I know that Christmas has come and gone and we are well on our way in 2013. However, my next few posts are dedicated to our wonderful Mud House Christmas. This is the first moment I have had to sit down and organize my thoughts but Christmas was just too much fun to let slip by without sharing!
Christmas in the desert does not offer the anticipation of snowfall and sleigh rides but it is lovely and festive none-the-less. At the Mud House, we share distinctive and charming traditions, some of which have been handed down through seven generations of my family here in the desert southwest. For example, whimsical tin ornaments and sweet brass angels collected in the border town of Nogales by my grandmother, Mema, (and later by me) grace our tree and mantel.
Other traditions are more recent and some are new this year such as gingerbread tee-pee making with Chef Amanda at the Ritz at Dove Mountain.
One of our oldest family traditions began when my great-grandmother, Bammi, first served flat enchiladas on Christmas Eve. Family lore maintains that Bammi actually created the recipe and later shared it with a lady down the street. This lady eventually opened a little restaurant, El Charro, which now has several locations and is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Flat enchiladas, now widley known as Sonoran enchiladas, have been on El Charro's menu for a century. They have been served on Christmas Eve in my family for longer than that. 
This photo does not do them justice but the contrast between the colors of the red sauce, green olives and white and yellow cheeses make them especially festive.
My family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve. We gather at one of our homes and share a wonderful dinner of Mexican food. This year our celebration began on the porch of the Mud House with sparkling sangria.
We then enjoyed a buffet of flat enchiladas, frijoles, green corn tamales, tortillas, and fresh salsa. The tables were set with rose bowls, mason jar candles, and individual kits to make Christmas Eve hot chocolate
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This year we introduced a new tradition which may or may not take hold. Everyone was asked to bake and bring a batch of cookies. These cookies served the double purpose of being treats for dessert and for a cookie exchange. Guests took them home in red Chinese take-out containers.
All the cookies were delicious and so creative! We even had some reindeer cow-pies (thanks Greg!) However, rumor has it that some of the cookie makers were not too thrilled with their assignment. Also, we ended-up with way too many cookies so maybe next year we will ask for one batch from each family rather than one from each person. 
As always, it's the little things that make our gatherings so special. 
Rumor also has it that next year we will be doubly blessed yet again with more little things.
At the end of the evening, guests were guided on their way by the warm glow of luminarias and sparkly white lights festooning dried mesquite and century plants.
Thanks to every single member of my dear family who helped make this evening so much fun. My next few posts will share some recipes and more details about our Mud House Christmas Eve.
As a side note, Pinterest Wednesday will return soon.
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