Christmas Eve, and I'm just putting the final pieces together for damn good nosh tomorrow!
Christmas Day is the big one for us here in the UK, as it is for many around the world.
It's a time to eat, drink and be merry - renew friendships and strengthen relationships.
Again, Merry Christmas!
So, to business ...
What's cooking?
It's going to be paleo ... well, paleo+ since you will find some dairy; also, a little booze and even gluten-free bread! All well within the 80/20 guideline ...
- Prawn Coctail - Retro! Still, a clear favourite for starting Christmas dinnner. Prawns in a Marie Rose sauce from home made mayonnaise and pureed tomato flesh over shredded cabbage, avocado and tomato cubes. Served with Citroën and Fläder Schnapps.
- Turkey - just the crown, sufficient for the 6 of us. Covered in bacon to keep it extra moist and lend a light salting. I know ... I know ... I'm missing out on all the goodness from the bones, but this is my cortisol sanity version of Christmas.
- Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and bacon - ubiquitous Brussels sprouts with the bacon from the turkey. You can never have enough Brussels sprouts and Christmas is the perfect time to really celebrate this wonderful little package of goodness.
- Carrots, cauliflower, green beans and stringless beans - a nod to Mark Sissons.
- Roasted potatoes - par-boiled and roasted in lard; a glass raised to Paul Jaminet.
- Roasted parsnips - par-boiled and roasted in butter.
- Red cabbage - boiled right down, simmered in Port and served with pickled beetroot and red grapes.
- Pigs in Blankets - small sausages wrapped with bacon.
- Stuffing - onion, herbs and gluten-free bread.
- Bread Sauce - onion and clove infused milk with gluten-free bread. Cauliflower did fly past my mind as a suitable substitution, and I may well make up a batch like that if the cauliflower will stretch that far.
- Cranberry Sauce - cranberries, just a touch of Cointreau for sweetness and a good slug of Vodka!
- Gravy from the roasting juices.
- Traditional Christmas Pudding - served with Brandy sauce and whipped cream.
- Crozes-Hermitage - Deep, sumptuous red wine
- Chablis - Crisp, fresh white wine
- Sauternes - Pudding wine
