Last week I told you about our  live Christmas tree tradition with all the fun ornaments and garland.
Today I would like  to share with you  our Christmas table, decorated and set…ready for Christmas Eve dinner.  (This table has already been put to use this week  with a special dinner for a favorite aunt…and lunch with special people from The Miller Retail Center at the University of Florida.)  I just finished the clean up and have reset the table for our Christmas Eve dinner.

The centerpiece is a simple boxwood wreath with 3 very special ornaments nestled in the greenery.  The two houses, one red and one green were my mother’s childhood ornaments.  She was 5 when she received the houses.  They are now 90+ years old…almost antiques!  Only 6 survive.  My 2 sisters and I each have a red one and a green one.  I do not take a chance with these precious ornaments…no tree hanging…the reason I nestle them in the wreath on our table…We can enjoy them every meal during the holidays.  The striped ball also belonged to my mother, but is not quite as old.  It  became part of our Christmas after we were born.

Here’s what’s for dinner on Christmas.

I have tried many methods for cooking beef tenderloin over the years.  This one, given to me by Nancy Jones is the  best and it is easy!  It takes all the worry out of deciding how long to cook and at what temperature.  Also you don’t have to insert a thermometer trying to decide which temperature for medium rare roast beef is appropriate.

NO PEEKY ROAST BEEFY

NO PEEKY ROAST BEEFY

Serving Size: 12

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 5-6 pound beef tenderloin
• slivers of garlic
• salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Use at least a 3 pound beef tenderloin and if too large for pan, can cut in half.
2. Trim tenderloin to your liking.
3. Bring to room temperature.
4. Cut slits into meat on all sides and insert slivers of garlic, as many as you like.
5. Sprinkle all sides with salt and pepper.  
6. Place tenderloin on a meat rack in large turkey type pan.
7. Preheat oven to 500 degrees.  ****Very important to have it this hot.
8. Put beef into oven and immediately turn temperature down to 350 degrees.
9. Cook for 21-23 minutes…No longer.  ***I cook mine for 24 minutes because my oven doesn't seem as hot. 23 minutes seems to work for medium rare.
10. Turn oven off and leave beef in oven for 4 hours.  DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR!
11. (Nancy has left meat in oven all day.)
12. When you remove the beef, cover with foil until ready to slice. 

 You can do it ahead…I usually do it the day of.   Once cooled you can wrap in foil and put in the refrigerator until the next day when you need to serve.  Bring cooked tenderloin to room temperature and slice.  I did this with 2 tenderloins for our party for 20 and had plenty.  Also sliced and covered with foil right before guests arrived.

By KathyMillerTime via Nancy Jones

Recipe Printed from www.kathymillertime.com

I usually serve either garlic grits or a potato casserole with beef tenderloin.  This year we are having that good old traditional potato casserole.  You just can’t beat it for satisfiying a crowd…and usually there are no leftovers.

THAT GOOD OLD POTATO CASSEROLE

HASH BROWN POTATO CASSEROLE

Serving Size: 10-12

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package (32 oz) frozen hash brown potatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pint sour cream
• 2 cups crushed corn flakes

Instructions

1. Defrost potaotes.
2. Mix all ingredients except butter and corn flakes.
3. Put in a greased casserole dish.
4. Top with crushed corn flakes.
5. Drizzle with the melted butter
6. Bake 1 hour inn a preheated 350 degree oven.

   

By KathyMillerTime an old tradition

Recipe Printed from www.kathymillertime.com

I have not finalized the other sides….procrastination…but thinking of trying a corn pudding, Garden & Gun’s green beans, and a mini capresese salad with olives…will keep you posted!

If you follow me on instagram, thought you would like to see one of my popular posts of my Christmas in the Sunroom.  I love to combine old with new.  An antique planters desk with a boxwood wreath surrounded by my colorful, bold flower paintings…I love a pop of purple in a home…here featuring vintage apothecary bottles and perfume vials…Artwork makes a home and can speak to a home owner’s expressiveness.  You can find my artwork above in Art Gallery or click here.

Coming soon…a look at my take on flowers in the Old Dutch Master tradition…Sill life featuring dark backgrounds and lots of flowers in special vessels.  These paintings will be available for purchase just in time for Valentine’s Day…a perfect way to give your honey flowers!

Sneak preview…

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Wishing you and yours the best Holiday Season…From our table to yours…

Come celebrate with me.  I’ll save you a seat at the table.