A Cake Family Christmas

'Twas the morning of Christmas, when all through the house came the fragrance of breakfast
onion and bacon casserole and a boozy fruit cake made a tasty repast.

Mom's breakfast casserole. Photo by JDHH

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that wrapping paper they would soon rip and tear.

Spouses were snuggled in a living room chair with glee, while ornaments glittered brightly on the tree.  

An unkempt couple enjoying a snuggle

"Grandpa's Bear" and an ornament I made my mother

And mamma in her fleece and I in my apron, had just settled in for a long day of baking.

When out in the kitchen there arose such a clatter, I sprang to the stove to see what was the matter. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a beef Wellington designed with a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

More rapid than eagles the courses they came, and we whistled, and shouted, and called out for more;

"Now, potatoes au gratin! now, roasted vegetable wreath! now, foie gras and brioche! Bring us more meat!"

And then, in a twinkling, dinner was finished. For dessert we now wished!

I drew my head and turned around, the desserts on the sideboard I saw in one bound.

The candles -- how they twinkled! The platters how merry! Meringue cookies like roses, fruitcake topped with a cherry!

I sprang to the mince tarts, a family tradition. One pass 'round the table, from nary a plate was there an omission.

Away from the table we pushed ourselves (and our bloated spare tires)  to end the evening huddled around the fire.

As the crumbs of dinner were cleared out of sight, we wished each other a "happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."



** Special thanks to my brother and cousin for sharing their photos with me.