Had a wonderful day yesterday. We had a total of 13 people in our small house.
I cooked a traditional turkey lunch. Of all the possible options, we like to have a turkey, and as far as I can remember, have always had. Started the turkey the previous evening as I have always done. Covered it with foil and put the oven on its lowest setting and cooked it all night. I love to get up in the morning with the house smelling of turkey. It was cooked by 9am and stayed hot, still covered with the foil, until lunchtime. I poured off an entire large saucepan full of oil and juices, which was rather excessive. After spooning off a lot of fat, I made the gravy by adding some cranberry sauce, Marsala wine, rosemary and bay from the garden, grainy mustard and black pepper. I like a thickened gravy, so added some flour and simmered until cooked.
I had cut parsnips and carrots into medallions and tossed them with olive oil, salt and pepper, rosemary and maple syrup. I was very frustrated that they simply wouldn’t caramelise, even after being in the oven for over an hour. And even tho the roasties were in for even longer, they wouldn’t crisp up. Well, to give them their due, they were crisp, but not crunchy. I had actually bought (sshh) some pigs in blankets and not made them.

Everyone seemed to enjoy it and said nice things, but you know what it’s like when you have made something. Sometimes the faults are what you see the most.

After a pause for digestion, I served up a trifle and a dark chocolate and ginger cheesecake which both disappeared very quickly.

It was hot, noisy, cramped and chaotic and I loved it 😀

Am off down to one daughter on the 25th, the other daughter on 26th, friends on 27th and sister and mum on 28th. I shall then be thoroughly Christmased.

When Mike and I were both working and the girls had both left home, we used to love spending time with just ourselves as company, as working long hours meant that we didn’t get much of it. Now that we are both based at home, it’s really nice to have some noisy chaotic family time