Post Christmas Meals

Last year for our Christmas dinner we enjoyed what many believe to be a non-traditional meal. But this year was our first Christmas just as a family of four plus puppy so we decided to eat what we wanted.

Last year Rob cooked Christmas dinner but this year I took over and we enjoyed roasted leg of lamb with a pancetta and macadamia stuffing which was delicious. We had sprouts, green beans, carrots and broccoli (Lily's favourite), roasted sweet potatoes, pork and honey sausages served with a delicious homemade gravy. For dessert we had sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel sauce, Swedish Glace non-dairy ice cream and Alpro non-dairy custard. We ate very well and Rob has said a few times now that he wouldn't go back to turkey. High praise indeed!

Our Christmas dinner (some of it!)

I omitted dates this time, so it felt lighter; just perfect after a big roast dinner

The stuffing was a combination of parsley, thyme, anchovies, macadamias, pancetta, gluten free sour dough and oil.

Boxing Day food took the form of a shoulder joint of pork slow cooked in one can of Coca Cola and barbeque sauce, served shredded with wraps and rice. I made my usual homemade spelt flaky pastry and created a free-form pie containing layers of leftover roasted lamb, vegetables, pancetta and macadamia stuffing and the gravy. I didn't have much of an appetite left by then though!

The 27th of December saw me and the children having beef casserole with beef and then I spent the night away in Kent, so I was treated to a meal out at Strada and my Dad's homecooked meals and Rob made some yummy chicken goujons using Mrs Crimbles gluten-free sage and onion stuffing rather than breadcrumbs.

We have been really enjoying beef in oyster sauce lately. Rob got a craving for it last month and I think we have eaten it about three or four times now. Alexander likes the beef particularly, but he can also put away a lot of rice and sauce!

Salmon in teriyaki glaze with stir-fried vegetables and rice noodles has also featured on our plates a few times. Even teriyaki chicken. Spot the trend! We have also tried buckwheat noodles too with salmon in a sweet amai glaze. Altogether, my online shopping trolley contains more stir-fry vegetables and different varieties of rice noodles than it ever has done before, but quick, healthy meals can be prepared readily providing I have a few store cupboard essentials such as rice wine vinegar, soy sauce and honey.

Teriyaki chicken, plain white rice and green beans plus asparagus

Salmon with a sweet amai glaze, stirfried mixed vegetables on buckwheat noodles

I hope you have enjoyed your holidays everyone :)