Christmas Birthday

Yep, It's a Double Whammy

Honestly, the thing I love most about my birthday on a holiday is breakfast. That may sound weird. But when your birthday is on the one day of the year when businesses are closed, you have to prepare. This year I did just that by getting a 3 cheddar cheese blend to mix into scrambled eggs and serve alongside bacon.

The star of the show is the Espresso Martini. It's a combination of espresso (or coffee), Kahlua, Vodka and ice. You can get super creative and rim the glass with sugar or finish it with a splash of eggnog. It's a party in a glass.

I also find that it's best to shop the day before Christmas Eve to avoid the crowds. Then your holiday birthday becomes a holiday weekend. Prime rib is the main dinner course with scalloped potatoes.

Here are my tips for a perfect prime rib:

• Get a cut that's bone in.

• Use a cast iron pan (I have a cast iron pot that's perfect for such things).

• Prep the meat with a garlic, butter, salt, pepper and thyme rub.

• Start the oven at 475 or 500 degrees and roast the prime rib for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees.

For the scalloped potatoes:

• Slice the potatoes very thin.

• Make a roux (butter, flour, milk) and simmer on low heat in a pan. Add a 3 cheese cheddar blend to the pan. Thin it out with more milk, if it's too thick. You want the consistency to be almost like an Alfredo sauce.

• Spray a baking pan with PAM. Layer the bottom of the baking pan with the roux.

• Add the potatoes and continue to layer roux and shredded cheese.

• Top with a good layer of cheese before baking at 350 degrees.

I added the potatoes to the oven with the prime rib once I reduced the heat to 350 degrees.

The beautiful thing about the meal is that you only use 3 pans. And the meal bakes simultaneously for 2 hours in the oven while you enjoy your day!

For the wine, I like a good Cabernet Sauvignon with the prime rib.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!