It is with much delight, that I look down at the untidy bundle of ribbons and hand stamped brown paper which currently swaddles the sweetest little British blue kitten from whom ensues a comforting V8 engine purr and provides the writer with an inordinate amount of joie de vivre.
The ice creams of Christmas just past, will become the ice cream posts of Christmas future, a respectable array of frozen loveliness including chocolate marzipan nibbles called frost or stöllen, brought certain jollity.
The sweet end of Christmas is nothing if not a festival of naughty nuts, over used spices, dried fruits and icing sugar. A few minutes sit-down with a cup of tea and sugar-and spice-laden croustillante can be positively restoring, even quietly licentious if dunked into ice cream. Amid the hubbub of yule-un-tidiness, no amount of artistic licence will permission the addition of pre-christmas posts, post Christmas, so the retrospective will be in a better state of preparedness for next Christmas but this year we swapped eggy nog for fluffy snogs.
“Invest in Turkey” headlines a section in Sundays Telegraph broadsheet. I found, after further investigation, it was not seasonal fayre but for seasoned investors, why my compulsion to over phaph? The twiddling and tweaking swiftly sorted, the hod carrying of sweet and savoury dishes (it’s only crackers and a roast after all) but I so lust after all the dross and gloss, for my nearest and dearest, Christmas here as you can see below was a ‘gloves off’ affair. To answer a readers mail I cooked:-
Turkey, with a woven bacon tank top
A brace of wild duck with confit of quince with clementine syrup
A brace partridge with pear and juniper
Pheasant cushion stuffed with haggis and beetroot game chips
Spiced Red cabbage
Potatoes Hassleback with black pudding dust
Maple-glazed carrots & parsnips,
Purple, green and flower Brussels,
Roasted garlic and cranberry stuffing terrine,
Cranberry Cointreau sauce
Marsala Gravy
And on and on it went
Leaving a trail of chocolate bars for our lovely house keeper, two large ribboned boxes of paracetamol with gift cards ‘for your hangover’ subtly popped into the back of the van of retained gardeners. There were tins of humbug a plenty for the Bah tea boy. For me it’s always about little things.
I’m the bouncy Botticelli babe that loves all the mixed metaphor schmoozing at Christmas, whilst not particularly religious, here its a time of kind hearts, goodwill, thoughtful gestures that have particular meaning. Home made and daft traditions are often key, for us it’s happiness to the family cause all wrapping paper to be thrown on the floor and not touched until boxing day?
When two hardworking kids battle the ghastly weather and the most dire elements, harridans, the less gracious and the poorly behaved, to arrive earlier than anticipated. We found ourselves extraordinarily gifted as our festivities began a tad earlier than anticipated. This simple act of giving is called ‘effort‘ rarely acknowledged but it means so much.
So if you have endeavoured to pull out all the stops for your winter festivities however grand or meagre. Im the one standing on a chair, double arms waving and singing your praises albeit from a distance. xxx
10 days ago we acquired the featured small, grey, purrfecly formed one. A secret Santa surprise for the above mentioned. Super cute with impeccable manners, already a character with an engaging personality. He will soon shed his scatty kittendome and morph into family moggie mode. It is likely he was a Japanese Zen Gardener in another life, sculpting in cat littler is very much his thing.
So I thought we would end the year with a sing song? – Yes, that includes you lurking in the back!
Raindrops on roses. Whiskers on kittens
Fabulous veggies and idiot mittens
Glittering packages tied up with bling
These were a few of my favorite things
Cream coloured platters and crisp folded napkins,
Giggles, and crackers and every one knackered
The way that the robin remembered to sing
These were a few of my happiest things.
Sprouts in three colours, terrine made from stuffing
Carrots and lemons and blueberry farrines
Seafood on Tuesday, and lobsters are king
These too were a few of my favorite things
When the kids go
When their train leaves
When I’m feeling sad
I’m simply left wearing the fattening things
Yet deep down inside I’m glad
Iced Christmas biscuits and mistletoe kisses
Coconut Madeleine’s, avoiding near missed
Snow balls from hell, and rice pudding ice cream
These are a few if my fattening things
Christmas is over the new year is coming
The prezzies, the company, really quite stunning
Our new little kitten that makes our hearts sing
These are a few of my favorite things.
When I post this, I must post this? If not I’ll feel bad,
I just really wanted to thank one and all, as deep down inside I’m … daft! …. and you expected a rhyme!
We will be primped, preened, fluffed and puffed shortly after I make this post. We are off to a bit of a ‘do’ later but I am compelled to thank each and every one of you for the pleasure of your company (many since April of 2013) for which I am extremely grateful and just wanted to wish you a fab 2014.
Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year
This comes with every good wish to you and yours, from me and mine. Xxx
ice cream magazine 
Brilliant and entertaining. A recap of the Christmas season that is like ice cream…rich and comforting. Thanks, and Happy New Year to you and yours.
Oh, Bravo, Bravo! It’s really hard to sing when you’re drooling, but you made me do that and laugh delightedly too! Lol my favorite things… you go girl! Happy happy happy New Year!
Beautiful! Happy New Year!
Enjoyed your lovely post! Wishing you and your family, including new kitten, a wonderful New Year!
Happy New Year 🙂
Great post, great photos, great story! Love the idea of your kitten as a zen gardener in a former life.
Hi, I have been following your blog for while now and I just wanted to post a quick comment to say how much I have enjoyed reading your posts in 2013. I have tried two or three of your recipes now and they have all turned out fantastic! 🙂 I would really appreciate it if you could have a quick browse through my blog as I would really love your opinion due to the fact that I have very little food blogging experience and would love to hear from a more experienced blogger. Thank you! 🙂
fromayoungfoodie.wordpress.com
Hello, firstly thank you, and happy new year x. I’m a newbie since April of last year only, your blog is very impressive for one so young and I’m confident that it will go from strength to strength. Compliments abound. We share one thing in particular, which is the prospect of longevity. I intend to leave my blog for my family but yours is a wonderful opportunity to diarise your cannon of edible delights punctuated by events throughout your life. Note the hint of envy in my tone? X
Your taste, and as we know food styles change, so I wish you well on your lovely journey, stay deliciously disciplined without being a slave to the cause and you go girl friend xxxxx
They look delightful!
Happy New Year!
Hi, I felt in love with the Iced Christmas biscuits – is there any receipt for? I am not sure, if I ever would eat them (they look too cute), but I will bake them – or even try =)
I will endevour to make a post for you asap xxxx
Beautiful food, beautiful mood!
Happy New Year!
I cannot thank you enough for the blog. Really Great.