Merry Christmas Everyone

Not only did we celebrate Christmas, we celebrated our very first gluten free Christmas. Dairy free has been for a few years, but this was first for sans gluten and I must say that it was a feast to behold. I spent the previous 2 days in the kitchen utilizing my wizardry and trying out 8 new recipes to ensure we were well fed in the dessert and goodie department. I found and tried a vegan butter recipe and Krysta found a cashew sour cream recipe for me to try and both are fabulous. Balsamic candied pecans were a hit and so were the raw Cashew Cheesecake with Chocolate Raspberry sauce and the raw Caramel Apple Pecan Trifle. Must definitely make the latter again. Even the dinner rolls that I adjusted to be also egg-free were quite tasty. As I said, a feast to behold along with the other fixings of chicken, cranberry sauce, yams, and a roast potato and carrot combo. I did say feast to behold, didn't I?

Today, being Boxing Day, I was thinking about what Christmas is really all about. Christians automatically say that it's to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus, the retail industry celebrate sales well into the black and there's those who celebrate other holidays. Mention Christmas and both joy and panic set in with thoughts of all of the preparation for that one (maybe two) special day of the year. Then the day arrives, the gifts are opened and the daunting task of putting on a feast begins. Is Christmas about the gifts? Is it about the family gathering? The food? I think it goes deeper than that.

As I see it, Christmas gives us an excuse and permission to give, to receive, to celebrate and to have fun. Eat, drink, and be merry! Okay, so why limit it to only once a year? Twice if one also celebrates a birthday. What if any day was a day to give someone a gift even if it was for no reason at all? What if we celebrated more often? Had fun regularly? And what if we received everything the Universe has to offer? Imagine what life would be like if we had "Christmas" on a regular basis throughout the year with friends and family getting together just because to eat, drink, be merry, and have fun. Isn't life a celebration, so why not celebrate?

At this time I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season whatever you celebrate and however long you make it.
Sherri Donohue
Hot Torch, Room Full of Glass, and a Kung Fu Kwoon