Twelve tasty days of Christmas

“We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.” – Buddy the Elf, ‘Elf’ 2003.


I really love this time of year. I try desperately not to start talking about Christmas too early for fear of upsetting folk and so wait with quiet anticipation for the calender to hit the 1st December, and then I unleash.

As I am writing this I am looking wistfully around my sitting room picturing the tree in the corner and thinking about where I will hang the greenery, lights and baubles. Should I get an extra stocking for the cat? When can I start cracking out the mince pies? Is it acceptable to wear my wellington boots and bobble hat into work?

I blame my Nanna for this. She was the ultimate Christmas fan and would start her celebrations earlier and earlier each year. The tree would be up by the end of October, dressed in a gordy coat of tinsel and adorned with foil wrapped chocolates that were always ‘mysteriously’ eaten before the big day. Present wrapping would start in earnest come early November. She would tease her many grandchildren by planting one new tantalising shaped present under the tree every day, until the 24th December when there was barely any space left on the sitting room floor. On the big day itself Nanna was invariably passed out in front of the television by 3pm; glass of sherry still in hand, paper hat askew on her head and tinsel wrapped around her neck like a scarf. But three months of preparation, effort and excitement would take it’s toll on anyone.

This behaviour inevitably rubbed off on my parents and in turn me and my siblings. My eldest sister, Ellie, used to make herself physically sick with excitement as a small child and I have to confess, hasn’t got much better as the years have gone by. And so like giddy elves pumped full of candy and sugar we run around attempting to spread christmas cheer without annoying too many people.

So in the spirit of giving and celebration I will be sharing 12 new recipes with you between now and the 25th. Some will be small stocking filler size dishes and others will be large, wrapped and tied with a bow type affairs. Think of it as a festive food advent calender from me to you. I’ve listed the recipes I will be sharing below and as the details are posted I will be adding the link, so do come back – Happy Christmas!

“A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.”

― Garrison Keillor, Leaving Home

 

mushroompuffthumb Mushroom puffs with sage mayo
peachesthumb Poached peaches with mascarpone, gingernut crumb & wine jelly
goats-beignetsthumb Goats cheese beignets with honey
codthumb Cod with roast pumpkin and carrot
rumthumb Chilli and grapefruit rum punch
pigeonthumb Pigeon with apples , blackberries & black pudding
popcordcakethumb Brown butter cake with vanilla bean icing, salted caramel & popcorn
parfaitcakethumb Chicken liver parfait, spiced cakes and blackberry pickle
mushroompannacottathumb Wild mushroom panna cotta
poussinthumb Roast poussin, the ‘best’ bread sauce & all the trimmings
christmasicecreamfthumb ‘Christmas cake’ ice cream
cinnamonclovethumb Cinnamon & Clove madeleines with rose & pistachio icing

 

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