Merry Christmas

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and a coming New Year full of Love, Joy & Success in all your endeavours.

Hopefully you, like I, have nearly finished all the baking, tidying and wrapping for the next couple of big days of fun, family, friends and feasting.

10 of us are spending Christmas Day with friends and are each taking some items of the luncheon to share and enjoy aboard their boat whilst cruising the Swan River. Should be a relaxing and fun-filled day for us all. I have cooked the turkey (cranberry & pistachio stuffing) and will make a garden salad tomorrow morning. These will be added to the ham, prawns, potato salad, bean salad etc and finished off with pavlova and tiramisu, (and a couple of drinks....).

Boxing Day will see most of my family here for the afternoon and Dinner.

I have made a plum and wholegrain mustard glazed ham which looks and smells great (alright I tasted a little bit that “dropped” off and it tastes good to). We will light the BBQ up for dinner and do garlic banana prawns, satay chicken kebabs, lentil patties and falafels. I will make another garden salad with oven roasted tomatoes, avocado, buffalo cheese, our own eggs, etc and a potato au gratin. Barney will do his famous BBQ potatoes served with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce. These will be served with a range of breads, buns and wraps.

Dessert is a choice of steamed fruit puddings and brandy custard or a sponge fruit flan and cream.

If anyone should manage to still be hungry there is an assortment of cheeses, fruits, nuts and apricot nibbles (instead of rum balls).

For the kids (and kids at heart) I have made some Rudolf (or Rudette)the Reindeer cupcakes (pictured)which look cute and hopefully will last until Monday....

If my planning is correct, we shouldn’t have too many leftovers. I have done a range of things, but not too many of each so everyone can have a taste, but not overeat as is usual at this time of year. The exception will be the ham, which will please Barney as it is one of his favourite things and he will nibble on it for the next week or so and then I will freeze the leftovers and bones to make pea and ham soup in the cooler months.

Ok, I’ve had a break, just have the floors to do and that’s it – finished!!

Hope you are all able to relax and enjoy the festive season with loved ones.

Merry Christmas!

Maxine xxx