Light Up the Night

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Today was the first Sunday in Advent, and we celebrated by attending our church's annual Light Up the Night service. There's no better way to start December than by singing carols, hearing the Christmas story, and watching as the outdoor tree has its lights turned on for the first time. Now I'm truly ready to start thinking about Christmas.

We've been going to Light Up the Night since the girls were pre-schoolers. One year, Andrew was asked to accompany the carols on a keyboard that had been carried outside. The plan was sound in theory - what could be lovelier than singing carols around a lit tree? Two minor complications prevented the plan from being perfect: the keyboard had been placed in total darkness; and it was about minus thirty degrees outside that night. The lighting issue was overcome by a quick-thinking worshipper who held up her Blackberry to illuminate the sheet music. The temperature issue was a little tougher for a bare-fingered pianist, and our carol sing was shorter than usual that evening.

Since then, we've gone back inside for carols, and tonight our minister of music accompanied us on the piano in the sanctuary. Both of our girls joined us this evening, as did some of their church friends. It was a perfect first day of Advent.

We ate homemade mac and cheese at the church tonight, but these hearty migas would have been equally perfect. They're warm and filling enough to fill up a group of carollers, whether the temperature is minus thirty or just above freezing.

Mushroom and Leek Migas
(adapted from The New Southwest)

Makes 3 migas; recipe can be doubled

2 – 5 inch corn or wheat tortillas
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
5 large eggs
2 Tbsp heavy cream
salt to taste
1 1/2 cups sliced cremini mushrooms
one half of a leek, green ends removed, halved lengthwise and sliced thin
1 clove minced garlic
3/4 cup shredded manchego cheese, lightly packed

To prepare the corn strips, slice the tortillas in half, then cut into 3/4 inch strips. Heat the vegetable oil, then fry the strips until medium-brown in colour on both sides. Remove tortilla strips from the pan and allow to cool.

In a medium bowl, combine eggs and heavy cream, stirring to mix well. Add salt and set aside.

Return the vegetable oil to the heat and sauté mushrooms for 3 minutes. Add leeks and sauté for an additional two minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté 1 minute. Pour in the egg mixture and combine until set. Add cheese and stir until melted.


Serve immediately with tortilla strips on the side.

27 comments:

Valerie Gamine said...

Happy December!! I think it was a very wise idea to move things inside. :D
Scrumptious dish! Mushrooms and leeks...*purr*

Angie's Recipes said...

Time really flies...it's already the last month of 2013...sighs...
The mushroom and leek stir-fry looks really yum!

Monet said...

How lovely Beth! What a wonderful Christmas tradition. And these migas? A perfect way to start or end the day!

Belinda said...

How lovely a traditional this is...can you belie pave it's the holidays already??

Natalie Aguirre said...

It' great to have family tradition for the holidays. Sounds like you have a great start to yours.

Joanne said...

How nice of you to all come together to celebrate!! And I love your migas!! They were so great when I made them.

Display name said...

I very much like leek and mushroom combination. Nice tradition, I like traditions :)

Anonymous said...

How beautiful.

Andrea_TheKitchenLioness said...

Beth, what a perefctly lovely way to start off the Advent season! The first Sunday of the Advent is celebrated around here with a candle lit wreath, and church, and carols and delicious food and seasonal cookies! It always feels special.
Your recipe for Mushroom and Leek Migas sounds like the perfect comfort food to enjoy after service!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful traditions that the whole family will always remember. Your mushroom and leek Migas looks like a lovely and easy way to keep up a family tradition- soft and fluffy eggs!. Take care, BAM

Unknown said...

Beth-thanks for sharing your photos of Advent season-looks like December is in full swing with Christmas to look forward to in just a few short weeks! I could eat your mushroom and leek migas for breakfast, lunch or dinner-what a perfect meal ;)

Unknown said...

Looks like a beautiful way to start the Advent season and a yummy dinner to boot!

Anonymous said...

That looks like a great breakfast-for-dinner!

Ruth Schiffmann said...

What a pretty scene. I used to take my girls to the village green when they lit the town tree. It was fun at the time, but now I'm glad to stay behind and make hot chocolate when the nieces and nephews come by to warm up.

Caroline Taylor said...

What a lovely evening. These migas sound great too, not tried them before.

Kathy said...

This looks like a delightful way to welcome in the Christmas season! Love your photos, Beth! Your migas looks yummy, sounds perfect for anytime of day!

Kitchen Riffs said...

This is such a nice time of the year, isn't it? So much to celebrate, and loads of great food. Love these migas! This is exactly the sort of dish I like to make. Thanks for this.

Barbara said...

Tree lighting ceremonies are always so charming...they give me shivers. Puts the spirit of Christmas in all of us.
Your migas look a delight, Beth!

Jemi Fraser said...

I've never heard of migas before but they sound yummy!

Danielle's Sweets said...

Beautiful tradition and great memories too! ♥

Inger @ Art of Natural Living said...

Sounds like a lovely tradition. I still look back fondly on going caroling many years ago.

grace said...

i love migas! the mushrooms would have to disappear, but this version sounds great too.
i feel like i'm more in the christmas mood than ever before for some reason. fun tradition!

Katerina said...

I love all this Christmas mood we have entered! Great way to welcome this festive time of the year and your migas looks delicious!

vanillasugarblog said...

I love hearing the Christmas Story too!
I have that cookbook as well, and can't wait to dig in!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Daniela Grimburg said...

What a beautiful way to start the advent season, Beth!
The pictures are lovely, there is nothing better than singing Christmas carols to get in the mood :)

lisa is cooking said...

I'd love to have these migas for breakfast on this chilly morning! I'm hoping it warms up a bit today so I can start our outdoor decorating.

Chocolate Shavings said...

I've never had migas before, but it sounds delish!

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