The delights of Festive foods and fine wineFollow

I think the best thing about the winter solstice festival (Christmas to you "believers") is the food and drink.

Nothing quite brings out the festive spirit quite like a good Roast and fine wine with friends and/or family.

I usually push for duck but Mrs Tarv put her foot down this year and we had homemade Tomato and Basil soup for starter, a Garlic and herb roast Silverside British Beef with roast and boiled Spuds, Peas and thick gravy (well i am from Lancashire) with Trifle for dessert.

To accomany this fine fare we had Chateauneuf-du-pape red wine whose rich and fruity flavoUr added to without overpowering the beef.

There can be no better feeling than sat with sundry nibbles of choice infront of a warm fire after a fine meal like that with your offspring absorbed with thier lastest toy. Mince pies are for winners.

I did manage to use just about every pot or pan in the kitchen but hey i cooked so the wife has to clean up, win/win if you ask me.

So it begs the Question: What is the best thing about the 25th of December for you?

We had standing rib roast, mashed potatoes with awesome gravy and green beans. Dessert was this funny, yet tasty, gelatinous berry blob. The best part? I didn't cook a single part of it.

Nothing really, I hate christmas. I got like 15 TXT messages from all of my asshat friends wishing me a happy holiday. I hung around my parents house and talked with relatives I only see a couple times a year, not on accident. I got to spend the morning with my kids but I spent so much time chasing them around and keeping them out of trouble I didn't really get to play with either of them much. I did make a very nice smoked salmon dip though, if that counts for anything.

So, overall I would say, **** xmas.

For me it's sitting down with family to have Prime Rib.

My girls insist on having the onions and mushrooms in a nice sherry white sauce, but yet have learn how to make the white sauce, so once again I got drafted to help cook dinner, at the last moment.

W wouldn't have minded helping, but a good white sauce take time, as one must stir it constantly. My youngest help with the mushrooms, that my bother sliced for us.

Then I as I was carefully stirring the white sauce, I made sure the gravy my bother and daughter were working on, was done correctly.

My future son-in-law supplied a wonderful red wine. With 4 children under the age of 5, running around crying or refusing to eat, it was hard to catch up with siblings I see only once a year. So trying to remember the vintage wasn't something I had the time for.

Today I'm paying for having help cook dinner, for I'm in pain all over and unable to make my weekly therapy session. I need to feel better tomorrow, so I can see the doctor to get my prescriptions.

Surf in the morning, no matter what the conditions. Ash in his paddling pool. Beers, wines and gins in the afternoon, loadsa munchies, and a gert big (nut) roast with sage an' onion stuffing, roast spuds an' swede' an' christmas pud an' trifle an' mince pies, eaten outdoors under a tree in the garden.

Southern Hemisphere FTW!!

different main course each year. This time we had a glazed ham, with broccoli and cheese, white asparagus, sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and melted marshmellows. Egg nog bread pudding and a fruit tart for dessert.

Best part of the holidays is seeing someone you love open and really get excited about the gifts you got them. That, and seeing my sons wide eyed expression when he runs downstairs and sees all the gifts under the tree.

My family had a huge pot luck this year. What did I love the best? The roasted leg of lamb? The prime rib? The lobster? Alaskan King crab? The twice-baked potatoes? Nope, for whatever odd reason, my favorite thing this year was the broccoli steamed in chicken broth. I couldn't get enough of it for some reason.

Edit: And best thing about this Christmas weekend was going house hunting and imagining what hubby and I can do with whatever house we end up buying and moving into.

Edited, Dec 26th 2006 10:58pm by Thumbelyna