Christmas Eve in the Kitchen

1. 
A Buche de Noel. Chocolate Swiss Roll filled with chestnut puree, whipped cream, coffee and brandy. The smothered in whipped cream then dusted with cocoa powder and decorated with a glace cherry and three clean bay leaves. This will be tomorrow's pudding...

2. 
Two x 20cm Fruit Cakes. Marzipanned and iced. One for Hairy Suit and family. And one for the Horsehound's.

3. 
An Oxtail casserole cooked yesterday and re-heated tonight. And although not a lot of meat, very scrummy indeed with heaps of seasonal veg. Perfect for a chilly night. 
For pudding? Raspberry jelly and custard...

Tomorrow's dinner is Roast Beef, sprouts, parsnips, potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and gravy. Dessert is the aforementioned Buche.

Whatever you're eating, eat slowly, savour it then tell me all about it!


Merry Christmas All

Tomorrow is another day

Tonight we had fish and chips.
Tomorrow, Bacon and Potato Fry with eggs.
Also being created tomorrow, an Oxtail Stew for Christmas Eve.
Really looking forward to it.

Chinese. Style.

Being steamed are eight pork dumplings otherwise known as Money Bags.

This is the first time I've made them. Crossing fingers they come out ok. I've just had a peek into the steamer and lets say they're inflating nicely!

Also being served in tonight's Chinese Style Banquet is a simple fried rice, noodles and beansprouts with water chestnuts, peppers and spring onions cooked in a teriyaki sauce. But before all that a basic chicken noodle soup. Which is looking especially moreish.

For sweet, I've opted for a fruit salad of lychees, papaya, pineapple and guava, served with cream.

Our guests tonight are Mr and Mrs Hairy Suit. I warned them not to over eat today.....

Last night's meal was successful.
Pea soup, pie and pudding. What could go wrong, what's not to love?
Absolutely marvelous.

Tonight?
Ham egg and chips.
Prunes and custard.

I can't be Escoffier EVERYDAY!

On the table tonight

Cream of Pea and Mint Soup
Croutons

Steak and Kidney Pie
Steamed Cabbage with Butter Beans
Jacket Potatoes

Individual Apple and Almond Sponge Puddings
Apricot Puree
Cream


As you can see I'm getting in the festive spirit and as a result Mr Horsehound and Mr Hairy Suit will be well fed tonight.

Having recently tried curried pea soup in a restaurant and loved it I've just made curried parsnip soup. It'll be the starter tonight before indulging in the mains of ham, homemade chips and eggs. An eclectic mix but I'm sure it'll go down well with Mr Horsehound.