Christmas - Oh, the food!

How about you? Have you been eating - way too much - this festive season?

Finally the last of the leftovers have been eaten. This morning I cleaned out the fridge and we are ready to start again. As the calender clicks over to a new year, it seems like as good as time as any to start a fresh - healthy salads, more fish, less meat, less cheese (always a problem for me at Christmas time) more fruit, less tea and more water. Time will tell.

Tonight, New Years Eve, will be quiet, unlike any other year. A simple barbecue with just us. There is a street party in our street if we want to join in or drinks at a friends house nearby, but right, now I am wanting to stay close to home. Some sparklers, a glass of wine and maybe a 'dance party' with my kids.

I really am such a homebody and as fun as going out can be, I couldn't handle another big night of socialising. This is some of what we have been eating over the last few weeks, with a lot of cheese and wine 'get togethers' and cake and coffee dates in between.

A pre-Christmas dinner with Mum on the 23rd at our place

a cheese platter with smoked salmon, capers and creme fraiche

baked italian chicken and potatoes

a green salad 

italian green bean salad

my famous rum balls and lindt balls

lots of wine and two cups of coffee (at 11pm!)

 Christmas Eve dinner at my Sister-in-Laws House

fresh local prawns, sushi and a cheese platter

poached fillet of beef

baked snapper with a macadamia and herb crust

home-cured gravlax

nectarine and bocconcini salad

'from Grandma's garden' garden salad

my 'take everywhere' potato salad

foccaccia

raspberry and pistachio semifreddo

Grandmas plum pudding

mango and fresh blueberries

bubbles and red wine

Christmas morning at our place

mangoes, cherries, panettone, rum balls, coffee

Christmas lunch at mum's house (served at about 2pm as is traditional in our family)

Christmas drinks platter - semi dried tomatoes, dolmades, marinated olives, blue cheese, french brie, duck liver pate, smoked salmon, hommus, vegetables sticks and water crackers

mum's famous brie with macerated figs and drizzled with caramel and walnuts 

white wine

roast pork with warm apple and onion chutney

baked salmon and potatoes with capers and lemon

baked vegetables 

a garden salad

red wine

after a sleep

coffee and rum balls

And I haven't even mentioned the 'hands down' loveliest night that I had this Christmas. To my family reading, please don't be offended here.

Early in the month I invited just a few close friends for dinner. I cooked a very simple menu, not unlike the one I cooked for Mum (on the 23rd) but with the addition of a to-die-for chocolate cake. The reason this night stands out, is because it was something that I hadn't done in years (I'm talking... 9 years) The night went smoothly with good simple food and great conversation, I was shocked when someone mentioned that it was 10:30pm. The backyard was filled with twinkle lights and we sat out on the back deck while soft rain sprinkled throughout the night. I had candles everywhere and my music playing in the player. I dressed up pretty and felt very much like ME. No husband, no kids, no interruptions. Truly, I had forgotten that this person (me) had ever existed. Doing things 'just for me' is rare thing, I always feel so guilty if I am not doing something for my family, even when I am alone. I realised on that night, that doing things 'just for me' is vital.

I totally recommend it!

Sadly not everyone could make it that night, don't worry, I am planning a monthly dinner... it has to be done.

Happy New Year to you all! 

...whether you are keeping it quiet or partying into the night, whether you are doing something 'just for you' or spending it with you family.

Have a good night!

And then the sun came out.....

On New Years Eve the rain stopped, and since then, it has been very much, summer holidays at this house.

We have been spending long days at the beach, at the pool, at the river, at the rock pools, fishing, at the scooter park, at the playground and sometimes just at home. Breakfasts have been late, lunch has been casual and for dinner, easy barbecue's. We are loving eating all of our meals outdoors. The trampoline has been erected, the wadding pool has been filled and our cousins have arrived from up north to hang out with us. Lots of holiday fun in the sun.







We enjoyed a quiet New Years Eve at home. After spending the day at the beach, the evening started slowly. Plans for a gourmet barbecue went out the window with my new, I'm on holidays attitude. At 6 o'clock the kids were doing the usual "Mum, I'm hungry" thing. I told them, "Go outside and play, tonight we would be having party food, as it was New Year's Eve." I was pretty happy with what I found hiding in our fridge. There was a feast. The kids loved it.

There was champagne, music, sparklers, dancing, good conversation and much laughter. Who knew you could have so much fun with a four and a five year old!



It's a pity it was all over by 9 o'clock, when our tiny dinner guests finally fell into bed.

(don't worry, that is only water in the little ikea wine glasses)

Lets celebrate!

It was on New Years Day this year (almost one year ago) that I officially started this blog. There are some days that I think I might actually be addicted to blogging and other days that I want to stop. I have often asked myself "why am I blogging?" and have been asked this by others. The answer is the same as it was a year ago. It just feels like the right thing to be doing right now. I don't know where it will take me, but at the moment it looks like it is going to take me into the new year. Another year of new goals, more memories, new challenges and more inspriration.

Wishing you all a happy and festive New Years Eve. Whatever you are doing I hope that there will be champagne and music.

Stay safe. See you in twenty eleven.

Happy New Year

Candles, lanterns and twinkle lights. Delicious Sri Lankan Fish Curry made together with love. Yummy local chardonnay, given as a gift. Melody Gardot. Soft summer showers of rain cooling the air. The kids at grandma's for a sleepover. What a lovely night. We danced our way into the new year listening to a fabulous new jazz cd, with a new years kiss to the sound of nearby fireworks and a sudden downpour of rain. With a start like this, I just know this is going to be a very good year.

Then this morning after a sleep in, 7:30am instead of the usual 4:30/5am wake up, Mr Moo surprised me with this breakfast. Totally delectable scrambled eggs, the last of the xmas ham, rocket from the garden and Danish feta sprinkled over the top.



We quickly slipped into holiday mode for the rest of the day, swimming and resting with the day ending with a last minute bbq at our place for Mr Moo Dad’s birthday. A house full of happiness, Moet and chocolate cake, the perfect end to a lovely start to the year.

Happy 74th Birthday Ian!