.  10 of us gathered around the table to enjoy a feast fit for royalty.
The main attraction was a Szechuan porchetta with pickled persimmons and homemade chili oil.  There was also an amazing noodle dish based on a Momofuku recipe.  And tons of veggies.
We ate like happy fat kids. Â I’d brought a few bottles of a dry German Riesling that went really well with the spicy food.
That crispy pork skin though. Â I die.
There were delicious salted Nutella and peanut butter cookies for dessert too… I didn’t manage a pic, but I did manage to eat two and take 3 home. 😉
[Tweet “Three rounds of Christmas feasting… and the best gift for a food-lover!”]
***
Now we’re off to celebrate the new year and our 2nd anniversary skiing in Colorado!
Do you open gifts Christmas Eve or day? Â
What was your favorite gift this year?Â
Melissa says
Wow what a great gift! I have been wanting the clear bowl for a while, and I love that you got both bowls and a stand! I love that you have a pajama brunch oh, how fun!! We open gifts on Christmas Day.
Laura says
I guess Vegas is a keeper. 😉 That clear bowl is BOMB!
Tara @ Sweat like a Pig says
Happy anniversary! I love the surprise gift! I need someone festive in my life, because I’m a complete grinch.
Kate @ Kate Lives Healthy says
What a cool gift. Looks like you had a great holiday weekend. Happy New Year Laura!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
You and Vegas are my heroes. That is all. Have an amazing anniversary trip! You all totally deserve it. I can’t believe it has been TWO YEARS???!!!!
Laura says
Crazy how time flies, no? Saying that makes me feel so old…
Trish says
What an awesome gift! I really want to get one of those eventually.
Amazing looking food too.
Jamie@TheMomGene says
I wish we did brunch in our pajamas!!! We did “the grown up thing” too this year and bought our first painting at an artisan festival in Nashville. So we just exchanged stockings and then bought the kids a boatload of presents of course. Favorite gift was my son’s handmade lego table that’s tall enough for his wheelchair!!!
Laura says
That sounds like a great Christmas! Those Lego tables rock. I’m always in awe of what kids can create with Legos.
Cora says
Vegas getting ALL the brownie points! I’m glad she sparks up the Christmas cheer. Each house needs one of those people. And what a spoiled woman you are! Though, she was also mega spoiled with that double lobster/eggplant squashed dinner. Damn! Merry Christmas and Happy Anniversary to both of you! Keep the bubbly going!
Laura says
I think we ARE both a little spoiled. Which is how it should be, IMHO. 😉
Happy New Year!
Joyce @ The Hungry Caterpillar says
Wowie zowie. Looks like a couple days of top-notch eating and delicious food! Glad having Vegas around makes the holidays especially festive. And I do like the post-Trump Cards Against Humanity pack. It would be a hit with my boyfriend!
Jess @ Keeping It Real Food says
Sparkling wine and eggs are a perfect combination : )
Emily says
Salted Nutella and peanut butter cookies? That sounds AMAZING! And my mom got a Kitchen Aid mixer too!
Laura says
Did she?! Lucky you. 😉 I used to go to my mom’s house specifically to use her mixer.
Megan Olson says
I literally busted out laughing when you said that about Vegas loving Christmas and the redneck lights. Haha! Sounds like the kind of man I need in my life ‘cuz that gushy stuff isn’t my kind of thing usually.
Laura says
OMG. We are total rednecks… the lights and the lighted reindeer are STILL on our porch. Oy.
Kate says
We had a similar grown up Christmas with getting each other a new fridge. Luckily, we also have Chanukah for gifting too!
Laura says
Ohhhh… that’s smart. I think we need to start honoring Chanukah too. 😉
Aurora@Fitness is Sweet says
Yum! I hope you had a Merry Christmas!
Heather says
Wow, Santa was good to you, love the KitchenAid! So glad you had a great Christmas!!!
Kelly says
I’m in the market for a new cart and that is exactly what I want (lucky girl!). Can you (or Vegas) share where you got it? 🙂 Enjoy CO!
Laura says
Thanks! It’s from Williams-Sonoma. It’s perfect for a smaller space – it folds up and everything!
Stephanie @ Wholesome Paradise says
Jealous of your gifts and your feasts. Have a very happy New Year, Laura!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets says
A meal in a chef’s home…that would be amazing.
Vegas is a rock star. I want homemade pasta when I come.
Laura says
I’ve put your order in. When should we have it ready?
Marcy says
Wow, your eats sound fantastic! I usually make new-to-me recipes to celebrate Christmas and think stuffed lobster tails would be a special one to try. I got a laugh at the “gnawing sense of dread” in the cards pack, or really more of a groan, because that’s mainly what I’ve been feeling for the last month. Happy New Year!
Laura says
Thanks Marcy! And the dead… I’m just hoping it won’t be THAT bad. Maybe. Oy…
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness says
I love that Vegas gets really into Christmas… I’m the same way! I love being like a little kid around the holidays. And that is an AWESOME surprise gift! Can I come over & use the stand mixer?? I’ve wanted one of those for years too!
Happy New Year friend!! Let’s plan a January get together! Once I get back from the east coast, I should be in town all but one weekend.
Laura says
You can definitely come over! Stand mixer party? Seems legit!
We’re in town until Feb 1. Let’s plan something!
Chelsea Cross says
I rocked the onesie on Xmas day as well, Bear paws complete with a butt flap and all. Oh and because we hosted and I’m a true adult, I rocked it al day long 😉
Laura says
Butt flap?! You are my new brunch PJ hero.
Debra Eliotseats says
So much food and I am envious of that new stand mixer!!!!! I am a CAH fan and didn’t even know there was a post-Obama version!!!! Happy New Year!
Laura says
You HAVE to check out their add ons – they’re all hilarious! Happy New Year!