Since the week before Christmas, I have not had a working oven. Yes, I have a very nice toaster oven, but it’s just not the same. Try cooking Christmas dinner for 9 folks in a toaster oven!

Well, where there’s a will, there’s a way! The solution was to load up the car with all three kinds of lasagna (yes, three!,, but that’s another story) and drive them 30 miles across town to our daughter Emily’s house. Poor Emily was tasked with baking off the casseroles, loading them up in a cooler, and returning them for dinner. Luckily, I was able to handle the rest of dinner with the help of the toaster oven, and both Emily and Aaron’s families contributed to the meal.  Unfortunately, some of the “goodies”, Christmas cookies and such, never happened.  Most of them weren’t really missed.

Now I have to figure out how to deal with an 8 pound ham that’s sitting in the fridge waiting to be baked. I should have done that a week ago, but it’s still within date. Then there is our traditional New Year’s Day dinner.

Once again, where there’s a will, there’s a way (I hope!).

The ham is already smoked, so what would it hurt to wrap it in foil and “bake” it in the big green egg? As for New Year’s dinner, the Marinated Pork Tenderloin could go on the grill, as well. The sides will have to compete for their space in the toaster oven. Luckily, I’m only cooking for two that time, so I should be able to handle it. I’ll let you know how it goes.😉

Below you can find links to a few of the things on the menus.

White Spinach-Artichoke Lasagna
Traditional Lasagna
Simple Lasagna for 12
Ham and Mushroom Gnocchi
Herb Marinated Pork Tenderloins

And, as usual,
Be thankful for what life gives you.