With work officially out of the way for the moment, I can now safely turn my attentions to Christmas. It is time to focus on sharing some special moments with loved ones and indulging in all of the best things that life has to offer with my friends and family; and trust me when I say that I have had a pretty good start!
Christmas always brings about an acute awareness of how fortuitous and blessed I am in my life. When you have the means to gift others, eat the most rich and extravagant meals and not have to focus on how you are going to afford to do that, then you're bloody blessed! And Christmas always makes me feel like I have so much to be grateful for. So for me, it's always an important time to give back, pay forward and make a really grand effort to let others know that I see them, care for them and want to share my time with them.
So far I have had a wonderful Japanese dining experience with my mother, my nephew and his family, I have visited a spectacular winery outside of Geelong with some work friends and indulged in many delicious wines and woodfired pizzas and I have even managed to complete all of my Christmas shopping, write all of my Christmas cards and wrap all of my gifts - so underneath my Christmas tree is now jam packed with goodies to share and enjoy with everyone. Yep, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and I am getting excited, not just about sharing some quality time with my darlings but also about all of the delicious fare that I am going to get to eat!
Christmas food should be delicious in my opinion. Your Christmas meal should comprise of something that you've put some effort into creating and is worthy of sharing with your loved ones. For me this year, it will be a perfectly roasted pork belly with all of the jazzy roast trimmings and for dessert a fabulous family favourite, a chocolate cake that is a combination of cake and pavlova and tastes like heaven. I will spend time prepping on Christmas Eve, and it will not be a chore, not even in the slightest, it will be a pleasure. And to top it all off I will make a couple of Christmas cocktails to enjoy throughout the day.
Nothing says 'Christmas in the summertime' like a good Christmas tipple, and this year I think that it will be about pimping up the Prosecco and making some Christmas themed Cosmopolitans. So here are the recipes that I will be using if you need a little tipple inspiration yourself. And please do make sure that you enjoy a very merry, bright, special and magical Christmas with your loved ones this year.
May the season be kind to you and all of yours; and cheers to you all!
CHRISTMAS COSMOPOLITAN
Half of a pomegranate
40mls vodka
10mls Triple Sec
15mls Lime juice
I orange to serve.
Fill a shaker with ice, squeeze the pomegranate juice through your fingers, then add everything else except the orange. Shake well, strain into a martini glass and garnish with a strip of orange.
PIMPED-UP PROSECCO
I orange
Half a lime
A good squeeze of pomegranate juice
Half a passionfruit
Quarter of a grapefruit
A splash of elderflower cordial
I bottle of Prosecco
Squeeze the orange, lime and grapefruit into a jug. Add the cordial, pomegranate juice and Prosecco. Scoop the pulp from the passionfruit half into the jug and stir. Serve in chilled champagne flutes.
Christmas always brings about an acute awareness of how fortuitous and blessed I am in my life. When you have the means to gift others, eat the most rich and extravagant meals and not have to focus on how you are going to afford to do that, then you're bloody blessed! And Christmas always makes me feel like I have so much to be grateful for. So for me, it's always an important time to give back, pay forward and make a really grand effort to let others know that I see them, care for them and want to share my time with them.
So far I have had a wonderful Japanese dining experience with my mother, my nephew and his family, I have visited a spectacular winery outside of Geelong with some work friends and indulged in many delicious wines and woodfired pizzas and I have even managed to complete all of my Christmas shopping, write all of my Christmas cards and wrap all of my gifts - so underneath my Christmas tree is now jam packed with goodies to share and enjoy with everyone. Yep, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and I am getting excited, not just about sharing some quality time with my darlings but also about all of the delicious fare that I am going to get to eat!
Christmas food should be delicious in my opinion. Your Christmas meal should comprise of something that you've put some effort into creating and is worthy of sharing with your loved ones. For me this year, it will be a perfectly roasted pork belly with all of the jazzy roast trimmings and for dessert a fabulous family favourite, a chocolate cake that is a combination of cake and pavlova and tastes like heaven. I will spend time prepping on Christmas Eve, and it will not be a chore, not even in the slightest, it will be a pleasure. And to top it all off I will make a couple of Christmas cocktails to enjoy throughout the day.
Nothing says 'Christmas in the summertime' like a good Christmas tipple, and this year I think that it will be about pimping up the Prosecco and making some Christmas themed Cosmopolitans. So here are the recipes that I will be using if you need a little tipple inspiration yourself. And please do make sure that you enjoy a very merry, bright, special and magical Christmas with your loved ones this year.
May the season be kind to you and all of yours; and cheers to you all!
CHRISTMAS COSMOPOLITAN
Half of a pomegranate
40mls vodka
10mls Triple Sec
15mls Lime juice
I orange to serve.
Fill a shaker with ice, squeeze the pomegranate juice through your fingers, then add everything else except the orange. Shake well, strain into a martini glass and garnish with a strip of orange.
PIMPED-UP PROSECCO
I orange
Half a lime
A good squeeze of pomegranate juice
Half a passionfruit
Quarter of a grapefruit
A splash of elderflower cordial
I bottle of Prosecco
Squeeze the orange, lime and grapefruit into a jug. Add the cordial, pomegranate juice and Prosecco. Scoop the pulp from the passionfruit half into the jug and stir. Serve in chilled champagne flutes.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Release Date: 1946
Rating: PG
Running Time: 130 mins
Based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" by Phillip Van Doren Stern, this vintage Christmas fantasy drama from Frank Capra has become traditional viewing during the Christmas season and has won a place in thousands of hearts since it's release in the 1940's.
The story revolves around George Bailey (James Stewart), a man who is contemplating suicide on Christmas Eve. His guardian angel Clarence intervenes by showing George what his community would look like if he had never existed.
Although the movie wasn't a box office smash when it was released, in spite of it's five Academy Award nominations, it has since gone on to be recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made.
And, it is true, this is certainly an inspiring and touching story, that will bring a tear to your eye and restore your faith in humanity around Christmas time. It's a Wonderful Life is a magnificent and uplifting classic that has a wholesome moral message, making it a perfect and squeaky clean viewing choice for the entire family.
FINAL SAY: Remember, George: no man is a failure if he has friends.
3.5 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 1946
Rating: PG
Running Time: 130 mins
Based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" by Phillip Van Doren Stern, this vintage Christmas fantasy drama from Frank Capra has become traditional viewing during the Christmas season and has won a place in thousands of hearts since it's release in the 1940's.
The story revolves around George Bailey (James Stewart), a man who is contemplating suicide on Christmas Eve. His guardian angel Clarence intervenes by showing George what his community would look like if he had never existed.
Although the movie wasn't a box office smash when it was released, in spite of it's five Academy Award nominations, it has since gone on to be recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made.
And, it is true, this is certainly an inspiring and touching story, that will bring a tear to your eye and restore your faith in humanity around Christmas time. It's a Wonderful Life is a magnificent and uplifting classic that has a wholesome moral message, making it a perfect and squeaky clean viewing choice for the entire family.
FINAL SAY: Remember, George: no man is a failure if he has friends.
3.5 Chilli Peppers
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