To my family that keeps up with me here...I am eagerly anticipating December 25th :) It will be a little bittersweet...being together at Aunt Kris' house, eating (presumably!) polish sausage, Grandma Joan's potato salad and some new creation that my Mom stayed up the entire night before to perfect (c'mon! we all know it's going to happen! Love you, Mom :)), sharing stories and laughter...but also realizing that this will be the *last* year that we drive out from Chicago and Schaumburg and Wheaton and Princeton and up from Texas to spend Christmas together, in Wacounda, Illinois, in that warm and magical house, as the snow falls outside.

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I imagine that our next Christmas may be spent together in Texas; perhaps Grandma Joan will start drinking Margaritas over Manhattans and Uncle Tom may make fish tacos instead of Shrimp Dijon. On one hand, I'm saddened that our old traditions will be packed away...but on the other hand I'm excited to know that we'll create new traditions together.

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Since I moved out to California, I've been a bit removed...but I've thought of you all often. I have been fortunate enough to make friends out here that want to start new traditions, though, friends who want to gather together and celebrate as a makeshift family...and I'm excited for these experiences :)

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On that note, it's going to be a *good* day on November 23rd, boy. 'Thanks-go-Vegan' in East Oakland...dried butternut squash strips and dried persimmon slices hanging in the windows as decoration...wine mulling on the stove...'Cream of the Harvest Soup' with a hotter-than-heck chili sauce on top to start...a Tofu-Leek Pinenut Tart to follow...Pumpkin Pie and brussels sprouts as well...everything fresh from the East Bay farmer's markets in Oakland and Berkeley...I can't wait!

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Last night Alicia and I tested out the soup and the tart recipes and they both came out delicious! Alicia was in charge of the butternut squash...

and I was in charge of the chili sauce.

We made a huge mess, drank lots of wine and revelled in being the crazy girls that we undoubtedly are :)