Merry Christmas!

We enjoyed our first Christmas together as a married couple in London. We miss our parents, sisters, nephews, and extended family, and we’re thinking of you on this Christmas day!

So everything literally shuts down for the “festive” season in Europe. No public transportation, no grocery stores, no movie theaters, nothing…with the exception of a few restaurants and pubs. And that’s exactly what Kenz and I did this afternoon — we went to a neighborhood pub for a Christmas “pint” and mince meat pie (no, there is no meat, just dried fruit and nuts). It’s a holiday treat along with “pudding” (fruit cake) and rum butter.

Many of you know that I enjoy cooking and miss it quite a bit since Kenz left to the U.K. (It’s no fun cooking for yourself). Yes, I have been spending a lot of time in the kitchen in domestic bliss. =) For Christmas dinner tonight, I made a small standing rib roast, mash potato, and green beans. Yummy! Anyone want to come over for dinner?

A hearty meat lasagna for Christmas Eve:

Our little Christmas dinner:

We have a little Christmas tradition. So Kenz and I dated 7 years before we got married in October; and for the past 3 years we’ve always traveled around the holidays: 2005/6: Egypt; 2006/7: HK, Cambodia, China: 2007/8: India. As a Christmas tradition, Kenz and I give each other the gift of travel. Tomorrow morning we’re boarding a plane to Madrid! We’re meeting up with some friends there — looking forward to it!

Hope everyone is enjoying Christmas. Happy Holidays! Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!