Nov 22, 2013

I'm dreaming of a …hot christmas

I'm just starting to realize that we're getting close to Christmas and I've got nothing organized, no presents, no cards, no ideas- stupid, I know- it's not as if they change the date every year! I do have 365 days to prepare. But having emigrated from the cold northern hemisphere 11 years ago I still can't compute the weather getting hotter with the big man's arrival with presents! So the festive season always seems to creep up on me and I'm always woefully unprepared... I never really know what I'm supposed to be cooking for dinner on the special day- I want to maintain some tradition for my kids- so I often find myself all hot and bothered cooking turkey and the full-on trimmings in a steamy kitchen while the family sun themselves, relax and swim in the pool.

I should, however, be really into the Christmas spirit, given that I'm currently writing a Christmas book, hopefully due for publication next December. This one's set in London. So here I am sitting in my very hot and sweltering office trying to conjure up scenes of snow and frost and cold. It's a bit of a mind leap. I have to keep watching videos of Bridget Jones (which I tried to embed here, but for some reason couldn't, if anyone knows how- please help!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB63KLsmEGk- you know that scene- the last kiss in the snow…. *sigh*… so that I can get into the right headspace. But, hey any excuse to watch Colin Firth and I'm first in the queue.

I'm trying to decide which I prefer, the Christmas of the frozen north with enforced staying in, lots of cold and wrapping up warm. Or the new Christmas I'm getting used to - hot and sunny.

What is your idea of a perfect Christmas?
Any suggestions about what I should cook on the big day?
(I don't have a book out this December, so thought I'd share my last year's cover…)

14 comments:

  1. Oh Louisa

    I am so used to hot Christmases and I am still behind myself LOL I have 6 grandchildren and I only have one present :) I have some Christmas cards I need to start writing out and I have the ingedients to start making my Chrissy cakes (I make 7 for gifts) and the first one I am about to start on and I have 2 of my grandsons here so I am sure they will help me :)
    We always have traditional English Christmas lunch with the works pork ham turkey vegies gravy and I also make a Christmas pudding that needs to cook for 6 hours and another 2 hours on the day so much to do so many good books to read and I have to work as well but I always seem to get there I did order the pork at the butchers this morning so I have a couple of things crossed of the list.

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Hi Helen, sounds like your list is waaaaay longer than mine- and you still sound happy and positive!

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  2. LOL, Louisa. I made some comments about Christmas and shopping this morning. Didn't solve a thing, but it is now locked into the brain to do something about. I love cooking a whole salmon but the family still seem to enjoy the traditional fare. Darn. Though I am lucky I have a helper in this house who enjoys the meat cooking.

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    1. Hi Sue! At least Christmas has now registered on your radar, so that's a good thing! A whole salmon sounds amazing- but it wouldn't go down well here I'm afraid- my men like meat, meat and more meat for their Xmas lunch (well, any lunch actually!)

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  3. I'm going to treat myself to a Christmas in the snow one year, Louisa. It sounds so exotic. As for what to put on the menu... My dad insists on roast pork, my sister on roast turkey, but my mum swears by prawns and cold chicken. I just make the trifles and do as I'm told. ;-)

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    1. Hi Michelle! So funny, I almost choked on my coffee! I LOVE trifle!!!!

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  4. Louisa, that's such a cute cover! Good luck with your current Christmas story.

    I enjoy the hot Christmas meal but not preparing it for a large number of extended family when it's warm. That's what Christmas in July is for. However, the family seems to insist on it despite me suggesting a champagne and juice brunch here early in the day with cold meat and pastries. We've yet to decide what we're doing this year. Hope you have success getting ready for the big day.

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    1. Hi Annie! Xmas in July is a great idea. We did do that for a while, but got out of the habit, must get back into it again. And any day that starts with champagne is a good day for me!

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  5. Oh I love that scene from Bridget Jones - oh so romantic with the swirling snow. Big sigh from me too.
    At the moment I'm racing to get a book finished so I'm postponing everything, even thinking about Xmas until its gone away which should be Wednesday (please God let it be Wednesday!) then I'll think about the six zillion things I'll need to do in December. We have three birthdays in Dec as well so it's even craaaazier!

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    1. Hi Amy! Fingers crossed re the deadline! And you only have six zillion things to do?? Slacker!! :-)

      We seem to have a lot of family birthdays in December/Jan too- and I never ever save up for them despite promising myself I will at the start of every year. Birthdays at xmas are a double whammy on the pocket!

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  6. We like cold Christmas food in our family and we often start with champagne with slices of fresh mango in the glass. Pavlova for dessert is also a must-have.

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  7. Hi Rachel! I love the sound of your mango champagne- must try that!! I've already got an order from one of my family members for pavlova, but I like Xmas pudding, so it looks like double puddings here on the big day!

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  8. Louisa, I'm hoping it won't be too too hot here for Xmas Day. I'll never forget the Xmas it was over 40 degrees C! Our tradition is for the full on roast meats with all the trimmings and then for those who like it, there's the plum pudding and custard. But there's always wickedly tempting trifle too courtesy of my mum-in-law.

    I'm just trying out a recipe for spekulatius - spice biscuits. I saw them in a supermarket catalogue and couldn't resist having a go... they're just cooling as I type. Even if they taste awful, they've made the house smell yummy! All those spices!

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  9. Hi Louisa,

    We used to the big roast but when the mercury hits 40 we've incorporated awesome salads, ham and maple glazed smoked salmon. We still have a pav on Christmas Day though.

    I wish we could do half a day of snow and half of hot and sunny.

    Hayson

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