So this year we have started a new tradition, (I'm not sure if my wife knows this yet) but I am going to make Mole Poblano for Christmas Eve dinner. Typically, to make a decent Mole sauce it takes around 4-6 hours and a typical recipe calls for an average of 26 ingredients. Needless to say this is not everyday food.
But if you have never cooked a complex meal that takes six hours, I recommend it. That's right, I recommend it. There is something very rewarding about putting 6 hours of work into a recipe, but at the same time there is also something very scary about the idea it may not taste good.
Sometimes I like to think of food as a gift. Six hours of hard work to present this gift of food to your friends or family. Secretly, this is one of the reasons I like to cook.
Speaking of friends and family, Emily and I had a different kind of Christmas this year with some great ups and some big downs. Family has been a big part of our married lives, and for the last six years we have alternated holidays between three families (her parents, my mom, and my dad). This has led to great adventures and experiences as well as some great bouts of exhaustion. So now that we have a baby we decided this year we would spend Christmas by ourselves. There really was something great about waking up on our own schedule (well Maia's schedule really) to a quiet house with just the three of us. Having a day that was directed by our own agenda and nobody else's and enjoying the company of just the three of us was really great. However, with that said we did miss our families...opening presents together, eating breakfast together, playing with our toys together, and all things that come with a big family holiday.
On a sad note Emily's grandmother Ruby passed away on Christmas day after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Certainly a blow to the Christmas festivities, however food helped us process it a little together (at least for Emily and I). I'm not talking about the kind of eating to bury your feelings processing, instead I'm talking about cooking together.
We made our Christmas meal together (Filet Mignon with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze, Mashed Potatoes, Homemade Rolls, and Salad) and over cooking and dinner we talked about Ruby, death, Gordon, family, music, our life together and other great conversation. In a sense I think cooking gave us something to do. Some purpose when things don't quite make sense.
On a personal note. Ruby is the third person I know to pass away with this disease. My grandmother as well as my Step Mother's mother were inflicted with this awful disease. I have seen it turn rather sweet old women into sometimes confused, angry, and lost people. Ruby however always took her disease in stride. When she forgot stuff it didn't bother her. If she couldn't remember who you were you still got a hug and a smile. I remember last year at Christmas, Emily's family were all at Gordon and Ruby's house for a dinner celebration. Ruby stated to one of us. "I don't know who all these nice people are but it sure is fun having them here."
And that sums up Ruby...It sure was fun having us there.
Christmas this year made me realize one more thing...It is the holidays where America's food culture still lives. Almost all of us have some sort of Christmas/Christmas eve food tradition, wether it's Turkey, Kringle, Mole Poblano, or just ordering Chinese food, these Holidays invoke a sense of tradition built around food (and maybe presents).
Okay now it's time for food porn!
Enchiladas con Mole Poblano
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