[WGH]

Every year I make Christmas dinner for a couple of old friends who drive down from Colorado Springs, Colorado to Tucson Arizona. Every year the menu has to be different. This year is something old and something new.

Herbed Roast Duck with orange, balsamic, honey, maple syrup, triple sec glaze
Red Curry Lentils With Sweet Potatoes and Spinach
Cranberry Chutney
Maple-Honey Pecan Pie (best recipe ever)


I made the chutney last night so flavors can blend for two days. The sauce simmers for 3 hours to thicken.




Ducks are dry brining for 24 hours




And the Party Pumpkin is in my front yard under the bird feeder. The squirrel is a native Arizona Rock Squirrel, they live in burrows and eat everything from baby chicks to watermelon, cantaloupe (their favorite) and whole pumpkins (it takes the crew about 2 weeks).

[rodge827]

Roasted squirrel for new years?

Menu looks great and your friends will be glad they made the trip.

Tonight it’s Gumba night, for Christmas its our traditional rib roast 

Enjoy

[WGH]

My big messy Christmas dinner turned out perfect. The ducks were falling off the bone tender while staying very juicy, the recipes (above) are a keeper. Everyone loved the red lentil soup and cranberry chutney too. It's amazing how many pots and bowls are used to make just three dishes.

One of my guests brought a fresh baby green salad with tangerine slices. The flavors of each dish complimented each other perfectly.

I paired the dinner with a La Atalaya Del Camino red blend from Spain ($20), a mix of Garnacha Tintorera 85% and Monastrell 15%




Flipping hot ducks has the potential to get messy so I donned my apron

[dpatters]

Beef Wellington for us.

Don P