On Christmas day, my Sister #2 and her family gathered in a new spot--a restaurant that was closed to the public, but open for us and only us!
Our darling Nephew-in-Law #1 (on the right, below) is the manager. He was such a gracious host! He gave us the run of the place, turned the game on, showed us all the fun stuff behind the bar, and let us loose to play:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFWFlor7JpX3AGFVSX62IeFvfPSLvl3sbi9j6DTDRnxcQs8ETGk1ry1MLIMSG22I_LAQ9HMM9DeKsu-EyhyF7JRZY_dzWef3kKR7cdKeIf7ruIbolndNC2otNAalxK7z_ljMRTOgEmgc/s400/603.JPG)
Oooh! Pretty bottles!:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzznTsfTZD716dxpb5LBNIDg9YzKP0HOT6ygng1gHv8RL6L1d0WvcBrakvX_I19B-Ol-lVTWCKwiuGXJVJO0puWSBNPkKUWmApcrSkHi1UWIKtv0jgrX9Rws69lSdL3IqiWCrgp4n_T-k/s400/567.JPG)
The men especially seemed to have fun around, behind, and near the bar:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92MU8x-P4P4swqdUpy24GDnFa2fbwkcE7309VRDA_pirts4H6G-3XcKPNl0DkhU62fxS78x2aGkAHkLknk2z-WY7tFwxNtWkuhsuMiUx_IhHI6BCnfhMTd34Q4OAHw7HXuD6Xf2Gi-9o/s400/565.JPG)
Maybe it was partly the attraction of the fancy computerized cash register, which could read employees' fingerprints, verify a person's age, and spit out little printouts of drink recipes. With this machine, a patron can order a "Fuzzy Bellybutton" or something equally obscure, and the bartender can make the drink, every time. No need to memorize hundreds of recipes!:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aOs9FTXKRvP4ODFTXNFXEW_EwUGCO6ES7l8jp77k9STTtMVeNQURF4BjPw3wkyUxAkSBIL2TN1cl0zX4rNCUUw6wevyJ52KGS7r_agzjO20VIdNaiQ_0ZYWXQd3gMRgPPgOYgAZTk4g/s400/532.JPG)
The Boy had a lot of fun messing around with this machine:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_QWyI281mWh2UxKrD3g2dPgYEho3KpSTaxsqn9FKoJrzcZgftUsYJbSDXZzM5jtkUzbgjfGOUrrK3xyrLeDxcoN8-RgYfz2zTyfkfQaQw8CAR13HXeQ0HlYavV-h4m2uliBBApvgBmQ/s400/520.JPG)
The bar's attraction might have had something to do with this gizmo, which can dispense different liquids with the touch of a button. Anything that looks like it has a handle and shoots stuff seems to attract men....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKaCcL4V_EnMLWUQXh3LJ4SduBhQaJGMLFtV0HqW9TwlXcNwTbNVSG5gjvbgYab1-VlzB_JDgtV17Dj3pHHxHaGGmC5Aux9_oPNnHMEt1R7rFPZ-TMeCBrS8BYjlEBECZSm9T_wF91fo/s400/537.JPG)
What is it with guys and Stuff That Shoots Stuff? This is Niece #4's Best Beau:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprYUwp4sPt5WiMKTbVgjqRytH8EwDpR0WFkg8omPtSuSPkrHUKntganxSF_Rmvmv4RggGu6aAyWVQQkheD4N-MZHnmCAYSmYuvjcNnjetX0OlsaQCQDF4Rhl_vrE8gLBvFUHkvtlz-ac/s400/521.JPG)
And this is Niece #4, striking a cute barmaid pose:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztjBxtt7zeOjg2gUlTgMWECYInXayaj9dAFJfuxbS_pPW5f0MTrH8GasH2uxw_hvHz6_TfgKpqvAiAJYSZqWFz26g-e1KKhiROyZ09rp52eiq0-DUAspobHpZ-BkBLucCMs6uGL9jolM/s400/541.JPG)
Here's my Nephew #3, looking handsome as ever:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq_6EWDkcb1tfbG8WO_1eWEg3DueMTYusKkNDUG0hGeXrzFiP9MLa7FGIgDAEVAcSQJ0EnR3MEUCph67Keyt6UFvtN0HfH26ieKETiteYXiBMzL-0z_BLB-zG1xYs5NnZOAsHBz4XCoc/s400/546.JPG)
Speaking of handsome, I am blessed to have these two dudes under my roof:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2flX-5CTuxO7Vn8I2P1PFgHLpJ8OaIHi1nJHobnEP9kfo5uodhvf55wXAKuekZwFR9QX6uQmaaA1xTnQGyPsO5b8aRf0z-bUgpYqh-iHcK0LGq3ZkQjOKZbm1inMQyFcZmIRY-sU58I/s400/572.JPG)
Drinks and nibbles in hand, we settled down to the serious task of having fun:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR9RzZS0EaivKTihtMUKQJodPTgzIxn1DazrtSnksdzFYaQUMqrbXPcv5DU2k3WUc9KU3Ws_2d8nPdjIIkv-zmPaZsKsnDpuYrFfGZ2jiJnoqAUNd5QzcKAkLSH2A3rjykTLwTkQslh8/s400/539.JPG)
This is my sister's first grandson. Isn't he a cutie?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvB9meu4Ns-Qj78THbC20H4ykpxTw3I2c2ivRe7eIsVG39_xYeL31SbEhvrWubOxH0Q_HgO-SB0S6UukwfiDSOH-NXd4JOXsJ8sVLmq9TQEQjOSBw3KXrkgWb1-3NVBvt5xYLpKrlEy_k/s400/548.JPG)
Daughter #2 and Grand-Nephew, getting some one-on-one time in:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuniI0Rb5aTwTHmKCrkx9U2tUAgFhpprvM6w2isOskBo1JoQ5RzpOyPL3T6c90tKihHF-eXejUHTbyolzLjmizKZ3By0-WdzhIqtGCMyZFsJ6yDdxkCSiVu6VG6AwS6D5wdlllxv7GfE/s400/577.JPG)
Mistletoe alert: Incoming!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HThjZDbKzw1JhfqMcQdQj-u6s1vrMAueXMfxSl6TbZT7gEaGceU7BI5lXiy_K3nF2POeCDLI62bFVGHsjPPxiNzsl4aYIfzaWbl1ptwzfyh0JyyEFVAGhS1Bbp4hXkU-rlByKVXyI54/s400/544.JPG)
Contact!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgAimFpsXz8hcojzW87m2obeSZwmwk48-fVAneU9sm5f4_fAoCbgkFC23wJ2RkmproQTnNaL7Wf_HuDdZiyEBtzx-wpb2EMjTMZRbPqVjsDpBtuDVcVhHC92-iBOtWfjrrxxI4bf-YS8/s400/545.JPG)
Meanwhile in the kitchen, those of us who wanted to cook got busy. There were potatoes to boil:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-g63i-uQDIXxpRWEgLBkI6EpSzTnC3GLt0cS-jXfwPd3ZdfI8ClThOvRWfun1N35EQSY0_p1tTUwMc0hfoZPGdE2bliP7am5iOyh-tK5XymA5ceSd8V_9DeGdPI2fuSIcxSWoZbj_hA/s400/556.JPG)
Milk to scald and butter to melt. Mmmm!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIg1oStlN1IbHSWOpf3N3g8soNCdWPZbuwOHGWhvY-7vvZEVpoPmrFCvE8J7v_QfuEoHAHYsbBAmKST85abxBPwRk8MXd73KIY0k4WVr7veCc_GUq9maAJk14_oitm7DwPi1tVu3sdwo/s400/559.JPG)
Here's my Sister #2, prepping something or other and laughing as her family swirls around her:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKCego5My9XA15bDeVesB5es6i3hgWVPqwdRrJ2zZI3cjePZRkTjkXlq0btyBz5OwfKUsYSCplLPESHOZAgC7676nJWCMnntVWES6P11EiW7aTs6Kh2Zpm0VZbUHthLOd2I_DDnGG8tk/s400/522.JPG)
My super, computer-skilled Brother-in-Law #2 hacked in to the restaurant's computer to fix up a few things and make systems run better:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjEoLMhS0w8vwpDYOjseJcXqnFT6WjH524yujM3qFlSOUJbq8-8NtIhdARdx1Soh_zRHMp2kx-Yd1ezwoz-BZ1II2VrnZupQlBFX00EKAEftTz1AxDvhLBa33WAvG4wk3ezLUuDcAMx4/s400/523.JPG)
And I poked around the kitchen.
I love restaurant kitchens. I'm fascinated by the stacks and stacks of china:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkRxvQQMOoO-FCRDLFbxl0XNIllA7ioirPxFqslO3ZH2qEHhaKY23qS4EgUCDEXFW69jT2uSj50_ZqrgaVcypaJChMksDK84Kj14eLJxH1RF0Ipz2fXfWF4VE1BI-ywy41LlQuGlx2Fk/s400/530.JPG)
They have things I'd never have, like steak knives by the dozens:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggD7fQhyphenhyphenY_rPLxYt8mauHHndWmOSvBbAFbhnIKN1ahYs3Z53ApWtGGbxdNJ25V2CcHVIjzBp9MRZN5TBWbwXQ4QMCa3grcYegXQUL4G9kItm54rtzXX-I_bkgOzKRshLHNNINdcK0Kyg/s400/529.JPG)
And enough plastic film to entirely wrap up a minivan:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcJkA-rzOqv8r4_P430yojBN6EKuYBJ96lSsEBJcaNA_1hHkLutuFYsZz7zxbNgGpz4DegbUpK3k_MFyfe4TBs4-iIKNx4OmNXWYS_3xoo-O7517LdKDLYvwjc2EPDSu6GspiuSGkMTA/s400/525.JPG)
Restaurant refrigerators are amazing places. Look how huge this is!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-rYkYnruSoynucTpw-kj_TYghlOVOfwEotEE2GBei5E9o7j_t_RmRKmnk-87ExD74yDo5YbuBqO0-7Z_1MD86Az0L6aJGQaj3-6cQFL47XqseeLVyJcDGRlQfBn-rbT8ONRqbZ3ML_Y/s400/561.JPG)
Even in such unfamiliar surroundings, we cooks got to work and turned out a delicious roast of beef:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd-UnKYt1AKYMZeTLjDV4t_A-BLBWEJg6waUiiyThmRw3DzvRH3XF6lr1Z6KdUi1tje2ExZHLhdEazhgAAHOsHPoEWXDmxbiHwmyaMAAQiPXCGsQ5zNqqTDfeGENQwZ5FHFnQGPUdHjI/s400/564.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHiqdTXFNvvvUWb5kUIMxIB0MamgmZpR0hXOcfGT6AKphGtNK9WVptT1Vq4lGnYbJj56xj_v4gH0UReGnTZlcw0_vG6yV5DDgTMzeST_Zl3qSp2TMYhjwC4nzMXIhDRCe2wZi7KGSf3M/s400/574.JPG)
My Nephew-in-Law-the-Manager's grandpa carved the beef to perfection:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruLev9hQnenaMUTnSFyl6sP53qwzjayNKdYlaBJJGj8hU8C_1ECEq4RgUTuoXFT0ZuTy74VPolwZ1XvJ5BlvkZBuXaEcoMDvbf_NTjOigenffYp8uT2fRALhE77f4Hrn_i1x9w0bt8_8/s400/580.JPG)
I was in charge of making the batter for the Yorkshire Pudding:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRM0iN3qW0Bbab2YUKQrlIPeaBE8v4o0-OYk4VoWJZmC3x-9HyOFDXKQsUBlz0O4SqQ0earc24tANscOu_Ge0rOnOk3aXJtkDkb69kmEAO1sO4YCPFfhCrfxSETxKvWcAiCqr4eMrMDDk/s400/551.JPG)
I guess they don't do much blended stuff at this place--the blender was normal size.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7E8g_AH0_LIe2EljkGcio9UullAaqu6-Xqf6D9GOXLd_IypifrA-oZEsYk3qrESXgSigV7uNfALu2QHOvaUHXrIwFXgIE-RChzJZzinKeL9AgBfN8-GCUV7vlbRX0bQBJMiMKGqp0ZQQ/s400/552.JPG)
Here's my mom's recipe for Yorkshire Pudding, in my sister's handwriting, with many spills attesting to its age. This recipe is fantastic!:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GeTP11Z3VIIqI5EscTFFV-IesUnjfrRai8VtTAI8sz6GQxQXoawbbp57d6HrKgAhESYisa1WNdVe6eDyz-TFneXxu70yKCztsBoSJnHpHacyvN7PusTu2FDJDE3GVGHnmZ5gTRwHBOQ/s400/526.JPG)
I'll include it at the end of this posting, so you don't have to strain your eyes making out the writing, okay?
Meanwhile Sister #2 and Niece #1 tackled the potatoes:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg3F2je9jeR7CW3XYKV9Zo6e5iXD6ZkkuIrFF6zA8nNJTK0ZUlWybuVU7Liw7SPAVY3pFFXT3v5vczb6xCf4C3m8gNsc1nr2q_aKE85fW1v5DaK5aQY7Rtn_4zwyeDXZB3lPWoWEHpj4/s400/555.JPG)
And Brother-in-Law #2 had a heckuva good time wielding this wicked-looking whisk. The mashed potatoes never had a chance!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRP9N5xnJFPukKWjkYa8PrZDV4a7ElqLgfzSV8p5K4vcBWVtOocdWhUFAL9vNAd8xek0KibsZiQ0O1V3HKpSln-jIzWgLtGq1N2UO4W6pitTTxrTBo74KmGAK7YHuVz1ZzdEYCoZwtPY/s400/578.JPG)
Stand back! Men with power tools!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSxJIKGUsTq-FtnRecule467oL0plJu1_TorxaIn0_LJnew_IVjjpYSFWhwLvkl0HUT08od0cJNB-Wb0CFFxbLrRkE7CiCUfrljTRpPdqcQ6-ZAF2axMvIdyz-h20i3oNykjcujtA0Ik/s400/579.JPG)
At the end of the night, we'd accumulated quite a lot of dirty glasses:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OorxI5kFd7eYDTWGN5VVIePzG_-cSIJZKcIqT2SuXKlDRPP7vUuxG4AGu9TgE1FeuUfqWB-Az84BxMG75Obwrg8pO40Tg186UVwNb2FywOq1Jwn4NRdpQCvfCrAM8xQ4oW-LAWoUhkg/s400/604.JPG)
Nephew-in-Law showed The Hubby and The Boy how to use the three-sink system to wash and sanitize the glasses:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LNEjXnVh18KcYKdqmg-pUBN78j20k3PrRmYQPBvCrA1VEfk7lttpZ3q-1iXr7rIlsWQ-V90dFD5t_LiAqncfAeLhfCcGXDqs1U0_MuR-SMdspnsgLu1oop2QegKR0ESxYJfwJnWW7zI/s400/616.JPG)
Here's a real Christmas miracle--The Boy washed a glass!:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs4ZU0Vc4g56MWtCaCATmVQzQARjit9fD5fkbtsHzuu5N5hGOhIWMnsIrCzGVFmSd9Be4gaAYMYK7KvbF1R109hPPzhoZMYHudYQS0RrJXBYEdvCXMYBuRx6YJ8kxt6vI4zoswoN5cy8/s400/621.JPG)
And then he washed another one, and another, and another:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPTh9HpYOc99x0nEHs1afkjBSLt4AjyoSpEE4hPqDikloev_B_W1EygiJKfydmFz_gHwmFWeKkfj4fqBbvfdEzE4-Lx1eKzAaWs549GeX7Y7UfrsYso9nNWhXpIt838KXkZJl2nJTTO0/s400/622.JPG)
Hallelujah! Now, if only I could get him to do this at home....
By the end of the evening, we were starting to feel like a gingerbread man who'd been mangled by a five-year-old:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9E8Kfky6T81lG3vgoQt5VsvsFlZGfQ9TycDhZURHTKcDjT7ehVqAn-uKOvoaxWxv_tI5G0leWmWQOe093OYizn3OFGgynUOjAFa_6SUlFZjzd7KOI5voQjoyOCEjHHGNva5ucnVjdcc/s400/592.JPG)
And when the bottles start looking like this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbo4Oa5hlrItA0oUfXdYMi8_n23Miv8PjrHSAfsoUW5qgp7Y6ubE_a6RAQf56QLWsQTnyh59Bw67V6qCoCuJmnfLiZEclfXbvL3n3TEYrbU9JVlMX2Qh_rp0V1u0m6hNoHj_GMBS4YTU/s400/570.JPG)
We knew it was time to go home. Night-night, everyone!
Yorkshire Pudding1-1/2 C. milk
1-1/2 C. flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
4 Tbsp. butter or drippings from a roast
Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a 9x13 casserole into the oven to heat up.
Pour milk into a bowl or blender. Combine dry ingredients; pour into bowl or blender. Blend until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
Remove hot casserole dish from the oven; put butter or drippings into the heated pan; pour in the batter and return dish to the oven.
Bake for 40 minutes, or until pudding is puffed and golden.
Thanks, Sis! Such a lovely gift to see all your wonderful photos of the family Christmas gathering this year. I almost feel like I was there, too. SO HAPPY to see and hear that everyone had such a great time! Love and miss you all. xoxo Sis #1
ReplyDeleteYay, such fun pictures! Makes me want to do it all over again.
ReplyDelete