What are you eating this Christmas?

It's just the two of us this year, no visits, no nipping to eat out, no shopping until Tesco comes on 28th so we have planned a bit better to have nice meals every day.

Christmas is very Finnish, cold fish thingies (no IKEA trip this year so Polish herring will just have to do), and the main course is of course ham. This one is Wiltshire extra special something something, apparently raised on truffles and shampers and lovingly butchered at new moon under a mistletoe by dancing virgins. Or so the price tag suggests. It looks yummy with a thick layer of fat

Then it's meals of "ham AND". The And part will be a variation of veg courses, celeriac remoulade, red cabbage slaw, swede casserole (in essence mashed swede and cream baked until it's crusty on the top and sweet goo beneath- looks like something dog owners are familiar with), probably the rest of the red cabbage sauteed (or whatever you call it- chuck it in the pan and gently fry until it's dead) with leek and apple. And tatties in all forms. Radish thingy (thinly sliced, made to cry, mixed with sourcream. My Nana used to slice them with potato peeler. Thank heavens for the food processor). We'll do something fun with beetroots as well, possibly a casserole with cream and blue cheese.

For gaming nights we have those frozen bits and bobs that don't actually taste of anything but are fun to eat. Finger veg and various dips.

And a lot of cheese, pate, antipasti and gingerbread. Back up chicken is already cooked and frozen for the days when a good curry is a must.


And finally, the last of ham will go into pea soup. Any leftovers are cubed and frozen.



There's nothing better than cooking together over the quiet days, nibbling, chatting and trialling some more adventurous dishes.

 

It's just the 2 of us as always so it's the norm to have roast turkey, stuffing , roast potatoes,sprouts,peas, parsnips, one each pigs in blankets, cabbageand gravy. Christmas pudding with home made cranberry sauce and cream.
Teatime a slice of triple chocolate gateau with cranberry sauce and cream.

It will be the same on boxing day and the day after that until everything is gone, love it i do all the prep a long way ahead.

New year's Day start on the Christmas cake.

 

Spag bog as it's just 2 of us as normal

 

We will be having a roast chicken breast roll from Iceland with some kind of potatoes and veg. No puddings or cake for dessert as we are not fond of them.

We normally go for a Chinese and have Peking duck by the sea, but we had that yesterday at home with our invited friend who lost his partner this year to cancer.

Christmas is nothing special for us except the anniversary of when we met on Christmas Day 1967 as blind dates then married four months later. We don't exchange presents either as after all these years we have everything we want and if we do want anything we buy it then and there.

We do however decorate a little, play Christmas songs, and watch old Christmas movies. Yesterday we treated our friend to the 1999 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Ghost of Christmas Eve Special for TV which we watch every year (usually several times).

Alegre Natal e um Saudável e Feliz Ano Novo a todos.

 

Thanks @JWK and you to.
That's what I'll be doing when cooking the dinner but not too much just a couple of glasses of sherry.

 

Game casserole, red cabbage; cooked for a good while with apples, onions, cloves, cinnamon etc, potatoes, carrots. That's for the evening meal. Lunch: bread and cheese. Breakfast: bread and cheese and coffee or maybe just coffee and cheese. I like cheese!

 

I've got a sea bass in the freezer, probably dig that out and boil up a bunch of pink fir apples doused with butter.
Im not a big eater at the best of times.

 

The normal Turkey and trimmings, cooked by me for the 3 of us. I will probably have a fried slice with an Egg on top as a treat for breakfast.
If I was on my own it would probably be the fried slice & Egg for breakfast and dinner with a bottle of white.
And lots of cheese for supper with another bottle

 

Just me and Mrs H this year. So a visit to family in the morning to wish all a happy Christmas and a glass of fizz on the drive - wrapped up well it's going to be cold. For dinner we have a turkey crown with all the trimmings. One of my nieces kindly bought us a Fortnum and Mason hamper, very generous of her. We thought it had come to the wrong address as we are more Asda than F & M So quite a few wonderful goodies in there to try. It will be a G & T before dinner a bottle of Rioja with the meal with a Peroni beer chaser ( I know I'm a heathen!). Probably fall asleep in the afternoon...zzzzz.

 

That is very Portuguese with all meats.

What, while you are driving?

 

Prawn and scallop skewers for starters, either flambéed in whisky or doused in chilli, sesame oil and lime...depends if OH gets to the whisky first
We'll be ducking, then A roast made up of two magret de canard stuffed with home-made foie gras and lots and lots of string. Served with home-made fig conserve and red onion marmalade.
Home-grown spuds, brussels and chestnuts.
Cheese course......a little nibble of each of 6 glorious French cheeses
Then, in the true spirit of Christmas, I won't be sharing a tub of Haagen Dazs Pralines and Cream. Revenge for the whisky
Christmas eve, now, that'll be something gastronomic with French friends.....puts my efforts to shame!

 

Normally a turkey and all the surround but this year only my household so prime rib roast, yorkshire and all the veggies that go well with it.

A yule log for dessert. Never bought one before but it will be super sweet as it is full of ice cream, chocolate etc. And probably has a chemical ridden list of ingredients. But I don't care. As long as it is ridiculously sweet. And of course, my tray of home baked cookies and tarts and Christmas cake.