yule logs

So the Christmas party was a success, as was the buche de noel. I put this picture up on Facebook, but you know….

Of course, they’re usually chocolate, but this one is a “Birch de Noel.” I thought everything turned out great except for the meringue mushrooms…because the tip on my pastry bag wasn’t big enough. But the whole thing was gone by 9:00 and it tasted amazing. I think I used about a dozen eggs making the whole thing (most of them were just the whites).

Here are a couple of pictures of the tablescape. It turned out well…though the lighting wasn’t so great and neither is my iPhone camera, so they’re kind of grainy and dark.

Left to right – the yule log, sugar cookies (that I made, of course), and sausage balls (which Matt made).

Starting at the top of this picture, there’s a veggie platter, then gougeres (with goat cheese and rosemary), and then endive spears with goat cheese and cranberry relish.

There were about 4 cookies leftover (I had another plate of them in the living room). That was all. I feel quite pleased with myself for pulling it all off so well. 🙂

Now, two days later, we haven’t cleaned anything up. Yesterday was spent in recovery (I may have had a little too much rum in my apple cider), and now I am faced with a house full of cups, plates and forks, gift wrap from the dirty santa game, and lots of empty bottles. Stupid party cleanup. I think I’ll just straighten up today, and save the actual dish-washing for tomorrow. I really wish we had a dishwasher….