December 25, 2025, Christmas at home and at Amy and Vahl’s

December 25, 2025, Christmas at home and at Amy and Vahl’s

I woke up at 6:30 and rested until 7:30.

Ari was not feeling well so we did not meet to exchange gifts until 10:30 in the living room.

I had a dream last night of how to fix the pouring custard that had become thick and slightly curdled. I would add coffee. Suzette and I poured the custard from its pitcher into a steel bowl. Then I made a cup of espresso and added a few drops at a time and stirred until the texture softened and the custard developed a smooth sheen and creamy consistency. Viola. We poured the approximately 20 oz. of custard into a 32 oz. yogurt container.

I cut two slices and toasted a 1/2 bagel, spread them with cream cheese, and garnished them with slices of the fresh Gravad lax and drank tea for breakfast.

When Billy and Elaine arrived and we were all together, we exchanged gifts. Luke gave me a biography of Ram Dass that I am looking forward to reading and a couple of skin care products. We gave each boy a herba mate drinking spoon from Argentina. Willy received lots of sardines, including a can from Patagonia and several bags of espresso coffee. We gave Elaine a kleenex holder in the shape of Mount Fuji. Billy gave each boy a gold 1 oz. Krugerrand and Suzette a $5.00 gold Olympic coin. I gave Ari a golden cowrie. We gave Ari and Luke each an apron made from a fabric food advertisement Suzette bought at the Tokyo flea market.

Luke gave Suzette a cookbook from a famous Japanese American fusion restaurant in L.A., Rintaro.

                        Suzette and  Willy’s gifts

Billy and I then examined a part of my coin collection and I gave him a 1933 Swiss Five Franc coin to show his Swiss friends who will be visiting them in Dallas soon.

We then packed up the chocolate dessert and repaired creme anglais and gifts for the family members and drove to Amy and Vahl’s home in Eldorado at noon. When we arrived Amy and Vahl and Vahl’s son Erin and wife Arvin and Arvin’s mother, Lee, plus Deanne, and Dayla, Craig Sr. and Carol, and Craig Jr. were there. Quite the crew.

I gave Deanne a bottle of Veriton, Archery Summit’s Pinot Gris. I gave Vahl a bottle of De Ponte Estate Pinot Noir and I gave Craig a bottle of Vara 2018 Vino Tinto Espanol.

I then unpacked the chocolate dessert and heated the bowl in hot water and flipped it out of the bowl onto a dolly on a plate.  Suzette or Amy poured some creme anglais into a pitcher and splashed some custard onto the chocolate dessert to decorate it.

There was a massive amount of food. There was ham and several mustards and several breads with lots of cookies and brownies on the dining table. Then in the kitchen were two large aluminum containers, one with chicken enchiladas and the other with vegetarian enchiladas and a pot of beans on the stove.  Finally there were two beef tenderloins Craig had cooked to rare and a bowl of horseradish cream sauce Vahl had made plus several other desserts.

Suzette and I sat by Craig Senior and discussed a difficult case he had and then Billy, Rick Spiegel, and I discussed Fort Worth Jewish families and Congregation Beth El. We had all gone to Bluebonnet, McLean, and paschal together. Mary joined us on the couch and I discussed with her Westcliff and Wedgewood Elementary, McLean, and Paschal. We bonded as we easily shared our common histories and recollections.

Soon people were serving themselves food. I filled my plate with a ham sandwich with a dense seeded mustard, a slice of rare tenderloin, beans, and a square of chicken enchiladas.

We were drinking bottles of the Calstar 2014 Sangiacamo Pinot Noir Vahl ordered at my suggestion. It was delicious. There were three bottles opened before Vahl switched to a bottle of Lemelson Pinot Noir.

After dinner we all lined up outside for a family photo.  

Then I tried a small wedge of my chocolate torte and creme anglais. It was excellent. The creme was smooth with a distinct coffee flavor. 

Then we exchanged our secret Santa gifts. We gave Craig, Jr. one of the ad aprons that Suzette had bought at the Tokyo flea market and a Japanese paring knife we had bought in Tokyo. Vahl gave me a bottle of Lemelson Pinot Noir. Finally, as the sun set brilliantly at 5:30 we left and Billy drove us back to Albuquerque.  

As we left Craig Jr. commented on the distinct coffee flavor and I shared with  him the story of the coffee fix to the custard.

When we arrived in Albuquerque Billy and Elaine gathered their gifts and drove to Casa de Suenos and we watched two episodes of the new season Five of Emily in Paris/Rome. Then, Suzette went to bed and I stayed up to blog this entry and I went to bed at 10:30.

Bon Appetit