Monday 31 December 2018

Food, Glorious Food

So here we are once again on the other side of another Christmas. Despite my lingering cough and cold, it has been a fun few days spent with various family members. There has been laughter, some games, a few drinks and plenty of food. Which seems fitting, because food is so much more than just eating. For me it's about sharing, togetherness and good times, which is what Christmas should be about too.


Although having seen the size of the portion a certain someone had for his Christmas dinner it is probably a lot about the eating too! It is only one of a handful of occasions when I cook him a roast dinner with meat so he was forgiven... although my parsnip roulade and vegetables don't really come close do they! Suffice to say, no-one went hungry though.


We don't do lots of big gifts in our family but food featured heavily this year. We received this huge can of extra virgin olive oil that came directly from our daughter in law's family in Kalamata, which made me very happy. Another son and daughter-in-law filled a bag full of fabulous homemade baking and preserves, including these preserved lemons and harissa paste. I feel a Moroccan feast coming on! And a third son and daughter-in-law baked us mince pies and cookies. We have been very spoiled indeed.


In an effort to not buy our grandson more plastic toys, I made him a set of felt food for his new toy kitchen (remember that last minute idea... this was it. The knitted hat however never did make it on the needles!).


I think they gave me a whole lot more pleasure than they gave him. After lots of fun opening the parcel the entire contents were tossed aside along with the little personalised shopping bag, in favour of the football (plastic) that my Mum had given him!


As the week has gone on we have been creative with leftovers, finished off the mince pies as well as the last of the turkey and I am now longing for fresh flavours and lots more fruit and veg (real rather than felt!). The Christmas cake however remains untouched waiting for someone to cut into it in the New Year. 


And so we come to the end of another year which we will be celebrating with friends... and more food of course. Looking back it has been a wonderful year of weddings and celebrations, although not without its challenges too. But we enter 2019 looking forward to a fresh start in a new home before too long.

Wishing you and your families a very healthy and happy New Year!

18 comments:

  1. Happy New Year to you and all the family.We were down in Cambridge for Xmas and are now back at home waiting for our daughter and family to arrive for New Year.Barbara

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  2. That sounds like a lovely family Christmas. Looking forward to reading about what you get up to in 2019 and seeing pictures of the new abode. A happy and healthy New Year to you and yours. x

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  3. A very happy new year Gina. The felted food looks great and I'm sure he will get much enjoyment out of it in the years to come, even if your grandson doesn't seem so appreciative now :D

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    1. I don't really mind if he likes it or not... there was pleasure in the making! Happy new year to you too Joanna x

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  4. Love your 'foodie' Christmas gifts and Logan's felt foods - a lovely idea. I gave up making a Christmas cake after several years of us not cutting into it over Christmas and was so well fed this year that I never got to taste any one else's! Happy New Year to you and Stewart.

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    1. We've still not cut the cake yet Heather. I'm not bothered but Stewart does like a slice of Christmas cake. Wishing you a happy new year X

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  5. Happy New Year! I'd love some of your felt vegetables myself!

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  6. You are so clever with your crafting. Love the toy vegetables. All about feasting with family here too although I’m ready as you say for fresher tastes. Salad for tea tonight. Wishing you a happy 2019. B x

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    1. I haven't quite gone as far as salad but there have been a lot more vegetables. Happy new year Barbara x

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  7. There was certainly a lot that went on in your life last year! I wish you and your family a peaceful and prosperous 2019.

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  8. All good wishes for the new year Gina. We too have tried to get back to normal food so, in the the last 3 days we have had veg curry, fish pie and Spanish omelette. I wonder what 2019 holds for us all, happy things I hope?

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    1. We had fish pie this evening too. Here's wishing us all happy things x

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