Feliz Navidad de Leakey

 

      We spend our first Christmas at our new place in Texas.  The temps are of course warmer and there will be no snow, but the holiday spirit remains.  This holiday is a bit more diverse than what we have known.  Christmas Eve within itself occupies just as much customs and traditions as the next morning and we were anxious to experience both.  This area with the diverse blending of Latino, White, and Texas cultures is rich with traditions and experiences that we have never seen.  We are excited to embrace them all. 

      Christmas Eve is a celebration equally important as the next morning.  Close families gather for large meals consisting of many different type of tamales, sides of beans/chiles, tortillas, cheese, beef, Pico de Gallo, and Queso.  So we jumped into the deep end.  The beans and Hatch Green Chile Dip were delicious, but my tamales still need a bit of work.  So hard to warm back up.  

Charro Beans

Pico de Gallo & Hatch Green Queso Dips

Chicken Poblano Tamales w/Oaxaca Cheese

      Christmas Day is the same world wide.  Large family gatherings and a mountain of food are on the near horizon.  We have traditionally done a crockpot ham the past 7 years since retirement.  Simple and delicious.  This year we will use a Dearborn Ham.  We tried this two years ago during our winter exile in Monroe, MI and it was very tasty.  We accompany it with praline glazed sweet taters, our farm sweet corn, deviled eggs, and Apple or Pecan Pie ala mode.

Crockpot Dearborn Ham

Sweet Taters w/Praline Top & Cream Sweet Corn

Deviled Eggs, Rolls, Pies, and Ice Cream

      We do not normally exchange presents at this point in our lives.  We usually buy what we want or need when we want it anyways.  We figure that the life we live is in itself a gift of enormous value.  I can't speak for Barb, but I am grateful for the best friend and lover I could possibly have in my life as well as a retirement that we could only dream of, let alone experience.  Life is a gift, enjoy it.  Merry Christmas to you all.   

   "Obviously people in Texas have big hearts"

Katie Couric

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