Christmas Dinner 2023

 We have ordered our Christmas Dinner for this year from the Butcher. I feel lucky to have been able to do this, although we have cut back drastically on what we normally do, but then I usually have visitors.

We are trialling a different out of the area Butcher who we have heard good reviews about down in Cornwall.  Delivery will be by courier.  So that is the main meal sorted and paid for.  We are having a Rib of Beef.  There will only be the two of us this year so that should do nicely.  As OH likes his Christmas cuts after the main event, I also intend to source a large Chicken, piece of Ham and a couple of Pork Pies and that should do.  Can always add a Quiche in as well to liven things up a bit or a bit of fish or maybe some pate and a salmon mousse for a change. Might get some sausages and bacon (which tend to be constants here) and cook a tray full as we eat them with the cold cuts as well.  I will also make a dozen or so Sausage Rolls and maybe some Scotch Eggs as well. After the main meal it is very much cold cuts unless I decide to cook something extra like homemade chips, Bubble n Squeak or some other side dish.  This is one of the reason I make so many preserves during the year.  We do not just eat them for Christmas, we eat them during the year too. Fair's fair, after all the cooking the Cook needs to be able to have a rest as well; besides I have all my crafting to attend to, and I am determined to do this and watch Christmas TV, which I usually miss out on. Low key and quiet and even listening to some music now I have rediscovered my CD collection!

Pork Pie is traditional breakfast for himself (I prefer scrambled egg and smoked Salmon) although I do like Pork Pie.  Nothing to eat then until actual dinner as if you are stuffed beforehand, you do not appreciate the main event.  Well that is how our family have always approached Christmas Dinner and all the efforts put in by the ladies of the family.  Washing up has always been done by the men (OH is shy, so Dishwasher it will be he will have to stack it though).

There will also be Christmas cake together with Cheddar Cheese and an apple or homemade Plum Bread, something that my Nan always made, and my Mum and now myself.  We eat the Plum Bread in the same way.  

There will be homemade Christmas pudding available as well with white Rum Sauce (if I have any Rum left as I am quite partial to a tot here and there in a mug of coffee especially on a cold winter's day).

There will be other cakes and pastries available.  Not sure what yet as I have not finalised my baking list.  Normally bake fruit things before Christmas and then the main cake baking/pastries usually happens Christmas Eve.  Yet another family tradition on both sides of the family.

My Great Grandmother on my Mum's side also used to bake on Christmas Eve and then have the whole family over for Christmas Dinner.  I think she regularly served 20 for dinner.  They did at one time own their own Bakery in Sheffield from what my Mum told me.  Great Granddad was a Wheelwright and from what I am told had his own business.

Then my Grandmother on Mum's side also carried on the tradition.  She had 10 children.  Mum and other siblings and grandchildren have also carried on with the tradition.  One thing all the girls can do on Mum's side of the family (including mois) is that we were taught to cook at the heel's of our Mum's and are all very good cooks.  Two of my cousins have worked in Butchers, Hotels, Catering and Bakers. One of my Cousin's is also a School Cook and I am very proud of the lot of them.  We all love our food.

I remember that my Nan (Dad's Mum) in the week before Christmas was always extremely busy.  They had a smallholding and we nearly always had Goose for Christmas dinner.  Goose had to be dealt with and prepped (usually the Goose who had been standing guard over the Orchards during the preceding year).  She would cook Ham, Tongue, Game, and Bake bread, pastries and cakes so that there would be plenty to go around.  In my younger years we always used to go and celebrate Christmas with her and my Pop, with the rest of the family being invited as well and any local friends who were for some reason going to be on their own over the Christmas period.  There was always a houseful, lots of chatter, games, music, and people were happy. I think a lot happier than they are today.  Times were harder then and I think people appreciated things more.

It has been a busy day here again.  We went to the tip and got load of a load of rubbish.  Have been to the Charity shop and downloaded some more stuff there.  I am presently filling up another bag of stuff for them.

I am posting early today as I have so much to get on with.  Plans for tea this evening are a bought Pizza, (Yes I am cheating for a change) and then we are having apple crumble and custard for pudding.  A light tea after the stew of the past couple of days.  There is plenty of stew left though which is in the fridge.  OH will soon polish that off especially if it is cold.

Right off, off and away I must run.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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