Christmas celebrations, whether rightly or
wrongly, have become synonymous with excessive eating and drinking. I too am guilty of Christmas excess, and begin
my Christmas planning often far earlier than required.
This year's pine tree |
1. Gathering
Friends for a Seafood Feast
The festive season is cause for celebration
and reflection upon the past year, so there is no better time to welcome
friends to your home for dinner. As the mercury rises frequently about 30
degrees, a seafood feast is the perfect meal.
I’m fortunate to live on Port Philip
Bay and a nearby neighbour
whom sells Snapper freshly caught from the bay. The Snapper, with their bold
glassy eyes and shining silver scales, are so fresh I can picture them happily
swimming only mere hours earlier.
Entree Tasting
Plate
·
Tomato Gazpacho Soup
·
Natural Oysters
·
Salmon Carpaccio
Baked Snapper
Our Snapper prior to gutting and cleaning |
·
I gutted and cleaned the fish, and
stuffed the cavity with slices of lemon, sprigs of flat leaf parsley, salt and
pepper. The fish was then drizzled generously with extra virgin olive oil. I wrapped the fish in large pieces of foil,
laying further slices of lemon and sprigs of parsley under and around the fish.
The foil is sealed in an almost air tight parcel-like manner around the fish.
·
The fish is baked in a moderate oven
for 40 - 50 minutes. You will be able to tell when the fish is cooked as the
skin and scales will be easily peeled back in large pieces, revealing the moist
flesh.
·
A fish of 3.5 kg feeds 6 – 8 people
depending on size of entrees and appetites.
The skin flakes away easily from the flesh |
The baked Snapper was accompanied by salads.
Mango, Avocado, Whitlof and Watercress |
2. Boxes of
baked treats for hard working colleagues
There is no better way to thank those whom
have assisted me throughout the year than with a gift of home made delicacies.
In an age where everything can be purchased, a little effort is greatly
appreciated. Every year I make mince pies for Christmas, but this year I went
on a baking spree.
Boxes of Baked
Goodies
·
Traditional Mince Pies
Fresh from the oven |
·
White chocolate and Pistachio Cookies
· Cranberry Nougat
·
White Chocolate and Strawberry Rocky
Road
White Chocolate and Strawberry Rocky Road |
Assembling the boxes |
Wrapped and ready to be dispatched. Wrapping paper from my favourite supplier The Wrapping Paper Company here |
3. The
Family Lunch
This year the Husband and I hosted the
Christmas Day lunch for the first time ever! It was a perfect time to combine culinary
Christmas traditions from both our families.
Glasses at the ready! |
Here is our menu:
Entree
·
Natural Oysters
·
Gigantic Prawns accompanied by my
Grandfather’s secret seafood sauce
·
Smoked Salmon Terrine
· Salmon Carpaccio
·
Father-in-law’s Baked Ham
·
Baked Snapper (as per above!)
·
Potatoes baked in Duck Fat
·
Sugar snap peas and beans
·
Green salads
Desserts
·
Traditional pudding made as per the
Husband’s late grandmother’s recipe
·
Ice cream Christmas pudding (recipe
devised by my Mother & Aunt)
Unfortunately, we were enjoying the meal so
much that I forgot to photograph the delicious ham and desserts. There is
always next Christmas!