"Ukie Christmas"...another MORRIS Tradition...

"The Ukrainian Christmas festive days according to the Julian calendar, start on 6 January, Christmas Eve, and end on 19 January, "Jordan" or Epiphany. (according to Wikipedia)."

For me, it also including several weeks of preparations.. and one hell of a day cooking, and opening my home to good friends for a great "Ukie" meal.  I believe this year's was my "7th Annual Ukie Christmas" - WOW, where does time fly?!, and what it has become to me is a gift - and a Thank you - to my closest friends.  It's a time right after the mad holiday rush to get all get together, eat good food (hopefully! haha), and just hang out.  Some people call me nuts... cooking for "that" many people, I don't think I'm THAT crazy - as I just feel like I'm in my element. 

Typical Menu -using some of the traditional thinking of what to serve (then throwing in some meat dishes, as typically, I do it after the actual Ukranian Christmas Eve) Every year making sure there is at LEAST 12 dishes - mainly consisting of Perogies (Varenky), Cabbage Rolls (Holubtsi), Crepes (Nalysnyky), Kolach ,  Turkey, Ham, Stuffing...and more.   I usually start preparing weeks in advance (a full day to make perogies is hard to schedule in!)...and the night before is a late one, ensure the Kolach is freshly baked, morning of - it's rise-n-shine, as in order to have everything done at once and before midnight, typically means the turkey -this years was 23lbs- has to be prepped, stuffed and go in by 9am at the latest!


The Ukie Spread....


This year was no different from the previous 6, aside from the fact, when we woke up... it truly was a WHITE UKIE CHRISTMAS! Which for those who do live on the WET COAST know that a "White Christmas" is a rarity.  Which meant there was an earlier "HONEY... WAKE UP!  Get the Shovel!" haha

Waking up to snow, and Jason shoveling the ROCKSTAR parking spot out....

Of course, you have to add in the good friends to EAT all of the food... Always a fun time!  I may not be able to formally SEAT everyone down at the same table...  however, I like to think we make do.  Serve everything up buffet style, and then you're on your own to find a seat...



Good Friends...Good Times!!

 And then, (well in MY circle of friends anyway)... where there's good food...good friends...there's also Good Drinks...which leads to Good Fun!  In our household... it's usually a show on the Garden Wall that just adds to the "fun".  This year... even with the snow covering the wall/ground... was no different! 


Gotta Love the Can-Can lesson in the snow!

To all of you who came out... Thank you.  I really hope you do enjoy the evening at least half as much as I enjoy hosting every year for each and every one of you.   Sometimes, its the simple pleasure of having everyone together enjoying that I find I remember and cherish the most.  Alot of people say the kitchen is the heart of the home. When it's full of people that mean the most to you, enjoying their time together, life just can't get any better at that moment.   Also.. thank you to my honey -xor- ...as he has been right there with me, helping prep..entertain and clean up! haha ....  I love you all.