Christmas Dinner

I bought a bunch of littleneck clams. (You can tell I am playing with my new camera!)


I made a white wine garlic and butter sauce with my homegrown garlic. I love growing my own garlic. I has a much more intense flavor.


I steamed the clams in salt water then plated them and poured the sauce over them and served them with crusty bread. Teddy got some plain clams too.



I made fillets with brandy peppercorn sauce.


The sauce is very simple. Melt a stick of butter in a heavy skillet, add a few tablespoons of dijon mustard, 1/4 cup of brandy and about 1/4 cup of cracked black pepper. Whisk it all together until it begins to bubble. Stir in 1/2 cup of cream. Remove from heat and thicken by whisking in a couple more tablespoons of butter.


I also bought some lobster tails and removed the meat from the shells. I poached the meat in vanilla butter until it was cooked through. Melt a stick of butter, add some salt and scrape the beans from a vanilla bean. Cook over medium heat until the lobster is opaque.

This is one of the cool things I can do with my new camera. I can focus on things right up front.


Or you can pull focus on things in the rear.


The Blog Tech was communicating with his little sister. The Blog Tech got smacked on the back of his head by his mother. He was just joking around. We have foul senses of humor around here. What can I say? They take after their mother.



Dinner was great! Food hangover!!!! I think I might diet until next year.

Ok...the Blog Tech just pointed out that I could always focus that way with all of my cameras. Flippin' one right back atcha BT!!! I guess I have lots more to learn.

Comments

Anonymous said…
That food just looks delicious! But I have never even thought of having vanilla together with lobster! Have to think about that a lot before I try it myself :-) :-) :-)

Have a great day now!
Christer.
SharleneT said…
If you had ended up with a Krispy Kreme cake, then I would have given you the Paula Deen award for most caloric meal for ending the year! BUT, I KNOW you have oodles of yummy goodies waiting on the sideboard, so I'm not worried. Love that sauce for the steaks and am definitely going to try it, but think I will use my home made brandy instead of white wine and see what happens. (Or, maybe just drink the brandy and not care what happens!)

Tell blog tech that, when man resorts to visual aids, it means he needs to brush up on his language skills... (I was gonna say, he's not too big to send to his room, but he is your blog tech and you don't want him to plan anything bad.) Great recipes, today! Merry Christmas!
brokenteepee said…
Brothers and sisters....

Dinner looks delicious. My scallops and saffron risotto were yummy. I'm glad you are having fun with your new camera.

I've got a "family portrait" posted on Broken Teepee if you'd like a chuckle.
Sorry I'm such a lurker. :) But your new camera really is taking clearer/sharper pics.
The Tablescaper said…
What an elegant dinner and you make it look soooo easy!!!

- The Tablescaper
Great food photos of your fabulous Christmas dinner.

Wishing you a wonderful day.

I know Teddy loved the clams! xoxo to "Teddy Red Fluffs".
audrey said…
Hahahaha I love that you had no problem posting that "all in fun" photo. I need a blog tech ~ can I borrow yours now and then???
Your Christmas dinner looks amazing! Your recipes, your mult-tasking abilities, and your beautiful Christmas decorations are amazing.
Cannot wait to see what the New Year brings on your blog!
Happy days!!
♥ audrey
Lila said…
What a beautiful meal!!! Also wanted to let you know my ham was a HUGE success~~~~even "the stuffy napkin users" couldn't help but lick their fingers and dredge the ham in sinful amounts of that luscious sauce!!! My first ham ever and it drew raves!!! Thank you so much for all of your guidance!! Have a great day!!
Wizardess said…
Wow, that sounds/looks exquisite! And your new camera does some good stuff. If you like caviar at all, come look at the "Here Comes the Sun" caviar appetizer on Go Out Beneath the Naked Night. :)Very easy!
This looks heavenly! I had filets and shrimp scampi for Christmas Eve. The peppercorn sauce looks great. Next time!

Leave BT alone, he was just giving you something to focus on with your new amazing camera.
Mystica said…
I knew you were going to come up with some gorgeous food.
Lois said…
So yummy. I have to diet after reading your blog, let alone actually eating your cooking! Tonight I'm making venison chili. Love your blog!
Hey, if Blog Tech is so *smart,* [telling you about all your cameras] why didn't he tell you the [correct] term for that one-focused-and-one-fuzzy-subject kind of photo. Hu? Hu? Hu? >,-)

I can never remember it myself. Bokah or Bouka or .... Something. :-)

Gentle Winter hugs...
Ann said…
Christmas dinner looks delicious. You've been having fun with that camera too, the pictures look great. The one of the blog tech cracks me up since every picture I take of my husband always has a middle finger sticking up
Sharon Day said…
The camera is a dream, the meal an incredible dream and I only wish you could include smell-a-vision.
Anonymous said…
I shamelessly admit my keyboard is covered in drool. You really know how to eat.

Your new camera is awesome.

We have a very similar communication on our household. That bird flew rampant when my kids were still living at home.
hey...what a winner that camera is...beautiful shots of the food...and it looks wonderful. love the sauce for the filets in that cast iron skillet..i have one just like it. cast iron is THE BEST !!!!

the clams look great too...

i am making your crab cakes for new years eve :-)

you guys are too funny...looks like you sure have alot of fun kidding around...
Melodie said…
Every time I read your blog my stomach growls! There is always something that looks delicious here!
Verde Farm said…
Now that is a wonderful Christmas dinner for sure. Yummy to the clams and lobster. What kind of camera did you get? I had no idea you could focus on fore and background items with most cameras--I need your hubby to teach a class :)
Teresa said…
So much fun to play with a new camera--I do have one that I'd like to get. Love all the great communication between the kids!
Oh so yummy, and photographed oh so nicely. Happy New Year!
petoskystone said…
ah--but what was little sister communicating first? ;)
Your new camera rocks! These photos are amazing. Looks like you had a wonderful holiday dinner. :) Theresa