Christmas Dinner with the Family

Christmas Day, Arnie & Bubbles got in the car & traveled up to the Northern part of Holland for a superb day with Ma & Pa N. A day with Mom & Dad involves a variety of activities - starting with EATING homemade treats, soup and other delicious food! We enjoy each other's company while sharing our various hobbies, watching something light on the television, updating each other on our everyday lives (since we only have the opportunity to do this 7 or 8 times a year - in person), and quality time.

Christmas in Holland is generally not celebrated on the same excessive scale as in Canada or America. Mainly because we have Sinterklaas on Dec. 5th as I explained in my previous posting SINTERKLAAS: Celebrated Dec 5th. So Christmas is usually kept simple ... but NOT in Arnie's family. The house is always filled with unique Christmas decorations - collected from various places & many hand made treasures. The house always has a very festive feeling with lots of effort made to make me feel at home, right from our very first Christmas together in 1999.

During previous Christmas celebrations, our dinner consisted of a "goumet" which is totally awesome! I must admit that I totally love this family tradition. Each person at the dinner table has a little pan on top of small flame. You have a selection of food to put in your pan: various wild & traditional meats, fish, veggies, sauces, spices and much more. This is so cool because it enables you to prepare your food the way you want, when you want and in the flavours of your choice, while socialising and enjoying everyone's company.

This year was totally different - since it has been close to 10 years since I have had my senses tickled by the aromas of roasted turkey escaping from the oven. I was ecstatic with the idea of experiencing a traditional turkey - it took me back to my childhood & Christmas in Canada. Mom has the most amazing recipe for turkey stuffing - it is just to die for!

Dit jaar was totaal verschillend - aangezien het bijna 10 jaar is geweest aangezien ik mijn betekenissen tickled door de aroma's van geroosterd Turkije gehad heb dat van de oven ontsnapt. Ik was extatisch met het idee van het ervaren van traditioneel Turkije - het nam me terug naar mijn kinderjaren & Kerstmis in Canada. Mom heeft het meest verbazende recept voor het vullen van Turkije - het moet enkel sterven voor!

Below is a photo of all of us enjoying our Christmas dinner together.

Hieronder is een foto van wij allemaal die van ons diner van Kerstmis samen genieten.


We had lots of fun with our camera timer & after a few tries, we perfected the process. I love both of these photos that I simply could not decide which one to share - so I will post them both.

Wij hadden veel plazier met onze cameratijdopnemer & na een paar pogingen, perfectioneerden wij het proces. Ik houd van beide foto's dat ik eenvoudig niet kon beslissen welke aan aandeel - zal ik hen zo allebei posten.

In the middle of the dinner, we realised that we forgot to take a photo of our turkey in its virgin, uncarved form. So then at the end we took a picture of the "turkey & Bubbles" a super special reunion to remember. Mom & Dad sent us home with a care package with leftover turkey which I ate for the next 3 days - there's nothing like leftover turkey - yummmmmy!

In het midden van het diner, realiseerden wij dat wij vergaten om een foto van ons Turkije in zijn Virgin te nemen, uncarved vorm. Zo toen namen wij aan het eind een beeld van "Turkije & Borrelen" een super speciale te herinneren bijeenkomst zich. Mom & de Papa verzonden ons huis met een zorgpakket met resterend Turkije dat ik voor de volgende 3 dagen - daar niets zoals resterend yummmmmy Turkije - at!