LAME-OH

Every year we decorate Mary’s crazy East Bend white pine, and for the last 7 or 8 years, Evan has cooked something elaborate and delicious. This year it was some sort of fancy veal with prosciutto. I usually hang a few ornaments then kick back in the kitchen by her farmhouse’s toasty fireplace and drink champagne with everybody else. How can you resist when she has upholstered chairs and footstools in the kitchen? We always come home smelling smoked, which make you question the integrity of her chimneys and all, but it’s one of the coziest nights of my whole year.