Christmas and Food and RA

I will be the first to admit my kitchen smells damn good around the holidays. After the presents are selected and wrapped, I turn to the kitchen to cook for family and friends. Our elderly neighbor will receive Sourdough bread and sugar free preserves, since she is diabetic, along with doggie treats for Honey. Another neighbor will get Coconut Macaroons and Florentine Lace Cookies and English Toffee, because she's a retired antiques dealer from Louisville. Our Kenyan vegan neighbors will get Sourdough, along with the Postal Carrier.

Christmas Eve we will be wolfing down a Standing Rib Roast, roasted asparagus, and a rice pilaf. I'm taking Country Ham Butter Biscuits and Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms to my parents for brunch. Then for Christmas dinner, I'm going Southern. My famous Beef Ribs, my mother-in-law's Potato Casserole, Southern-style green beans with salt pork, creamed Silver Queen corn, a Strawberry-Pretzel salad, and Hot Fudge Pudding Cake for dessert. Boxing Day, we have company coming, and I will have Sausage Balls, and a cheese log to munch on.

I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for eleven years now. I am finally learning how to pace myself during the holidays. The coldest December in North Carolina history hasn't helped me one bit this month. Days like today, I can barely walk and it's hard to lift a pot. I spent most of the day moaning and groaning on the couch, but I took a double dose of my medicine and was able to finish dinner ( B-B-Q'd pork Boston Butt and homemade Mac and Cheese-- Carey's favorite). I finished 4 loaves of Sourdough yesterday, and there will be an extra 2 loaves sometime this week. I will make one batch of cookies each day this week. And there's always dinner and dishes. The one thing that truly amazes me is I don't gain weight over the holidays...