Fa La La La La!
Hello there… did you survive Christmas unscathed?
The Granite Glen gang came through pretty well.
Completely sated really.
Food-wise, present-wise, loved-ones-wise.
We had a relatively low-key and quiet Christmas Day (which was kinda nice) and a rowdy Boxing Day with rellies (which I love). There is nothing better than sharing special days with special people, is there?
Even special pooches help make the day stand out…
We did try some reindeer antlers on Axel, but he was not a quiet study with lurid green fake horns atop his scone. Not this this old fella. Never mind. Tinsel was festive enough!
This is my favourite Christmas card – handmade by Dash.
I adored the meticulous work.
And the gorgeous pop-up figures.
Even the completely inappropriate weather depicted made me smile.
And here is my favourite gift – a set of pots from Mr Incredible.
He was a little horrified at giving me something so domestic.
But it was all I really wanted – besides a happy family.
And it was something I badly needed as illustrated here.
…
A regular Canadian reader, Theresa from Alberta, asked last post about what Aussie eat on Christmas Day. (Besides cashews of course. They’re obligatory the world over, aren’t they?)
So I decided to share a little selection of the snaps from our day – illustrating what THIS Aussie family considers good holiday fare. Keep in mind that it was over 30 degrees celsius here on Friday – that’s over 86 degrees farenheit if my converter is working. Toasty. Sweaty. Tummies don’t really require much warming up, that’s for sure.
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And while the full roasted meal is often served on December 25 Down Under, “traditional” was kind of thrown to the wind in this household this year. This was partly ’cause it was only the four of us for lunch, and partly cause my kids don’t get into the whole roast thing too much, and partly because Mr I was under the weather. I see no point in slaving over a hot stove for one person. Especially when that one person is me!
…
I shelved the lamb and chicken I was going to roast. And the Twice Roasted Potatoes I so love in this cookbook which lives on my kitchen bench…
(Bonus points for anyone recognising the famous Aussie in the recipe book behind Ree’s).
(Bonus points for anyone recognising the famous Aussie in the recipe book behind Ree’s).
Reconsidering the needs of my little family, I instead cut open the foam icebox containing seafood I had picked up a couple of days ago while visiting my gorgeous niece. And I let it dictate our strange little menu…
Violet won’t touch seafood unless it’s fish fingers. She won’t even eat ham. So she got some leftover noodles and bolognaise. (She could NOT have been happier). Dash got a bacon-and-BBQ-sauce-sandwich. Which he didn’t mind, but then he tasted the seared Moreton Bay Bug meat, and devoured that instead… talk about adventurous, expensive tastes! Ah, but it makes my heart sing to see him revel in food of any kind. Who’d have thought?
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For those who have never been introduced to Moreton Bay Bugs check this site. It’s amazing – to me, the best of all seafoods. Anywhere. Seriously. I marinated this lot in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and salt before searing in a pan on the gas stove. And I whipped up a little creamy pesto side sauce. Which also goes well with the spinach and roasted pumpkin salad (with bacon and roasted pine nuts).
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And don’t forget the oysters. Kept chilled, then topped with bacon kilpatrick sauce and grilled. Mmmmmm.
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And of course, the fruit…
(Ignore the bananas – I try to. They are there because they are the ONE fruit Violet will deign to eat – in smoothie form only. I detest them. *shudder*)
(Ignore the bananas – I try to. They are there because they are the ONE fruit Violet will deign to eat – in smoothie form only. I detest them. *shudder*)
However I just adore mangoes – they say ‘holidays’ to me like no other fruit.
And I have a serious crush on lychees at the moment.
Soooooo juicy and refreshing….
*groan*
Oh and that most traditional of Aussie foods:
Ferrero Roches.
(Yes, I know. European. Whatever.)
So… your turn for a Christmas review.
Your menu?
Your wild and crazy antics?
(Feel free to leave relevant links)
🙂
14 Comments
Leenie
What a spread of wonderful edibles!! Those new pots and pans really know how to cook. Love the self-portrait in the lid and the fine frosty Dash Card. Cheers from snow country!
Pony Girl
Looks like it was a fabulous holiday, BB! The food looks delish! I haven't gotten the PW cookbook yet…I'm not much of a cook anyway, LOL! Have a happy near year!! xo
Kelly
Interesting menu. We do all the roasting, veggies, etc. for Thanksgiving. Christmas is celebrated at our house on the Eve and it's more of a "finger food" menu which changes from year to year. I think the biggest hit was my younger daughter's gingerbread sandwich cookies shaped like trees.
Hope Mr. I is feeling better today!
Anonymous
Happy Boxing day to you Babe and family!! Thankyou for answering my questions 🙂 we here in Alberta hit almost minus 30 degrees on Christmas eve. lets just say it was COLD 🙁 As I was reading your post I was diving into some lovely salted cashews given to me from my in laws. I almost choked on one as I laughed with you then saw my name. I prepared the whole turkey dinner for the family yesterday, I sure could have made use of your lovely new pots. I have Ree's cookbook on my kitchen counter also 🙂
signed
Theresa in Alberta
jeanie
I too now have Ree's cookbook – thank you sister!! When it was opened, V said "oh, the manwitch" so I think something is to be cooked from there fairly soon!!
We had a very, very simple lunch of roasted turkey, cold ham, salad vegetables and fresh bread rolls…
Last night's menu, however, made excellent use of leftovers.
Amanda
Practical gifts are the best….i got tyres for my car….Best present EVER.
Scotty
Aaah, ya can't beat a feed of bugs can ya? We had those too, plus the usual ham, turkey, a couple of sweet curry dishes, about seven different types of salad.
Oh, and all the nibblies too – cashews, peanuts, chips, lollies (I still love milk bottles after all these years).
By 3pm I was as full as a tick and could hardly move – then I had to go work for a night shift.
T'was a great day.
🙂
traceelements
Both sisters don't like bananas?! No wonder, as I keep telling Jeanie, you have probably only tried FNQ bananas. Coffs Harbour bananas are HEAPS better!
Mind you, mangoes, strawberries and blueberries were our fruit choice for Christmas. As for Christmas food – prawns, calamari, cold chook, ham, potato salad.
I love that Violet was in her seventh heaven with leftover noodles and bolognaise. That's what Christmas lunch should be!!
A Scattering
Thanks for sharing your warm Aussie Christmas with a chilly Canadian! Looks like you had a wonderful day.
Jayne
The Spouse has declared he'll be calling in to spend Xmess with you next year solely for your meal LOL.
Honestly haven't tried Moreton Bay Bugs but will give 'em a go, I think the local supermarket has some in stock atm.
We did the trad (small, rolled) roast turkey, corned silverside lamb and pork with usual vegies.
Tamsyn
Sounds like you all had a great day. My sister did all of the`cooking this year and put together an amazing lunch that was the perfect mix of traditional and Aussie 🙂
Lydia
Thanks for sharing your fun Christmas with us! We in South Dakota had a 3 day blizzard — we are JUST getting dug out from it. I had planned a dinner for 8 people but they were all snowed in. My dear son got his car stuck in a snow drift, so he walked the mile to my house for dinner. uphill… in the snow…. It was ham and all the fixin's. What a trooper. Movies and naps followed.
Jeanne Klaver
I SO relate. I've been married over 35 years now, but my favorite gift came for my second wedding anniversary—a new vacuum. Anything to make that slice of life a little easier. :))
Leslie
My gosh I enjoyed reading about your Christmas. 🙂 You do put on a good spread – and to think I first came to your blog through a comment on Ree's. 🙂
I love all your pictures.
I put mine into hardbound books I make with blurb.com
They print up beautifully into 120 page 8 x 10 books which live in my bookcase for basically, just me to admire.
I have made about 16, and am 15 pages into my next one. I did do one that is actually my favourite, that is a record of my 07 Italy and Dubai trip with my youngest son, and that is a photo book, not a digital scrapbooking book. 🙂
I watch for discounts with blurb, and the last book cost me $49 for 108 pages, hardback, image wrap cover.
Happy New Year to you and your family. 🙂
I love reading your blog. It reminds me of the short time I lived on a station in south west Queensland when I was 13. It was about 45 miles south of St George.