So, the big day has come and gone. Presents exchanged, thank you’s  given, turkey bellies causing groans of contented bliss. All the Christmas cliches came out to delight and comfort; now eager to be tucked back into storage until next year.

We had a wonderful couple of days. Dinner on the 25th was just perfect; our heirloom turkey rewarded us for the brining and herb-roasting, and accompanied with savoury sweet potatoes, caramelized carrots & celeriac, and a spelt bread stuffing with saucisson d’ail and oodles of garlic, sage, fennel & white wine, it was truly a meal to remember. After removing the leftover turkey from the bones I threw them into a big pot with onions, garlic, peppercorns, carrots, fennel seeds, thyme and rosemary sprigs and celery. Six hours later I had a beautiful stock I’ll use to make a winter-worthy soup.

We had some extra fun with our gift giving this year. As we don’t like using commercial wrapping paper, we have always wrapped with newspaper. We like to disguise things so they don’t look like what they are. ( Hmmm…..also sounds like what I like to do with food…. I see a pattern here!) But this year we went one step further and we gave each gift a clue to help, or hinder, the person receiving it. It added an extra element of fun. All those in favour of fun say “Yay”! UH-HUH, the yays have it!

It’s so wonderful having a little time off. Extra time to read, to write, take long walks, engage in more elaborate debates and discussions, and make every meal a little bit special. We even light candles for breakfast at this time of the year. And music… the new additions received as gifts (this year Stravinsky, Doobie Brothers, DeVokchta, Londinium, etc.), and, of course, our stand-by favourites (Jamiroquai, Morrissey, Zero 7, Billy Bragg, REM, Joni Mitchell, Ella, K’Naan, Pretenders, and so on and so on and so on…) And I suppose I don’t have to tell you how much I love having free kitchen time to experiment and play. (Gee, Luke, really? Yeah, yeah, I do realize I can be a tad predictable sometimes!)

Right now I’m playing with a blow torch and spoons. How predictable is that? HAH!  Seriously, I’m having a blast, creating the funkiest spoons that will, without a doubt, end up funkifying a plate or two in the New Year! I’ll have photos in my next post.

Until then, remember to take every opportunity to make your days fun and memorable. Play, listen, learn, tell someone you love them, have a food fight, turn up the volume, add extra hot sauce, dance, get flour on your nose, pick up a book or a dumbbell, plan a garden, have another food fight, and laugh!

Tastefully Yours,

Luke