We get to the uncles' house at around 8pm -- start with sandwiches de miga, few drinks out by the pool (it's a small lap pool, not a gigantic thing)
Then we move inside the quincha and start with all the old-timey appetizers that haven't been on north american tables since 1972 -- Russian salads, sometimes that carrot with raisin thing, another potato salad. Then some cold dishes -- the tongue dish, can't remember what it's called -- vitello maybe? I'm not a fan. Then usually a matambre de cerdo stuffed with eggs, veggies, surprisingly spicey chilis (my suegra always complains but I love it).
Then starts the asado -- chorizos, morcillas, asado de tira, vacio, etc etc.
After that a little break and then some ice cream.
Then start to get out the champagne so everyone has something to toast with at midnight, the siren goes off and then pure chaos breaks out as everyone runs around the table clinking glasses and kissing and wishing everyone merry christmas and handing out gifts-- this year will be good fun because we've convinced my husband to get dressed up as Papa Noel for my 3 year old niece, so he'll make an appearance at midnight and come in with all the gifts.
After the chaos of the gifts, onto garrapinos, turrones, pan dulce etc etc. and retiring outside if the bugs aren't too bad.
Usually we leave around 3/4am and then...
25th -- back to the uncles for a cold lunch of a whole lechon that will have been cooked on the parilla the night previous. More sandwiches, ice cream, pan dulce, turrones, etc etc and 15 people trying to get into a pool built for about 4 comfortably.
And then we repeat everything minus the gifts the following week for New Years!
In between -- lots of trips to the gym and bike rides or you'll come out of it a good couple of kilos heavier!
Then we move inside the quincha and start with all the old-timey appetizers that haven't been on north american tables since 1972 -- Russian salads, sometimes that carrot with raisin thing, another potato salad. Then some cold dishes -- the tongue dish, can't remember what it's called -- vitello maybe? I'm not a fan. Then usually a matambre de cerdo stuffed with eggs, veggies, surprisingly spicey chilis (my suegra always complains but I love it).
Then starts the asado -- chorizos, morcillas, asado de tira, vacio, etc etc.
After that a little break and then some ice cream.
Then start to get out the champagne so everyone has something to toast with at midnight, the siren goes off and then pure chaos breaks out as everyone runs around the table clinking glasses and kissing and wishing everyone merry christmas and handing out gifts-- this year will be good fun because we've convinced my husband to get dressed up as Papa Noel for my 3 year old niece, so he'll make an appearance at midnight and come in with all the gifts.
After the chaos of the gifts, onto garrapinos, turrones, pan dulce etc etc. and retiring outside if the bugs aren't too bad.
Usually we leave around 3/4am and then...
25th -- back to the uncles for a cold lunch of a whole lechon that will have been cooked on the parilla the night previous. More sandwiches, ice cream, pan dulce, turrones, etc etc and 15 people trying to get into a pool built for about 4 comfortably.
And then we repeat everything minus the gifts the following week for New Years!
In between -- lots of trips to the gym and bike rides or you'll come out of it a good couple of kilos heavier!
