I know he is cute but what is he doing on my Christmas table? I live in Australia. It is warm and sunny, thank goodness its not sweltering this year (yet). I know that this little fellow was a gift at some point and as such i feel the need to unpack him along with the other decorations each year but as i sit at my PC reading all the wonderful posts from our friends up North (i mean really North, not Queensland) and look at the wonderful pictures of snow, fir trees, sleighs and reindeers in the paddock outside (really) i wonder if they have have an ornament on their table that reflects our summer. This post is really a kick in the pants to myself, you are just along for the ride for your own enjoyment.
 |
| If anyone has one of these, let me know. |
 |
| Pavlova - My Mum makes the best one of these. I don't like the fluffy confection that you buy from the supermaket. I prefer a hard shell and a chewy inside. |
 |
| Christmas Wreath made from Australian Bush Flowers - no Holly near my place. |
I know that I'm late to the party. Many Aussies who have already had the lightbulb moment have started having Christmases that reflect our lifestyle but I'm sure there were many Aussie women yesterday that were sweltering in kitchens while their guests sat under air conditioners sipping cool drinks waiting for their "traditional Christmas meal". I come from a large family and getting that meal hot and served on the table for so many was/is a logistical nightmare. Wouldn't a summer meal be so much more relaxing?
We were not expecting visitors till late in the day and so we put off our Christmas meal until then. We grazed and nibbled throughout the day allowing space for "the big one" come evening. Not a good choice. Trying to sleep on an exploding stomach full of heavy food is not good for anyone. I had nightmares all night.
 |
| This was Hubby's grazing plate for the day. I don't eat seafood. |
So, because I'm in desperate need of a nanna nap after yesterday and the cleanup today, I'm going to finish this post with a pledge to embrace my Australianess this year. I'm going to clear out the reindeers, snowmen, snow flake ornaments etc (more decluttering) and look for items to decorate next Christmas that are more Australian.
Its a good thing that our "Traditional Christmas Pudding" is even better cold with ice cream the next day - because i really don't want to forgo that. It will just have to be cooked the day before.
PS. Hubby loved his tool box. He said he's been wanting one for 30 years. Score!!!!
 |
| I see a "decluttering" of the garage coming up. Im not stupid. There is more than one way to skin a cat. LOL |
Thanks for Living In The Land of Oz.
Merry Christmas Lynda. We didn't have a traditional Christmas at all. Ours was: Cold Roast Chicken, cold meatballs, Leg of Ham with a fig jam and macadamia glaze which was made by my Fiona (17yro), potato salad, cucumber/sour cream salad, roast vegies, and for dessert: Trifle, Raspberry Roulade, Jelly Slice. So very different.
ReplyDeleteLove the pic of Rob, he's so proud of it, and so he should - it's pretty impressive.
*sings - And an emu up a gum tree.* :D Merry Christmas my friend and I hear you sister! Totally. Although being married to one of those Northerners I might ust get kicked for ditching ALL the traditions. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy mum, like her mother before her, makes boiled pudding (of course), ice-cream plum pudding and trifle for dessert. This year there was no trifle but there sure was ice-cream plum pud. It's a MUST HAVE in our family, enough so that I had a crack at making a refined sugar free, gluten free version. The basic version is all your pudding fruit mixed into a mostly melted tub of ice-cream and then mum would ladle it into one of her ancient aluminium pudding bowls (which I was glad to see was NOT in the freezer this year - they must have listened when I ranted about evil aluminium and its'connections with alzheimer's). She has also been adding a smashed up crunchie bar (honeycomb) over the last few years for extra deliciousness too. My version involved all the fruit and nuts as per, plus some healthy choc coated nuts I'd made, and the icecream was 2 cans of coconut milk, a very generous dash of organic vanilla extract and an astonishing amount of sugar, for which I used rapadura. I need to tweak and play and see if I can use maple syrup, honey, yacon syrup or even coconut sugar. I whizzed it up in Thermy, froze it half way, took it out, beat it senseless and frothy in thermy, mixed in a goodly dash of cinnamon, cloves, allspice and more vanilla and then added in all the fruit and nuts. I refroze it then we ate it. A little too sweet for my lower sugar tastebuds but adequately evil and almost as good (probably better really) than Mum's. :D THAT is a perfect Aussie pudding!
I reckon mistletoe could fit our traditions with loads of the parasitic vine taking over areas of bush, the stars can stay (lots to see out in the bush away from city lights), bush pines rather than European fir trees maybe (we've got a scraggly pine from the back of the block), maybe light up mosquitoes instead of fairy lights? ;) Sprinkled on sand instead of snow? :P
Ok, getting silly but I like it.
Another tradition we used to do "up north" when we had Christmas with Mum's family (up your neck of the scrub) was the meat was cooked up earlier in the week and served cold. We still did the roast spuds and co with hot gravy but at least the meat was cool. We chose steamed spuds this year personally but potato salad would work as a good subs there.
Ooo you have me thinking and I too like the idea to focus on an Aussie Christmas, although with a half English, half German husband I will still keep our lovely German Christmas ornaments. :)
Great post and looking forward to seeing how your garage declutter goes.
P.S. Pumpkin seedlings?
We had a very cold Christmas here, but not a white one. Just a touch of snow on the ground, but not enough to cover. When we lived in Florida, it seemed strange to have warm walks on the beach during the holidays. It's so fun for me to watch you guys and your gardens growing. It makes me ache for warmer days and starting seedlings (way too early to do that here). Although I did go through and make a list of the seeds we need to purchase. We also made a list of many (hopefully all??) of the projects/goals that we need to do this coming year...it's a big one! I hope to share it soon on the blog. Your hubby definitely looks happy with his gift!
ReplyDeleteHi Lynda, loving your Christmas rant! We have Christmas with good friends, and whichever family members are visiting from afar. We have the same menu every year - hot smoked salmon (served cold) on crepes with sour cream and asparagus or green beans. Mounds of creative salads. Cold turkey roll. Dark choc pavlova with raspberries and an ice-cream pudding (not as healthy as Jessie's..) I would just die if I had to cook a hot Christmas lunch, and I detest Christmas pud, so happy to let that tradition go. Good luck with the decluttering, and not letting my husband see your hubby's new tool chest. He would be green with jealousy..
ReplyDeleteIm loving everything on your menu except for Salmon. Ive never heard of a dark chocolate pav - sounds delish.
Delete