From the Kitchen of Crabbie Abner

I don’t know about you, but in my family we usually had a meal the night before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s that wasn’t typical or traditional.

In the northeast, Chinese food is typical fare for Christmas Eve, because Christmas Day most everyone will be feasting on turkey – again – or baked ham, or even a prime rib roast. Christmas Eve is for relaxing, enjoying being together before the mad rush to open presents and then the clean-up and big dinner afterward. So, the food should be equally as relaxing – comfort food – something that can be prepared ahead of time so...