christmas

Apologies for not contributing much of late - I've been away for most of the last three weeks. I've had Chris Rea's "Driving home for Christmas" as an ear worm for the past week, and finally it's come true! I'm home, and looking forward to getting stuck into cooking for Christmas.

Mincepies? Yes or no? I’ve just taken my first homemade ones out of the oven, but must admit I’ve worked my way though a box of shop bought ones. Do you like them? Is it a British thing(I think so?)?

Are there drinks that you tend to only have at Christmas? Eggnog perhaps or Baileys - maybe a special malt whisky? There is one thing I used to always buy at Christmas but never had at any other time - Advocaat. I think for some reason it may have been the one alcoholic drink my parents had at...

Do you make traditional Christmas pudding? Are you faithful to Stir Up Sunday or does anything go? What do you serve with it and which recipe do you use? I always make pudding (and for family members) every year, and am normally a slave to stir up Sunday but missed it this year due to illness...

I noticed today that a new channel - Christmas Food - has appeared on Freeview TV. There went another afternoon. Rick Stein, Two Fat Ladies and Nigella (altogether too many stiff peaks) classics in abundance.

Please post photos of your own or your neighbourhood's Christmas decorations in this thread!

I have been reading on the BBC website about people charging family and friends for Christmas dinner. It appears to have sparked quite a debate. Hosting dinner can be very expensive so to a point I appreciate where the idea comes from but charging seems extreme. On December 27th my husband's...

Have spent the morning making chocolate orange fudge. Saw the recipe online and thought I would give it a try. It was super easy, slow cooker dumping job and there is lots of it. Am going to take this lot into work and am planning on making some as Christmas presents closer to the time. Am...

I'm just wondering if anyone else received any presents either directly or indirectly related to the kitchen. For me I had a few items that could qualify, from some new measuring spoons (curiously Australian ones don't have a desertspoon but do have a half tablespoon size), some cookie cutters...

On the 25th, my mom, mom in law and I decided to do a Wellington .. Here is a quick photograph .. All our best wishes for a very lovely holiday from Cadaques, Gerona ..

They may have left it a bit late in the day, but the BBC have just published a collection of gluten-free Christmas recipes, which some of you may find useful. The link is here http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/gluten-free_christmas_recipes

I've taken it upon myself, and it's a hard task I can tell you, to try and make some of the eggnog recipes out there dairy free or even vegan and taste test them. This one is just dairy free, not vegan because I have an excess of eggs (yet again) and because my omniblend (similar to a Vitamix...

Has everyone begun their Christmas decorating yet ? Here is our Office Tree ..

Those of you who celebrate Christmas, do you enjoy the tradition of the "Christmas pickle" ? For those who ask "What's that ?" You hide a green pickle ornament on the tree (very popular...can get many places). When kids are done opening gifts, they look for the pickle ornament...first one to...

Mincemeat isn't a 'set' recipe. Its basically dried fruits steeped in alcohol (or fruit juice) with suet and often grated apple added. Its simple enough to make it vegan by using vegetable suet which is easily available in the UK. Indeed most jars of ready-made mincemeat seem to be vegan these...

So its the run up to the festive season and the usual questions start to be asked... Hangover cures and the usual suspects have their answers, (aka the experts)... The latest in the long line of hangover cures are as follows. the first is hydration and electrolyte balance. drink plenty of...

I thought I'd run a Christmas Competition this year. There is a prize, suitably Australian themed which I'll deliver to anywhere in the world (well I'll pay for delivery to anywhere in the world... :whistling:) To enter you need to do the following: Predict how many of the 10 eggs she is...

I am a week late for Stir Up Sunday but today I made Christmas Puddings. It got me wondering if anyone else spends hours steaming puddings for the big day? Are you a traditionalist (13 ingredients)? Do you have any rituals? Do you include a coin/charm? Is it a family recipe handed down? I...

How do you feel about Christmas records, do you have a favourite? I have a soft spot for this one

This is a short list of some side dishes that I personally MUST have at my dinner table for both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner! Being a full-time college student who also works part-time, I find it difficult to make very extravagant foods for the holidays. This list consists of all the side...