The Ho of Christmas Morning

The One and I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, so we got up early to make a video. Why we didn’t think to do this last week, when we weren’t rushed, I’ll never know. But at least you can see the snowfall through the windows on this white Christmas.

And if you’re curious as to the recipes we’re making for our Christmas dinner, here they are:

Gougeres
Beef Wellington
Braised Carrots with Orange and Rosemary
Old-Fashioned Potato Gratin
Hershey Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting (The frosting is from Epicurious, and we have adapted a million ways from Sunday. So I can’t give you an exact recipe.)

A beef tenderloin covered in pate and chopped mushrooms and wrapped in puff pastry on a cutting board

Now, we’re very curious as to what you making today. So comment below and send any pictures here. We’ll post them with your comments.




About David Leite

I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. My work has also appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


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88 Comments

  1. Hi I love your blog! We had bacalhau, cabrito, and peru for a two-day eating festival of food for Christmas, and a pudding table that was a little tooooo much. I am married to a Portuguese and have returned to Portugal after 30 years in South Africa. Looking forward to more exciting recipes from you. A happy 2018 for the One and you.

    1. Colleen, that is one hell of a feast!! Salt cod, goat, and turkey! I want to come to your house for Christmas next year. Feliz Ano Novo para você e sua família.

  2. A belated Merry Christmas from a US expat in Australia. I enjoy your posts & recipes (thank you for them) but have never commented. It’s traditional to serve seafood as part of Christmas here, so our Christmas lunch this year was Australian chef Karen Martini’s Russian Salad with King Prawns & Crab, along with crayfish drizzled lightly with olive oil, lemon & a pinch of dried oregano. (Australian crayfish are huge, like lobster.) For dinner we had roast turkey with roasted carrots & steamed green beans. We made a low sugar trifle for dessert so that our 15-month old could enjoy a bowlful & it was sweet enough for everyone!

    1. L, Happy belated Christmas right back atcha. I’m happy you’ve commented, and I hope you comment more in 2018. Your dinner is jaw-dropping. Is seafood traditional in Australia?

  3. So sweet! Thank you for sharing. Love your blog and book — such a gift in a place where it is challenging to find Portuguese recipes. Every year, my mom (originally from Madeira) used to make Carne de Porco a Vinho e Alho, marinating it for a whole week before cooking. Since she became ill a few years ago and is no longer able to cook, I’ve done my best to recreate a Portuguese xmas here in LA — on the menu this year was Porco assado com massa de pimentao (with cauliflower instead of potatoes for our paleo guest) and bacalhau com natas. The non-traditional sides and dessert were a simple kale salad with walnut parmesan, braised and glazed Brussel sprouts, and roasted apple pie (baked by a guest) with maple whipped cream. I am not a baker but someday will attempt some Portuguese desserts — which would you say are the easiest for beginners?

    1. Julia, feliz natal! I think it’s wonderful you’re introducing people to Portuguese cooking. You’re menu sounds fantastic. I think the easier Portuguese dessert to attempt is my Orange Olive Oil Cake. It’s a cinch to make–just make sure you have a light-colored, 12-cup Bundt cake pan.