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[–] DorothyMantooth ago 

Lol, I'm actually kind of annoyed by the jeans, because these are a size 2 and they're a little too big, but the 0s are a bit too small for comfort (mainly in the waist, because I'm short-waisted so I'm fairly straight-up-and-down). I'd like to just have a size that fits, you know?

I am so jealous that you're going to a butcher. I miss tons of things about England and where we lived there, but the biggest and most consistent one is my butchers. Great meats, great guys... I miss them, and there are no proper butchers here (at least not within about a twenty minute drive) so I have to make do with supermarkets, sigh. It just sucks. (And I'm already wondering where I'm going to find the veal here, whereas at my butcher's I could just ask them for a "brown mince" and they'd grind it all up together for me. Because real butchers are awesome.) I'll probably have to trek all the way out to Whole Foods for it. I've actually only had it once aside from in lasagna or meatballs, so I don't know much about cooking it properly or anything; one of these days I'll try it. (I have also never had or made beef wellington, though I've always wanted to!! That sounds wonderful! Do you make your own mushroom duxelle, or...? I don't like mushrooms, which is kind of the one thing that keeps me from it--for the bourguignon I keep them really big so I can easily pick them out--but I keep thinking I could get a nice beef pate or something instead.)

And thank you! We do like our Xmas food. Funny thing is, the Xmas Eve thing started when I was a kid and my mom decided to just get a party platter one year instead of doing a whole big meal. We all liked it so much it just became a tradition. We have our light snack-y dinner and then we play a game and open presents. It's fun (and it's easy for me, which is the best part because by Xmas Eve I don't feel like cooking anything anymore, lol).

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[–] callthehambulance 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

A good butcher is a wonderful amenity to live nearby. Mine is about a two mile walk, but it's a nice walk, and well worth it.

I make my own mushroom duxelle, it's dead easy. :) And I find the trick with beef, even cheap cuts, is to toss pieces in seasoned flour first. I do that with my stroganoff and it comes out beautifully every time.

For me, Christmas Eve is carols from King's College, and prepping veg. Lots of candles, and calling friends and family and catching up. Right now though, it's the longest night here in England. I have a long standing tradition of sitting up for it. I wanted to end myself about six years back after losing a baby, but a dear friend suggested I waited til Solstice was done before making any decisions. I did, and here I am now I guess.

And I get what you mean on a size that fits. I'm tall and long in, well, everything,so my struggle is finding jeans small enough but not too short in the groiny area, if you get what you mean. Nobody likes a moose knuckle, haha