MERRY (Belated) CHRISTMAS 2014!

Like a tardy Christmas miracle, Cyd finally arose from her sick bed late this afternoon in a somewhat chipper mood (chipper for her, anyway) and declared that she was very hungry. So we prepared the holiday feast that was meant for yesterday: Prime rib coated with a wet rub of minced garlic (about a thousand cloves), cracked black pepper, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, coarse salt, and my new favorite Green Mountain Mustard (Clove Encounter with garlic and oregano), skin-on red and yellow potato wedges sprinkled with Cajun seasoning and roasted underneath the prime rib, and Prince William vegetable medley (green and yellow wax beans, baby carrots and broccoli florets) in a warm vinaigrette. And I doused both the meat and potatoes with a savory onion au jus before serving. Oh, and mud pie for dessert! ‪#‎nailedit‬ ‪#‎MerryChristmastoUs‬

Ice cream pies are about the easiest dessert you can make, and still, everyone is always impressed. This one is my very favorite! I bought a chocolate crumb crust and a carton of all-natural coffee ice cream, and by the time I got home from the store, the ice cream was softened enough to scoop it all into the crust and smooth it with the back of a big spoon. Then I covered the pie and returned it to the freezer, and when it was frozen firm again, I topped it with some leftover ganache that I had in the fridge (reheated briefly in the microwave), chopped roasted almonds, and garnished with whipped cream. TA-DAH, Marvelous Mud Pie!