It’s the lip smackingest time of the year!

Well, I haven’t been cooking or baking much here. This Christmas we are all alone. Packages have been sent and received and we’ll have a tiny town Christmas all alone. Next year we’ll have a big celebration here. Or, in San Diego. Who knows?

A beautiful holiday table setting with candles and china

However, that isn’t to say I haven’t seen some amazing food friends are making. So if I may, we will go peek in a few windows and savor all the food being served elsewhere. A progressive dinner of sorts. You know the kind you share with a group of friends, each choosing a course and preparing it. You travel through out the evening eating at different homes and enjoying the company of each other without all the work of doing it yourself. Yes, let’s do that. I also need to thank Barb of Creative Culinary for the use of her Thanksgiving Table photo. It made the post!

First stop? Barb’s house. I couldn’t resist this Crab and Mushroom Cheesecake appetizer! Come to find out she’s asked Nancy’s advice for a last minute sensation. And, boy I cannot think of anyone who might not like this appetizer.

Speaking of Nancy, let’s head on over and see what else we can spy on the holiday table. Oh perfect! A citrus salad. Citrus Salad with Mint Gremolata is a great second course choice. Citrus is so plentiful in December and the citrus combination compliments the appetizer so well.

So where are we headed for the main dish? Oh let’s get on a ship and head over to , for her Christmas Beef Wellington. Katie is a food photographer who has kept such a fabulous food photography journal for all of us to enjoy. This post of hers features not only Beef Wellington, but every imaginable foodstuff to feast on during the holidays. Scroll to the bottom and she’s provided all of her recipes in a pdf!

Oh man, I’m stuffed. But we need dessert. Something not too heavy. I’d love to say a plate of cookies from Calleye’s, or a nice Maple Walnut Christmas Trifle from Tim at Lottie and Doof and a big plate of Orange, Cranberry and Pistachio Truffles from Sylvie. Each one of these is a perfect finish to a wonderful gathering. I’m going to grab a bite of each!

We’ll finish our evening with great conversation, laughter and a great feeling of camaraderie. To make this evening last through tomorrow and days beyond has bagged up some of her crisp Three Ginger Gingersnaps for all to take home with us. Merry Christmas everyone!
SMall town bed and breakfast decorated for the holidays, with message happy holidays everyone on it.

December

Well, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! December. The month that brings cold, hard reflection. Have I accomplished all that I set out to do? Did I keep those resolutions? Did I write that book? Did I lose those extra few pounds that have been hanging on like molasses in January. Have I…

Juniper Berries

green and ripe (purple) juniper berries off the tree.

One of the things I love about the ranch is the trees growing wild on it. They are what most refer to as scrub junipers. They dot the land like weeds here in Northen Arizona. But pruned back and thinned out a bit they add a nice landscape to the raw land.  One thing I…

Chocolate Peanut Butter Tartlette for Jennifer Perillo and to remember her Mikey

A peanut butter cookie tartelette filled with dark chocolate almond ganache and edged with Peanut butter infused whipped cream.

It was May of 1985. My husband had just finished his bachelor’s degree and we were waiting for our tax return to come so we could move back to California and go to graduate school. It was a bright sunny day. We had just returned from the pool so the girls could burn up some…

Arizona! A working farm in progress

Welcome to Arizona sign that greets motorists at the borders of the state

After several years of hoping and planning and delays, we’ve finally made Arizona our home. As my customized sign says, “Dreams Come True Here”. I believe it. And, we’re going to make them happen. It all started one day at the food plant I managed. I was un-boxing a bunch of labels in the label…

Hi! I'm Robyn. Welcome to Earthbound Chronicles. I talk about farms, food and moving from the city to the country. In my spare time I like to craft and am doing my best to learn about hot glass. Photography is a hobby too, I'm foodchronicles on flickr.

Feel free to click on the pages above to check up on what's new. Comments are always appreciated. I'm @robynski on twitter and you can contact me by using the form on my about page or use robyn at earthboundchronicles dot com

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