Pre-Christmas Dinner

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Road trip! 

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We drove to my in-laws’ house on the coast for the night to celebrate an early Christmas.  We also dropped the dogs off because my in-laws are watching Maggie and James while we’re vacation in London.   My sister-in-law is going to Orlando to stay at out apartment with her European friend (we are doing an apartment and flat swap!).

 

I snacked on Pumpkin Yogurt before we left:

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And then we drove… and drove… and drove.  I always wonder what James is smelling in the air…

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Once we arrived, I found my mother-in-law making a lovely Christmas dinner.  She chose this speciality vegetarian dish out of a British cookbook.  I love risotto, and the idea of making risotto cakes and then frying them was GENIUS!

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I snacked fruit and mincemeat pie (which doesn’t have meat in it!) as a snack while we cooked.

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I was in charge of making the roasted parsnips, which were cooked in a combination of pepper, butter, and honey.

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The finished feast was a vegetarian’s dream!

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Green beans, risotto cakes, parsnips, roasted potatoes, and brussel sprouts.  Yum!  I think I got a full serving of vegetables in one meal.

 

For dessert, my mother-in-law made homemade Chocolate Pudding:

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The actual chocolate pudding is more of a cake and is made of cocoa powder and Cadbury’s dark chocolate!

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I practically licked my plate CLEAN!

 

We leave for London at 6 PM tomorrow!  Maybe we’ll see Santa in the sky! 🙂

 

See you for a run in the morning!

{ 43 comments }

 

  • Karla December 23, 2009, 8:40 pm

    What a yummy dinner! Lucky you!
    Also your dogs seem so well behaved in the car!
    Merry Christmas!

  • Jess (Fit Chick in the City) December 23, 2009, 8:49 pm

    The dinner looks delish! Have a great flight! Merry Christmas!

  • Claire December 23, 2009, 8:52 pm

    Yeah for real, how do you get your dogs to just chill in the car? Mine climbs all over me…on another note, I am excited to hear about your trip!

    • caitlin December 24, 2009, 7:33 am

      that’s just the way they are!

  • Susan December 23, 2009, 8:58 pm

    “Maybe we’ll see Santa in the sky!”

    Ha, that’s so cute!! I’m still a kid when it comes to Christmas. I even bought myself an advent calendar this year!!

    That is SO nice of your mother-in-law to make such a wonderful vegetarian dish for you! The whole meal look fab (although, the dessert is totally stealing the show)

  • Danielle (Coffee Run) December 23, 2009, 9:01 pm

    Gahh you’re making me hungry. Enjoy your trip!

  • Babycakes December 23, 2009, 9:11 pm

    Have a safe flight and Merry Christmas! I’m so excited to read all about your trip as it happens!

  • skinnyrunner December 23, 2009, 9:33 pm

    what a yummy looking christmas dinner thats still vegetarian! have safe travels!!

  • Sagan December 23, 2009, 9:35 pm

    Mmmm that all looks fantastic. Homemade chocolate pudding would be so tasty.

  • Joelle (The Pancake Girl) December 23, 2009, 9:36 pm

    Oh YUM, that all looks amazing! PS. Your pics are so great with the new cam!

  • Madeline @ GreensAndJeans December 23, 2009, 9:47 pm

    I love parsnips and yours look great! Safe travels tomorrow!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) December 23, 2009, 10:13 pm

    That is so sweet that your in-laws cook vegetarian when you come to visit!! The food looks scrumptious!

  • Bronwyn December 23, 2009, 10:13 pm

    That chocolate pudding looks amazing!!!

  • Kristine December 23, 2009, 10:16 pm

    That chocolate pudding/dessert looks absolutely incredible! You should ask her for the recipe!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is December 23, 2009, 10:21 pm

    OH her dessert looks fab!

  • jenna December 23, 2009, 10:30 pm

    mmmmmmm delicious meal!!

  • Heather December 23, 2009, 10:32 pm

    Wow! That food looks amazing! Have a great trip!

  • Erin December 23, 2009, 10:41 pm

    I love mincemeat pie — one of my favorite Christmas treats that is so hard to find in America. Yes, in England, “pudding” just refers to dessert, not American pudding as we think of it.

    Yum!

  • Katie O. @ Fit to Wed December 23, 2009, 11:13 pm

    That picture of you in the mirror with James hanging out of the back window is awesome!

    Your dinner and dessert look so delicious! I am a huge fan of risotto.

    Safe travels!

  • Little Aspects December 23, 2009, 11:35 pm

    Wow, your dinner looks delicious! Especially those risotto cakes. How cool is your mother-in-law making specialty vegetarian food! Love the photo of your dog as well – he’s gorgeous. Have a great holiday

  • Amber December 23, 2009, 11:37 pm

    I have never had parsinps before!! Merry Christmas! =)

  • Mara @ What's For Dinner? December 23, 2009, 11:40 pm

    Have a safe flight!!! Enjoy your trip and Merry Christmas!

  • Alison December 24, 2009, 12:00 am

    your MIL seems so sweet! what a great veggie-friendly meal she planned for ya. safe travels tomorrow!

  • Rosey Rebecca December 24, 2009, 12:18 am

    Love your vegetarian dinner!! Have a safe flight!!

  • Christy December 24, 2009, 12:22 am

    That dessert looks sooooooo yum! And yay for pumpkin yogurt — I finally tried the homemade version today and it’s delish!

    • caitlin December 24, 2009, 7:34 am

      isn’t it?! be careful, it’s like crack – you can’t stop!!!

  • Nicci December 24, 2009, 12:25 am

    Your going to have so much fun. I think I would love a house swap with someone.

  • Sam (Merit to the Carrot) December 24, 2009, 1:48 am

    Everything looks fantastic!!!
    I’m so excited for you! Travel safely 🙂

  • Nicole of Raspberry Stethoscope December 24, 2009, 2:53 am

    Your pictures look so crisp! I’m at work right now (night shift in the ICU–patients asleep and stable) and now i am super hungry from looking at your photos! Hope you have fun, can’t wait to read about your experience in London!!

    • caitlin December 24, 2009, 7:34 am

      thank you for working night shift at the ICU!

  • Amanda@thegrainsofparadise December 24, 2009, 2:54 am

    Have the best time ever!! Aloha:-)

  • Karin December 24, 2009, 5:07 am

    That dinner looks amazing!
    Have a safe trip!

  • Mica December 24, 2009, 8:07 am

    Have a safe flight to London and an excellent Christmas trip!

  • Ada December 24, 2009, 8:37 am

    Cadbury chocolate is seriously the best thing EVER!
    Have a fabulous trip:)

  • Mel @ She Runs Brooklyn December 24, 2009, 8:53 am

    Safe flight!!! Have a great great time, can’t wait to read about it

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) December 24, 2009, 8:54 am

    What a dinner! You MIL must be a great cook:)

  • Lindsey @ Eat, Read, Run December 24, 2009, 9:40 am

    Love, love the first picture in this post! Hysterical. Have a great trip and a happy holiday!

  • Jenny December 24, 2009, 10:06 am

    Dinner at the in-laws looks incredible! What a nice way to spend Christmas Eve eve!

    Have a safe trip, and that “flat swap” sounds really neat!

  • Laura December 24, 2009, 10:18 am

    I am continually learning things about America from you! Do you guys not make mince pies for Christmas (actually they used to be minceMEAT pies in the middle ages, when dried fruit was rare and expensive!!)? What about Christmas pudding and brandy butter? Bread sauce? If not, try to find some Marks and Spencer brandy butter! I think you will love it! I’m lucky, I live about 10 minutes from Bournville, where Cadburys chocolate is made.
    I think there is even a website where you can track the progress of Santa during Christmas Eve! Have a smooth, safe and healthy trip over the Pond, and don’t forget to keep moving during your flight to prevent DVTs;)

    • caitlin December 24, 2009, 11:10 am

      oh no we dont have any of those things in america! its so fun to eat christmas dinner at my inlaws because they do so many neat “foreign” things… like the crackers! and the paper hats.

  • Nicole December 24, 2009, 10:25 am

    Such a cute picture! Dinner looked wonderful! Those parsnips sound great. Enjoy London!!!!! And Merry Christmas!

  • Carolyn December 24, 2009, 10:53 pm

    Everything looks SO delicious!

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