I don’t know about you, but I’ve stumbled into December trying to keep my balance. In many ways, this year is like me being outdoors in a wide open space, standing still, the world whizzing by in big blurry images. So much has happened all around us and all over the world. Therefore, when people ask me what I am doing for Christmas, I am genuinely puzzled and simply shake my head. I am not in the mood to start thinking of Christmas and food.
I know that opening seems like such a downer for a food column, but food is about life and living, and life is what I am talking about. As frequently as I have been asked what I am doing and cooking for the holidays, I have sought answers from those asking, mostly friends and readers of this column. Split almost evenly, half say they plan to go all out making the traditional dishes and beverages. They want this Christmas to be a really big celebration even though they may not be getting together with others.