Keeping the “Merry” in Christmas

 

Everyone dreads it. It is a struggle at first.  The loved one is missing from the holiday dinner table, the chair next to the Christmas tree is empty and holiday traditions are bittersweet.  But I know it is important to stay upbeat.  Friends and family members try so hard to keep me company and create a cheerful atmosphere. I try hard too.  It might feel like a pretend smile, but after a while, it becomes a real smile. It helps to live in the moment, but not ignore the past, conjuring up fond memories. My husband loved to see the newly decorated Christmas tree and would bring his evening glass of Jack Daniels to sit in the living room just to enjoy the lights, balsam fir scent and the sentimental ornaments collected over the years (lots of black and yellow labs for one…). I’d light a fire in the fireplace to make it perfect.  A live Christmas tree is an important tradition for me, so I continue on. 

I simply love Christmas and this year, here in Maine, in snowed lightly all day, adding to the serene peace of the day.  This is year-two minus Bruce.  It seems a bit easier for me this year although there are three occasions that trigger sadness for me: Christmas, New Year’s and our wedding anniversary on January 2^nd.  I will do a separate post about the anniversary.  Today is all about Christmas.

I had my daughter and son-in-law with me over the holiday for a much appreciated, extended visit.  They arrived on Christmas Eve before lunch time, and I had been trying to come up with something fun and different for lunch. The idea I went with was a “Soup-potpourri”!  I love making soups and if I had a food truck, that would be my niche!

The week before, I had made a big batches of seafood chowder and a beef kimchee soup.  I had ingredients on hand to make another of my favorites, Greek lemon chicken soup.  So I made that and served all three soups at once, buffet style.  They loved it and asked for a repeat the for the next day’s lunch!  It was a lot of fun and we traveled from Maine, to Korea to Greece while at the dining room table!   I think this concept would work well for any gathering such as a small party with friends.  It is really easy on the host. Soups can be made in advance and frozen.   Add a really nice loaf of bread from your favorite bakery and you’ll have a hearty meal.  So I offer you the recipe for the Greek Lemon Soup here.  I’ll get to the other soups eventually. 

The lemon added to this chicken soup makes it feel like the most healing soup ever if you have a cold! 

 

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup 

32 oz. chicken broth

2 bone-in chicken breasts

4 cloves of garlic

1 onion, chopped

Rosemary

Oregano

Aleppo Pepper or Lemon Pepper

1 lemon, plus extra lemon slices

1 chicken bouillon cube

1/2 to 2/3 cup orzo pasta

1 can cream of chicken soup

Lemon pepper, scallions or parsley

In stock pot, place chicken, chopped onion, garlic, bouillon, herbs, pepper and broth, cover and heat until simmering and continue to simmer over low heat 45 min.

Turn off heat, remove chicken from broth and cool.  Add the orzo and return pot to heat until pasta is tender (5-9 minutes).  Add undiluted cream of chicken soup directly from can. (This step can be omitted if you prefer a clear soup broth, but  I prefer the creamy texture).  Pick chicken and add pieces back to the broth. 

Squeeze juice of one lemon into the soup, stir again.

To serve:  ladle soup into bowls, float a slice of lemon on top, sprinkle with chopped scallions or fresh parsley.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!