“Easy” Christmas Dinner

So this year I decided that I wasn’t going to slave over the stove for hours on Christmas Day making a knockout dinner.  Instead I was going to make a simple but tasty meal that didn’t require a lot of energy and time.

Or so I thought.

Unlike Thanksgiving, I didn’t spend hours researching recipes and compiling the perfect menu.  Since I wasn’t going to be entertaining a host of folks (just my family of five plus my sis and Mom), I figured I could take the laid-back route.  I hit Wegman’s with only a skeleton of a shopping list and a vague idea of what I wanted to cook. Some form of Surf ‘n Turf, a veggie and potatoes.  We already had a rum cake in the pantry, so I was all set.

We ended up with prime rib, lobster, brussel sprouts, pancetta and red potatoes. I thought I’d whip up some kind of sauce for the prime rib and I’d be good to go.

Let’s just say I underestimated the prep work involved in actually getting this “easy” menu on the table.  Two hours, a call from the fire department (that touchy smoke detector!), and watery eyes (shallots!) later, I finally got dinner on the table with the help of my sis.  We had:

Pan-Seared Prime Rib (that ended up spending quite an unexpected bit of time in the oven because Hubby likes his beef well-done), accompanied by Lobster in Garlic-Shallot Butter Sauce. It was delish.

Because I can’t get enough of looking at this pretty beef.

No, seriously.

My sister helping to shell the lobster.  Yes, that is a bonafide hammer next to her. No, I apparently do not have an adequate seafood utensils set.

Brussel Sprouts with Crispy Pancetta.  My sister screwed her nose up when I told her I was making brussel sprouts. She is now a believer.

Didn’t realize the picture was blurry until, um, RIGHT NOW. I’m rolling with it anyway.

Smashed Potatoes. These were more work than necessary.  I think in the future I will just stick with my signature Roasted Red Potatoes or my Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

Note to self: Try to remember to take the photo BEFORE everyone starts eating.

Chatterbox actually took this photo.  I just found it on the camera. Aren’t you impressed on how she was experimenting with depth (and hopefully not the champagne)?

Hope your Christmas Dinner was an easy one!