Great Expectations

Ben has been running his Christmas meal plans by us for months. Most of his ideas are formed by what he really enjoyed in past years.

I think, the beef with yarn. (He means the trussed beef tenderloin with a reverse seer.)

This time, no choking. (Amazing that Jake still married into the family after last year’s spectacle where Ben choked on the beef he was trying to inhale, requiring parental first aid intervention.)

Cheesy potatoes. (He means our fancy French pommes allegot. Duh. Who wouldn’t want those?)

And… of-spargus. (Yes, Ben, if Wegmans holds up their end with petit little asparagi, we will prepare it to your liking, Sir.)

Seizure salad. (He asks for Caesar salad with every single meal. Why should Christmas be any different?)

For dessert, I think chocolate cake from Hope’s Table. (While there is nothing Christmas-y about this cake, it sure is good. Plus, once he was sure I knew what recipe he meant, he rebranded it “Christmas Cake” in a clever attempt to guarantee its inclusion in the menu.)

It’s always hard to know what to get Ben for Christmas. He usually just asks for chips and maybe a jar of spicy pickled green beans, and that’s easy enough, but what kind of scrooges get their kid only groceries for Christmas? I’m pretty sure that whatever else appears under the tree, he will be pleased with the intangible gift of having complete control over the menu, making it a Benu, I guess. Next week, we’ll let you know how we do with fulfilling his great meal expectations!

Meanwhile, we wish you all a very merry Christmas!