When I was home last month for Thanksgiving, my mom concocted a plan for a potluck last-night-of-Hannukah gift swap family party. We used to have family parties at our house all the time, but the tradition has faltered as the kids have spread out and gotten older. It was fun to revive the tradition last night!
Treats included more of my apple-cranberry pie:
My potato-free “latkes“:
The black bean dip Rachel and I made:
And so much more!
My plate: turkey, tomato, lettuce, latkes, salad, and my aunt's famous noodle kugel!
I went back for another big piece of kugel before it disappeared. I’m pretty sure I had a couple more latkes, too. Despite being overstuffed, I couldn’t stay away from the desserts!
Hannukah cake (I ate several slivers) and cranberry blondies (I had 3). Whoops!
Plus this upside-down pineapple-ricotta pie my mom made:
- But it tasted weird, so I only had one piece.
I ate several more things that I can’t remember (and trying to remember makes me feel ill). I narrowly escaped further caloric damage with my gift swap present. I first opened a giant box of Whitman dark chocolates (the horror), but I managed to exchange it instantly for someone else’s non-edible chocolate-scented candles. Close call! I definitely went overboard on the food, but it was a fun day overall. Still, I went to bed anxious for a new event-free day to recover from all the gluttony!
Tales of Expansion: Baby Butternut Edition 