Christmas in Cudahy

Dec 22 - We got an Egg Nog Shake

This year we went to my parent's place for Christmas. On the way we got some Jimmy John's and Meadow was extremely disappointed when I didn't bring back a pb and j. A ham and cheese sub just wouldn't do. To console the little rascal we told her we'd get a malt. When I got an egg nog milkshake she was not happy. So, Brooke and I drank it instead.

Dec 23 - We Shopped for Our Christmas Dinner

We had to go to Blaine's Farm and Fleet to get casings for our homemade sausages. First Meadow and I test drove an adult bicycle. I kind of think these are awesome. This would be a perfect cottage bike.

Toy land had been cleaned out by Christmas Eve, eve.

Then we headed to Outpost with the rest of the world.

We ended up parking down the street. We mostly came here to get all the seasonings for the Tuska-family Hungarian Sausage and a Polish Sausage my mom would like. I decided to also get the meat there. A butcher cut five pounds for us. It was $45. Whoops. At least we know the pigs were humanely raised.

On the way home we drove by the Admczyk's meat market. This is where we always got sausage for holidays until they closed for good. Word on the street is that there Hungarian Sausage recipe is actually my family's.

Scott parents had their tree up and lit, but it still needed to be decorated.

Good thing Meadow is now a professional.

Then I ground up the meat for our very special sausage.

That's the Hungarian before it was all mixed up.

Scott's dad found more books for Meadow in the basement.

My dad's doing pretty great after doing chemo throughout the last half-year or so. He's now on maintenance and you'd hardly know he had lung cancer at this point. Unfortunately the doctors say that is only treatable. I'm just happy he is doing so much better.

Amidst all our holiday dinner shopping no one thought about dinner that night. We decided to brave the snow and go out for dinner.

A childhood friend of my mine's family once ran a place called Saraphino's. They sold that place, but now own Paisano's in neighboring South Milwaukee.

We thought we'd give it a try.

I went with my favorite, gnocchi.

The sauce, oh man the sauce! My pasta and meatballs was so good. I highly recommend you stop by when in the Milwaukee area.

Dec 24 - Christmas Dinner

For some reason we didn't finish decorating the day before. Meadow and her grandpoppy did some more decorating in the morning.

Then we made some pancakes on my parents fancy new stove.

Brussels sprouts of course. It's not holiday without them.

Before you know it it was dinnertime.

Scott's parents fancy dinner plates are the best.

And the classic Tuska-style Swedish Meatballs on rice. No other way you can serve it at my parents household.

Then we had ice cream for dessert.

This kid just loves being read to.

We talked about going to Midnight Mass, but as it got later we decided not to go.

Dec 25 - Santa Came!

At first we were told Scott's parents just had money for Meadow. Since we didn't think she would have anything to open on Christmas morning, we brought our gifts to Meadow.

Meadow was not ready to open anything.

I opened my gift from Scott first. He got for me a set of different colored thread for sewing.

Still not sure.

Meadow was being too shy to open her gifts in front of everyone.

Maybe after breakfast.

Oatmeal will make a world of difference.

Then the sausages went in the oven for a few hours of roasting. I'd tell you the secret family recipe, but then I'd have to kill you.

After some oats and putting on clothes she was ready.

She got a play cutting food set.

The reversible apron I made her.

And our last minute surprise for her.

A new phone! Just kidding.

Single blade ice skates in her size! We picked them up from a Craigslist ad on our way to Wisconsin. I didn't know they made single blade ice skates that small.

She wanted to cook for us right away.

She cut up snacks for everyone.

I told Scott I would make a dessert. His dad and him decided I should make a strawberry rhubarb pie. A little out of season, but luckily I had rhubarb and strawberries in the freezer.

I went with a lattice design.

When Nana woke up Meadow had another surprise gift to open.

She decided to be shy again.

More Lincoln Logs.

We're going to build the world's biggest Lincoln Log McMansions.

Meadow and I did some building while lunch was cooking.

Then after a few hours of roasting, the sausage was ready and magically we had classic green bean casserole, homemade sauerkraut, apple sauce and of course rye bread. I also caved in and made pierogies.

This was the first time I've ever made the Tuska Hungarian Sausage. It was so damn good.

Pie and ice cream for dessert.

You may be wondering where my sister and brother and their significant others/kids were. They couldn't squeeze into my parents house/weren't going to make it from NYC and Grand Rapids. We finally got to Skype with them after dinner. It was like we were all together for a brief time. Hopefully in two years we'll all be together again.