controversy.

Mimolette and no-knead bread.

Christmas Eve, you say? Can't say it really felt like it, though that's largely on purpose. I guess we've been conducting our own little completely non-controversial War on Christmas for the past several years now, and well, Christmas done officially lost.

To the victor goes the spoils. Hot crusty bread with butter and/or still-controversial cheese? Check. Scallops with balsamic red onion confit, brown butter, and a little mash? Yes. Finishing Season 3 of Downton Abbey? Manliness be damned, yes, yes, yes. We should just go ahead and have a girls' spa day today to clear any remaining testosterone out of my system.

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seared scallops with red onion confit and brown butter.

This is largely a Daniel Boulud recipe, the word confit is his term, though to me this is more of a compote or relish, but yes I'm sure I don't know a hawk from a etc.

2 cups mandolined red onions
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

5 tbsp butter

8 large sea scallops
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
salt
pepper
2 tbsp butter

3 cups peeled potatoes
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp cream
salt
pepper

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