Saturday, December 26, 2015

Noche Buena (Christmas Eve)

San Geraldo couldn't stand to be out-done [by me] in the kitchen (see previous post), so he made a tremendous effort with his Christmas goodies. I do have to give him credit.

In addition to the best brownies I've ever had (every time he makes them), San Geraldo also baked his shortbread lemon-raspberry bars.

I'd ask him to marry me if we weren't already married.

We brought the treats to Tynan and Elena's on Christmas Eve. Other than those two "postres," it was a traditional Spanish Christmas dinner, and incredible. Elena knows how to host a feast and make it look casual and easy. And her sister Isabel makes the best croquettes (croquetas) I have ever tasted.

SAN GERALDO IN THE KITCHEN... BUT NOT FOR DUDO
(NO MATTER WHAT DUDO THOUGHT).
ELENA & TYNAN'S CHRISTMAS EVE TABLE, FIRST COURSE.
SAN GERALDO'S CHRISTMAS EVE BROWNIES.
SAN GERALDO'S CHRISTMAS EVE
SHORTBREAD LEMON-RASPBERRY BARS.
CHRISTMAS MORNING: TRADITIONALLY ON EPIPHANY EVE (JANUARY 5),
SHOES ARE LEFT ON WINDOWSILLS, BALCONIES, OR UNDER THE TREE
TO BE FILLED WITH PRESENTS BY THE THREE KINGS.

The first Spanish Christmas song I learned our first year in Spain (click here for a visit to our first Christmas in Sevilla, 2011). There are many different versions, but I love the lyrics of this one... (translation at bottom).



23 comments:

  1. Beautiful table for Nochebuena at Elena and Tynan's! Merry Holidays to all! (And a big smoochy hug to Dudo and Moose :) )

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  2. Beautiful table and SG's postres look delicious. Dudo does a lot of waiting. Did Santa bring presents for the cats?

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    Replies
    1. Wilma:
      No presents for the cats. For them, every day is Christmas.

      Delete
  3. A catchy tune....got us moving in unison!
    Now that looked like a fabulous Christmas Eve dinner, Mitchell.
    Oh, those brownies don't look too shabby either!!
    I really hope it was worth Dudo's wait.
    Merry Merry!

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    Replies
    1. Jim:
      Jerry was about to begin working on the Christmas Day krumkake. Dudo heard a small plate hit the counter and figured it was his "treats" cue. It took a while to convince him there was nothing for him.

      Delete
  4. Mitchell San Geraldo is a really gifted man . Your table looks perfect

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    Replies
    1. Gosia:
      The table was at our friends' Tynan and Elena's house. Elena does a great job and is a phenomenal cook.

      Delete
  5. All the best you 2 + kitties ~ look at those sneakers itching to be filled partially already.
    Merry Cheers!

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    Replies
    1. Ron:
      The tree/shoes photo was at Tynan and Elena's Christmas morning. I had stopped by before heading out for the day. That's the first time I learned about the shoe custom... although it traditionally occurs the eve of January 5th.

      Delete
  6. Great pictures, and since you mentioned it I'd love to hear about or see pictures of you two getting married. I do hope you both had a wonderful Christmas.

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    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      Hope you're also enjoying a wonderful Christmas. Here's a link to our wedding story: http://mitchellismoving.blogspot.com.es/2010/12/knights-on-white-horses.html

      Delete
  7. Christmas breakfast was a blast,lemon bars brownies and fruitcake.

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  9. Merry Christmas, Mitch and San Geraldo.
    The goodies look fabulous, and the table setting is perfection!

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  10. Is the shoes thing a Spanish or Scandinavian tradition? I'm almost certain it's not a Jewish tradition... unless you meant the Weismans... ;)

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    Replies
    1. Walt:
      Spanish tradition. I took that picture at Tynan and Elena's when I stopped by Christmas morning. They've Anglicized it a bit, I guess. Epiphany is the more traditional gift-giving day in Spain. Santa (Papa Noel) is not a Spanish tradition. The Three Kings deliver the presents.

      The Weissman boys tried to adopt the tradition but Mrs. Weissman made them put their shoes away.

      Delete
  11. You set a beautiful table, and those bars look divine!

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    Replies
    1. Knatolee:
      Elena set that beautiful table. I'm just a side ornament.

      Delete

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