11th year for great holiday tradition

Merry Christmas! From left, Jackie Fisher, Alan Carmichael, Richard Ford, Ray Fisher and Dawn Ford in the Fishers' kitchen.

One of my favorite traditions of the Christmas season is the progressive holiday dinner we have with two other couples. For the past 11 years, the Fords, the Fishers and we have traipsed from one house to the next feasting as we go. We either stop or start at our house, with the Fishers’ house, way out in Concord, at the opposite end of the evening. The Fords are always the entree course. We tell them it’s because their house is located in between the other two stops — but it’s really because Dawn is the best cook!

This past Saturday was the designated day for the event this year and we started at our condo in downtown Knoxville. I made a mushroom and pancetta crostata — from a Giada De Laurentiis recipe — and it turned out great! Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of it until we had almost eaten it all. (Click here if you’d like the recipe.)

I made Ray stop eating his crostata so I could take a picture of what remained of it!

Our tree is a little different this year: we needed to conserve space, so our interior designers, Chris Davis and Craig Shelton of The Drawing Room, came up with this solution. It’s a live tree, but very skinny.

Alan eats his crostata beside our Christmas tree.

Ray Fisher and Richard Ford pal around.

Dawn Ford and Jackie Fisher

I noticed that Alan, who has a notorious sweet tooth, kept eyeing the cookie tins under our tree. Only when he nabbed one did he discover that it was empty — waiting to be filled at my all-girl cookie party scheduled for the following day!

Big disappointment when he found it empty!

Just as we were leaving, our cat, Rexie, made an appearance.

Then is was off to the Fords’ house in Tan Rara in west Knoxville. Richard insists on a huge tree every year.

The Fords pose with their big tree in the den.

Dawn always sets a beautiful table.

Three kinds of marinated salads started the main course.

Look at these cute place card holders!

Jackie's seat.

Dawn’s sister, Stephanie, is very artistic and crafty. She actually hand-painted these napkins. Aren’t they beautiful?

Stunning.

The olive and asiago cheese rolls were amazing.

It's a Pillsbury recipe.

Keeping with the Italian theme, dinner was a rustic Italian chicken stew. Dawn adapted it from a Giada De Laurentiis recipe.

Yum! Perfect for the cold night.

The  Fords have five Christmas trees! This one, in the master bedroom, is Dawn’s favorite.

Awww! Cute!

It features ornaments that were hand-beaded by Dawn’s sister, Stephanie. (I told you she was artsy!)

Beautiful.

The Fords have two sweet dogs which we convinced them to let join us.

Dawn and Barkley

Alan and Henry

Pretty soon it was time to move to the Fishers’ house way out Northshore Drive beyond Farragut. Dawn’s birthday is coming up this week, so Jackie made the dessert course an early celebration of that event.

A birthday table!

The cake — chocolate and raspberry — came from Magpies and was delicious.

Happy birthday, Dawn!

The centerpiece featured candles shaped like pears. Very cool.

Pear candles

I love the way Jackie put Christmas ornaments in the chandelier!

Great idea!

The Fishers went for a small tree this year.

The Fishers and their tree

Dawn had to blow out the candles before we could start dessert. Get to it, girl!

We all made a wish.

We all exchange little gifts but, because it was almost her birthday, Jackie gave Dawn this beautiful platter.

Lovely.

I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but one of my favorite things over the past few years has become pickled okra! And I got some!

Dawn bought this on a trip we all made to Charleston for Ray's daughter's wedding! Thanks!

Jackie is beautiful and I caught her in this pleasant pose across the table from me.

Our dessert hostess

Jackie and Ray have two dogs: Willow, a German shepherd who is shy and growls a lot, and Bo, a labradoodle who never met a stranger.

Ray tries to get Willow to pose.

Bo is more obliging!

Alan pretends that Willow bit off his hand!

"I tried to pet Willow!"

This has become a very important part of the Christmas season for all of us. We highly recommend you get a few friends together and do the same: you get to see everyone’s Christmas decorations and you eat great food with nobody bearing the entire burden. Just a lovely, lovely evening.