Christmas Entertaining, The Prequel

Welcome to my first, and oh so belated, Christmas post. I hope that it is the first of several to be crammed into the next two weeks.

Yes, I am a nut for the holidays. The infectious songs, shiny ornaments, the old movies, claymation TV specials, the smell of pine, the cooking, entertaining, merry-making, carol-singing, present-wrapping, and even better, present-unwrapping. At what other time of year do people actually trample each other outside malls in a quest to buy toys? It's magical. I even love, in a certain way, the frenetic pace of things as our social lives go on steroids at the same time as we're scrambling to make year-end professional deadlines. In December, I am virtually always working, drunk, hungover, or some combination of the three. Glorious.

One of the tent poles of my holiday season for six years running has been a Christmas cocktail party. I tend to go a little bit overboard. I know this. Last year there was a Croquembouche involved, and meringue mushrooms. Before our 2008 party I asked The Scribe, my then roommate, if he was looking forward to co-hosting the event. He nodded unconvincingly, so I pressed him. "I'm scared," he said in a small voice. "I'm scared that I'm going to mess something up."

I believe that when you've realized that you posses some undesirable character trait, you have two options: you can apologize for yourself and try to reform, or embrace it as one of your defining quirks. I chose the latter. I told him that fear was a powerful motivator and suggested that he not touch the jar of creme fraiche ripening on the counter.

Now I live with The Viking, and he has taken over the role of 'supporting male roommate' with true aplomb. He refers to me as 'her majesty' and mostly stays out of my way, swooping in at key moments to take out the trash, say, or taste-test the pate in my moments of personal doubt ("Yummy! You're so clever. Who knew livers could taste this good.").

This year's Christmas party is happening tomorrow night. There will be a full report after the fact (including food shots and casualty figures for wine, beer, and liquor consumed) but for now, some previews of what I've baked so far. Isn't it amazing what can happen when you take photos in natural light?

Gougeres (aka french cheese puff thingies), from Alain Ducasse's recipe, are an annual Christmas party fixture.

Kourabiedes, a Greek cookie flavored with clove, from my mother's recipe.

My go-to Christmas cookies: English Toffee Squares.

As soon as I discovered that a Sugar Plum was a real thing (containing no real plum, but lots of dried fruit, ground nuts, and spices), I had to make them. They might be the most underrated Christmas treat out there.