A LOW-KEY CHRISTMAS FOR US

It's gonna be a low-key Christmas for us this year. No party at the doctor's house - my laugh turns into a disgustingly phlegmy cough that simply can't go out in public. We'll stay at home, listen to Christmas music, play with Luna, watch the rain, watch news reports of travelers stuck at airports and on icy roads, and be happy we have a warm, dry place to recuperate and celebrate. We've got Christmas lights, a couple of presents, plenty of wine...

...but what will we do for Christmas dinner???

Since we aren't comfortable inflicting ourselves on the other party guests, we have to come up with our own Christmas dinner. Neither of us feels inspired to cook a holiday meal... hmmmmm.

Trader Joe's to the rescue! Without even a shopping list, we headed to the nearby TJ's on Wednesday morning. As it has been for the past week, it was jammed! We bumped our way down the aisles, picking up whatever looked easy and good. Here is our menu:

Turkey Breast with Cranberry-Apple Stuffing. This needs to be roasted, but is ready to put in the pan, with cooking instructions included. Easy enough and it looks good.

Sausage Cornbread Stuffing with Walnuts and Sage: nuke for 4 minutes.

Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes: nuke for 3 minutes.

French Green Beans, washed and cut, nuke or steam (I probably will roast them while the turkey breast is roasting).

Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce and a box of Trader Joe's Turkey Gravy.

It all LOOKS good (delectable photos!), and sounds as though it won't require more than the amount of energy we have available. For dessert: the Buckeyes we had made and packed in a darling "gift wrapped" container that were intended as a hostess gift for the party-givers.

We're set, and we're content. We hope you all are in a warm place, in a place of love, with all the trimmings. Merry Christmas!