I’m exhausted

[Richard Chrz]

We are hosting my wife’s family Christmas tomorrow.

The menu is Kenji’s 3 meat Italian American meatballs, with the exchange for my bread, made a double batch and ended up making 30 meatballs roughly 1/4 lb and north, an all day red sauce to set them in, about 9 hours on it. Pre roasted a few sheet pans full of potatoes and carrots, will butter broil finish tomorrow, slow roasted a Chuck roast in a Dutch oven - then induction burner, 11 hours. Made fudge, 7 layer bars, baked 20 loaves of bread for table and family gifts (I send home bread for the in-laws of each family as well, mostly cranberry walnut and 1/2 pan ciabattas, also a round loaf to be a bowl for spinach artichoke, made spinach artichoke, cut and mixed up a crudite paltter, prepped the toppings for 4 pizzas, rolled out 2 of the doughs into thin crusts and got a bit of glazing / drying on them.

The more impressive part is the dishes over and over,…😂

I’m starting to get more efficient, and enjoying the tools I’ve collected so far. 13 hours and 10 minutes of active kitchen things going on today

I’m tired, but family is worth it!

[RonB]

I'm tired just reading this.

[Richard Chrz]

I’m hiring a dishwasher ‘cause I quit!

[captainlee]

Wow, you really went all out. Great job now get some rest.

[Richard Chrz]

Thank you, I’m looking forward to it. We have two great grand children to my mother in law,, making my wife be the great aunt and a god mother to one of them,

There had been some separation, in the family, but union and growth of new, has brought this family back together. As on onlooker it’s been really great to witness.

Which makes days like this easy,

[itsnotmyfault]

I know one thing...your wife's family is one very lucky bunch!

I do a similar thing for our family, (my wife doesn't cook) but not as incredible as yours...

Awesome job!

[Oak Smoke]

About a month into my second marriage I noticed we were living on Kraft Mac and cheese and tuna sandwiches. When I ask my wife why she told me that was all she knew how to cook. For the next 23 years I was the cook. The 1975 edition of The Joy of Cooking saved us.

[Richard Chrz]

Oak Smoke My wife is the better half by miles, truly!

We were laughing today about a story she shared with me about her younger brother being a kid being left behind with my wife to babysit. He told his mom on behalf of himself and his other younger brother, “Please don’t let her cook for us, she can’t cook”… truly her and I laugh at our weaknesses, and respect the others strengths.

[Oak Smoke]

Richard Chrz if you can cut up with your wife you’re a blessed man. My wife and I laugh with each other daily, she’s my best friend.

[McFlyfi]

Damn!!! I take care of all our family's holiday meals, but that absolutely pales in comparison to this.

[jfmorris]

Wow! That’s something else! I feel humbled by your commitment to good food for the family. Praying the day goes well and you can relax at some point.

[DavidNorcross]

Amazing. You are so right, the effort is worth it especially for family. Hope you enjoy!

[LA Pork Butt]

Great job! Thirteen plus hours puts you in a league with restauranteurs. I don’t think I am up to that complex of a menu. I with jfmorris I feel humbled. Maybe I should try doing the cooking the night before instead of just prepping the ingredients. New Year's Day Hoppin’ John Jambalaya, Cabbage Casserole and Fruit and Nut Stuffed Pork Loin was about all my wife and I could handle for a noon meal.

[Richard Chrz]

I have gotten to the point that pretty much everything is done, minus a few warm ups. And setting out.

Today I will bake the pizzas while they’re here,’ but I want to rest, relax, watch family do their thing, Not in the kitchen the entire time missing it all, or tired from an early start.

[Steve B]

I'm exhausted just thinking about all of this. Outstanding work Richard.
Was gonna reach out this weekend but will wait till sometime next week to continue our conversation.

Have a great time my friend.

[klflowers]

Great work Richard. You are the man

[Purc]

Your new avatar. Now that's what a retiree should look like!

[Oak Smoke]

Oh man, Just a cool dude in a loose mood! Love the avatar.

[Alan Brice]

Super Star!

[Mosca]

Man, I’d be exhausted after doing 1/10th of that. You are the mitochondria of your wife’s family Christmas! (Did I do that right?)

[Richard Chrz]

lol, I think you did.

[Finster]

Amazing stamina you have Richard.
Have a wonderful day and enjoy the fruits of your labor, as well as the family time!

[Draznnl]

After preparing all that delicious looking food, you should be exhausted. You deserve to spend the day doing nothing but soaking up the accolades from your wife’s family.

[Richard Chrz]

It’s why we do it, right, and why we do it ahead of time! I’m looking forward to it, and grateful our home has been designated the get together house for several gatherings a year.

[SheilaAnn]

Before I even read that amazing list, the first thing I thought was Lilly Von-Stoup saying, “goddammit, I’m exhausted!”

well played, Pitmaster! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[Richard Chrz]

It’s never about the food, a bit of awe over the shiny lights and magic was captured.

I was reminded of the rules of family time. That time with family is multiplied by those able to gather. 11 people at 6 hours brought us 66 hours of family time together. Grateful!

At the end of the day, “my heart had grown three sizes yesterday”

[dubob]

For most of us, the memories from family time end up being our fondest memories. 🥰

[Richard Chrz]

dubob no doubt, I have some of the fondest memories of family gatherings. My wife and I both do, so we really look at these times as ways to pass on the spirit of together, and it being good.