My meagre presents have all been bought and wrapped.
I've made all the crackers.
The pickled walnuts, onions, and red cabbage, are ready.
Lady M has made her cake.
And I've made all the silly paper hats.
Still to do... Buy Turkey and Ham, smoked Salmon, nice cheese, something special for Bok and Freddie, and some charcuterie.
Maybe a fancy bottle of Pomerol? Not sure about that yet.
Oh, and the Sprouts; mustn't forget the Sprouts!
Plenty of time yet...... 9 days?
My Christmas is quite meagre. I've got about the same amount to do and I'm working full-time. Eek!
ReplyDeleteLeave it till Dec 23rd.... I do.
DeleteWould be in complete blue-arsed fly mode then. Work until 4 and then home for bathroom planning appointment. I'd probably be orbiting until about 2am!
DeleteIs it easy to get Brussel sprouts in France?
ReplyDeleteIt is now! I usually grow my own; in fact I am growing some but they won't be ready before spring.
DeleteIn France, years ago, we stopped for a meal somewhere fairly rural, and were served sprouts with our meal. They were cold and had been pickled ! I loathe sprouts, so didn't eat them, but was told that they were - revolting ! Maybe they were a new delicacy and no one knew quite what to do with them.
DeleteAbout 40 years ago we had some in a nearby restaurant. I think they'd been boiled for 3 days, then fried in butter for another hour or so. They were dark brown and awful. It didn't put me off them.
DeleteThat's true devotion !
DeleteI love sprouts. I eat them boiled with melted cheese on top.
DeleteVery impressed you make your own crackers. Do you make up your own jokes too?
ReplyDeleteI'm ashamed to say that they're empty. Maybe I'll rectify that.
DeleteLooks like it is all under control - 10/10
ReplyDeleteYup. All is foreseen.
DeleteOh heavens. Only 9 days. Now you've depressed me. It's a good day for working outside but as I've commitments tomorrow I'll just have to buckle down and do my cards. I have made six Christmas cakes over the past few months though.
ReplyDeleteI'm tree planting today; one of my favourite occupations.
DeleteSadly I think you've missed the boat with the sprouts. Terry Wogan always used to recommend putting them on in September!
ReplyDeleteArilx
I roast mine with the Turkey. I pop them in for the final 45 mins, and they cook perfectly.
DeleteShred mine and stirfry with bacon, caraway seeds and cream. Delicious.
DeleteI heard somewhere that if sprouts are cooked/boiled for more than about 7 minutes ( which is what most of our Mothers would have done) it changes the chemical composition causing the ghastly taste that makes a lot of people hate them . I like them shredded and fried.
ReplyDeleteSee above Francis. Someone in blog-land mentioned that they did them this way, and I've never looked back.
DeleteI always boil them for 30 minutes.
DeleteThen eat them through a straw?
DeleteNo, but they melt in your mouth. We love them.
DeleteTry roasting them (no crosses on bottom) with a Turkey, Chicken, etc. Good!
DeleteYou make your own crackers? I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteI think you can see some of them in the photo.... and the hats!
DeleteSo organised Cro ..... I am impressed.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Brussels ..... At Christmas, I usually parboil mine just for a couple of minutes then fry them with pancetta.
I watched a programme last night about the most expensive Christmas ..... a tree topper worth £500 thousand and someone's house in Covent Garden decorated with £100 thousand pounds worth of decorations !!!!!! ..... and, they only MIGHT be spending Christmas in London !!!!!! plus two Bentleys as Christmas presents !!! ..... somewhat obscene !! XXXX
I didn't watch the programme, but did let-out a huge groan when I saw it advertised. Everyone should spend their own money as they see fit, but with some people it borders on obscenity; as you say!
DeleteUnfortunately it's programmes like this that make the impressionable discontented and dissatisfied with what they have.
DeleteWe have here only frozen brussele sprout, i did not see one person who like them, may be something is changing in the proces of freezing.
ReplyDeleteNot many people seem to like them when they're fresh. But I love them.
DeleteBrussel sprouts were one of the only vegetables I could get my kids to eat. I probably overcook them, but don't like them crunchy. I tried once to roast them in the oven and they were too crunchy. I add a nob of butter, cream and crumbled bacon atop mine and they are all gone. By the way, I am very impressed by your Christmas preparations as my husband does nothing.
ReplyDeleteI was told, as a child, that they were miniature cabbages especially grown for children. Of course I loved them at once. Bacon improves everything!
DeleteNine days...I'm down to cleaning, grocery shopping and cooking...oh, and wrapping that one special vintage memory rousing gift for the hubs that finally made it here from EBay. Sounds like you have the holidays well in hand Cro and so happy you remembered Bok and Freddie.
ReplyDeleteYes, all very efficient in this house.
Delete...well you've been busy...I'm still trying to catch up with myself ....!
ReplyDeleteMy secret is that I don't get over excited about it all; I treat it just like 'another event'.
DeleteLooks and sounds good to me, Cro. I serve our sprouts with bacon and chestnuts and they taste good, although one member of the family will never touch them.
ReplyDeleteNothing in your crackers? Fancy turning down the chance to make up some really bad jokes!
I'm going to rectify it.... I'm searching the net for some goodies.
DeleteEverything sounds well in hand chez vous. I'm behind in my preparations, but I'm not stressing about it. I got the tree today, will decorate between now and Chrimbo, and think pick up the roast for the Christmas meal either the 23rd or 24th.
ReplyDelete'Relax' is the order of the day. No point panicking.
Delete