The other day I was in the grocery store looking for a Christmas turkey. My family is small enough that a turkey breast pretty much covers us, but I was horrified to see not one turkey but 30 bazillion ham options. Canned ham, processed hams, shank hams, butt portion hams…I was lost, confused and scared to death I would have to attempt to cook something I assumed came out of a foil wrapped package at my mother’s house already made. As far as I have been concerned, it is a Christmas miracle!

But I digress. The question of what to serve over the holidays is one that perplexes me. when my grandmother had Christmas, nothing short of a turkey dinner with all of the trimmings would suffice. As we segued into the years when my mother had us over, she preferred to spend mega-amounts of money on a ham that involved my going out into the crowded city streets to pick up this piece of pork…complete with the admonition to “Get a butt portion” (If you have never had the experience of asking for this in a store, it is quite embarrassing until you figure out that this is indeed the correct term.) My mother didn’t even bother to reheat the thing and during the merriment of opening presents, we grazed around the ham which made perfect sandwiches along with Macaroni and Cheese, applesauce and no need to worry about table manners. But my mother died this past summer and now I am facing the holiday responsibilities alone…so what should I do turkey, ham or should I go with a Christmas Goose?