Christmas Eve was spent with family friends, one of whom brought over this terrific Tuscan Bean dip as an hors d'œuvre:

New on the table this year was my mom's Spanish frisée salad with almond dressing, and to the north of that on the table you can see my sister's patented garlic-infused butter, next to the rolls.

My grandmother, visiting from the midwest, made her annual christmas cookies out in California this year, together with my mom:

Just like last year, the block went all-out for the combined display of luminaria all up and down the street: