Our holiday luncheon was hosted by Stacey, which meant we had multiple offerings with all of the extra touches to make it festive and special, including sparkling cider sipped from champagne flutes and decorative place settings adorned with pinecones and cardinals.  The main draw was pan seared jumbo shrimp and sea scallops, which were served with grilled red pepper and broccoli.  A dollop of garlic aioli by Stonewall Kitchen was a great pairing with the seafood.  To push the lunch to a more decadent level, add creamy, cheesy mashed cauliflower as a side.  The mashed cauliflower was meant to be a healthier substitute for traditional mashed potatoes, however, the version we had included cheese and cream, so the healthiness of the dish became questionable.  A simple side salad accompanied the meal as well.  Since our weekly luncheons originated from our love of salads for lunch, you will almost always find us having some sort of salad on the menu.  For dessert, we indulged in Godiva chocolates, green tea ice cream mochi, and mini-muffin brownies topped with marshmallows.  

The holiday season is a busy time for all of us and supplementing with store bought items is convenient for holiday hosting and will produce meals that are nonetheless delicious and beautifully presented.  If you have to get prepared food, go with your family favorites.  The time you save from not cooking everything will come in handy for other tasks such as gift wrapping, holiday home decorating, or card writing.  With all the hustle and bustle, don’t forget to enjoy your time with family and friends.  At the end of the day, that’s what the holidays are all about!