It was busy. I woke up early to start marinating some food for tonight, then went out with my mother to get some last minute food, back home to prep a little, and then out to lunch with my father. We ended up having dim sum on Broadway, then dropping off some presents and goodies to a couple family friends and relatives. Dinner in Richmond at number one "Bao". Of course, bao means abalone in other contexts...but at this particular restaurant, their specialty is a superb, moist, tender-doughed bbq pork bun, slightly sweet and sticky and absolutely delicious!!! We're going back on boxing day for my uncles' birthday.

I was panicking last minute for some gifts that I had to get...It was frightening that I had left some so last minute!!

anyways I am already baking my ham downstairs...it smells wonderful. Creme brulee is done, choux pastry was BOUGHT....my mother went down to costco without my knowing and purchased it.. man i hate people that ask you to do things and then 1) tell you how to do your job, 2) do things for you, or 3) insult your work. If YOU could do it better than me, then why the hell did you ask me to do things in the first place? I'm doing you a FAVOUR!!!

I was not happy about certain things concerning dinner. ;(

Here is an updated menu for tonight!!! YUM!!!!!

Appys
Mini quiche
Smoked salmon on potato gaufrette
Deviled Eggs
Edamame
Spinach Dip with assorted veg and bread
Olive-Rosemary Bread with Roasted Garlic Tapenade

Entrees
Clove-studded Baked Pineapple Ham
Roasted Prime Rib au Jus
Suckling Pig

Sides
Sherry'd Herb-buttered Mushrooms
Leek Mashed Potatoes
Balsamic Red Onion Flowers
Creamy Corn and Peas

Dessert
Bailey's Creme Brulee
Choux Pastry
Christmas Log
Assorted flavoured ices and gelato

9:45 pm. Dinner was gooooooood. I cannot believe how much everyone ate, and I totally overestimated everything. I had like backup appetizers and everything that I did not need to put to use.

Photos to follow.

Still feels somewhat strangely surreal to be journalling again...i mean online, not in email, but on a site again. It was a different feel. It was comforting to let everything come together tonight for the big dinner. And things turned out great. And they LOVED Rav's spinach dip...and they loved my ham that I threw together. Macy liked the deviled eggs, although I thought they were a little too strong. There was a line up for creme brulee!

:)))

Christmas is good.

Me and Mark have always exchanged presents after Christmas Day. It's not like we shop for presents on boxing day or anything, just that we are so caught up with family affairs up until the point that we do not have time to see each other (with presents prepared!) until after Christmas. It wouldn't be fair to pull each other away to go to the other's, so we just "Christmas alone". ;p

Tomorrow is boxing day brunch at Mark B and Ewa's house...I dropped off their presents before dinner yesterday, and they had said (when I had called them some twenty minutes before) that they would be at Ewa's parents' house, and I could drop by and do the exchange there.

When I dropped off my passengers at MY house, and went up to Mrs. P's house, however, her mother opened the door wide, thinking that I was mark and Ewa, and their huge (but friendly!) dog pounced on me!! And then sniffed my crotch!! ahahha....i thought i was going to die laughing.

So while I was waiting for them to show up, Mrs. P starts giving me all this food. Mind you, this was before MY dinner plans, but it was YUMMY. Plus free food is always good.