Holiday meals in the author's family were never about repeating the same comforting dishes, but rather about culinary experimentation and discovery. The writer recalls how their parents, adventurous cooks, used holidays as opportunities to try new and sometimes unusual recipes, creating a sense of fun and unpredictability at the table. Despite occasional kitchen mishaps, the true tradition was the shared experience of trying something new together, fostering lively conversation and connection. Now, as the author faces changes in their own family, they find comfort in revisiting a rare family staple—lemon-garlic brisket—while adding their own twist, continuing the legacy of inventive holiday cooking.