Cathy

Lauren Hillenbrand's Unbroken, the story of Olympic runner/WWII POW Louis Zamperini. Hard to put down. Author and subject have never met due to Hillenbrand's illness, but have become close friends.

And that often the most profound attachments arise from apparent randomness, like Gloria adopting Jasmine's daughters. I too found this book haunting and compelling; McCann writes so evocatively about love and loss.

Since neither gent seems in need of anything material, how about a contribution in each man's name to his favorite charity?

I had to make Simca's chocolate cherry cake three times before it worked - couldn't get the chocolate to behave. Mustard batons from Dorie Greenspan's new book may or may not be edible; I need to accept the fact that my hands are too hot for pastry. But we have pistachio dip and crudites, guests are bringing cheese, and the main course - (Julia's creamy mussel soup) is done and delicious. Merry Christmas, all!

I love Mooney, but that has to be one of the dumbest restaurant names ever. Glad to hear it's good, Sneak!

Every now and then Mack and Lucy decide they hate whatever food they loved yesterday. I think they do it just to mess with me.

Have you tried sprinkling a few treats on a small dish of wet food? How about some of the liquid from a can of water-packed tuna?

I used a very creamy fromage blanc. It's good but I think creme fraiche would be better.

Dorie's apple cake took a lot longer to bake than specified, probably because I used really large apples. But it's gorgeous and it smells wonderful. As though I don't already have way too much food, I decided I had to make this pistachio dip, which I flipped over at a friend's house.

SO true.

Rich, I've been making it for years. I add a little salt, and a bit more fresh ginger than the recipe calls for. This year I made it in a bundt pan - it looks gorgeous.

For 10 - cheese straws (purchased, get over it) and olives Cava smoked trout on a bed of mixed lettuces, red onion vinaigrette 3 kinds of Amy's Bread rolls Riesling 18-lb. bird from Quattro Farms, butterflied, dry-brined, stuffed under the skin with duxelles/ricotta parmesan, smoked over pecan and wild cherry Bobby Flay's scalloped chipotle sweet potatoes warm salad of kale with plum vinaigrette roasted cipollini, baby potatoes and carrots heirloom cranberry relish Zinfandel Claudia Fleming's Guinness ginger cake apple cake from Dorie's new book vanilla ice cream

Nice Sunday morning entertainment, but I didn't think the 3D added much.

I shudder to think what else you might think we mean.