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Post by whitevanwoman on Nov 27, 2012 23:22:59 GMT
This thread is for any Christmas recipes, food photos, food pics, and / or stories involving Christmas food - have fun! ;D The attached recipe is my kind of cooking... Enjoy
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Post by millie on Nov 27, 2012 23:28:04 GMT
Exactly my kind of recipe too - not sure about kicking the cat though!!!
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Post by Firefox on Nov 28, 2012 0:00:09 GMT
Caramelised WalnutsI always used to make these at Xmas though it actually a Chinese recipe I think. (From Ken Hom anyway) QuantsMakes: Portion for sharing Preparation: 2 hours drying time Cooking: 5 minutes + deep frying Ingredients100g Walnut halves 1 tbsp Caster sugar Sesame seeds MethodBoil some water in a saucepan. Place the walnut halves into the water and boil for about 5 minutes to remove any trace of bitterness. If your walnuts are quite fresh, you can reduce this time: it's really a matter of taste. Drain the walnuts and put into a shallow bowl. Immediately, sprinkle generously with sugar and toss the nuts about to ensure they are well covered. Lift the nuts gently from the bowl letting any excess sugar fall off and place on a non-stick baking sheet or similar to dry for at least 2 hours. Place the sesame seeds in a dry pan over a low heat. Shake the pan occasionally. As soon as you can see the beginnings of smoke and a toasted smell, empty the seeds into a small bowl to stop the roasting. When ready to cook the walnuts, heat enough oil to allow deep frying in a wok. You will need a skimmer or similar to lift the walnuts out of the hot oil. The oil needs to be hot enough to allow the walnuts to sizzle but not so hot that they burn immediately. Test with a single walnut. When ready place the first batch of nuts into the oil. Push around a little to allow all sides to be cooked. They cook pretty fast: about 15 seconds, so pay attention! It is important only to cook as many walnuts as you can lift out in one go, otherwise the remaining nuts will burn. If using the Chinese skimmer, you can place it in the wok first, sort of like a basket and then lift out everything very easily. Remove the walnuts from the oil as soon as they are golden and place on a non-stick baking tray or a very lightly oiled plate. Try to arrange the walnuts in a single layer and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Continue until all the nuts have been fried. The caramel sugar and sesame seeds and the nuts combine to make a very moreish taste.... you've been warned!
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Post by vwT5surfbus on Nov 28, 2012 16:09:50 GMT
looks delicious! my fave christmas food is roast duck with orange and cherries and stollen for afters. I dont have a recipe or a picture though i am a useless cook
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 3, 2012 10:02:00 GMT
Does anyone know where I can get a Christmas Dinner ready meal?
Serious question, I will be going over to my mums for a few hours on the day (2 hour drive each way) and she isn't up to cooking these days (dementia) and I can't even cook toast let alone a full Christmas Dinner and there would be too much leftover from even a small turkey as mum doesn't eat much.
So I wondered whether I could get either ready meals, or take something over plated up, to just zap in the microwave. I have wondered about asking the local village pub if they could do 2 Christmas meals to take away.
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Post by moonshadow on Dec 3, 2012 10:29:55 GMT
Most supermarkets do frozen roast dinners, just put a bit of holly on it. A small xmas pud in the microwave with supermarket brandy cream or butter. Do feel for you with your mum, mine is well down the road with the same thing, doesn't know who I am sometimes, it's a horrid disease, only comfort is that once they get past a certain point they are no longer aware of the problem, just tough on the carers!
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 3, 2012 10:45:20 GMT
Thanks Moonshadow, good idea - a couple of crackers and Christmas table decs will do the job nicely. Hadn't thought of that.
It's been really difficult with mum over the past 5 years since the symptoms became evident - she has been in denial but her personality has changed and she is very negative, very critical and very paranoid - all typical symptoms. Unfortunately her GP has been totally useless and I've hit barriers of patient confidentiality and dignity and been accused of going behind her back, tricking her, deliberately trying to confuse her etc. I now dread going to see her as it's so difficult on my own with her (my brother and sister both live abroad) as whatever I do is wrong or not good enough and there is no appreciation or thanks for anything and she can't understand that I can't just pop over and see her regularly - there's no other relatives to share the burden with and I don't live nearby (100 miles away). But I have finally managed to get her into services following hospitalistion in the summer because she wasn't taking her diabetes meds and she now has carers going in 3 times a day, a personal alarm and referral to the memory clinic so physically she is sorted.
It's now got to the point where it's such hard work with her and trying to get her to accept the problems so that we can sort out Power of Attorney etc before she "goes" completely, that I'm finding I can only manage a few hours at a time with her, that sounds awful but in order to deal with the guilt, I tell myself that my real mum has gone and this is an old lady who needs some help. I feel like I did my grieving for my mum a couple of years ago when I realised what was happening. Now it's like the parent / child relationship is reversed. I do feel (and again this makes me feel terribly guilty) that this is the worst bit at the moment and that once she has to go into care and no longer recognises me, it will be alot easier.
Anyway, back to food... Aldi roast dinner with Christmas trimmings it is then! I'd better take my own microwave with me, just in case she's put something metal in hers and blown it up...
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Post by Doodles on Dec 3, 2012 13:12:48 GMT
Our Christmas food will be the following: Breakfast:Smoked salmon and scrabled eggs on muffins washed down with some bucks fizz. Lunch: Some finger foods sarnies,mozarella sticks etc. Dinner:Roast duck with orange and port gravy with all trimmings rosted with thyme and garlic. Dessert:Christmas pudding made with cider washed down with several ales. Evening snacks: Ale,ale and ale
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 3, 2012 13:26:55 GMT
dinner with goats cheese Attachments:
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Post by robmac on Dec 3, 2012 19:49:57 GMT
.................. Breakfast:Smoked salmon and scrabled eggs on muffins washed down with some bucks fizz............. Exactly the same xmas breakfast as we have Will, and the Bucks Fizz gives you a buzz in the morning! We usually have a dollop of caviar with it as well (Although only Lumpfish Caviar).
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Post by Doodles on Dec 4, 2012 7:24:19 GMT
.................. Breakfast:Smoked salmon and scrabled eggs on muffins washed down with some bucks fizz............. Exactly the same xmas breakfast as we have Will, and the Bucks Fizz gives you a buzz in the morning! We usually have a dollop of caviar with it as well (Although only Lumpfish Caviar). What no Beluga Its only a grand for 250g lol We have the same breakfast every year gets you setup for the mayhem ahead
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