Friday, December 26, 2014

Boxing Day thoughts...family, friends, food and flowers...

Post Christmas I'm taking a day off to laze around...

Boxing Day thoughts....


So many busy days of cooking and entertaining and I am knackered.
So I am taking a day to catch my breath.
It's been a whirlwind of activity here in our Humble Bungalow...
I am weary but so very grateful and happy that our family was here for the annual Christmas feast.
(the wee ones make it super special!)





Family, friends, food and flowers ~ not necessarily in that order.


Rebar luncheon with my besties...

Wilted Kale salad with caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes and shaved Asagio cheese.
The dressing was a very light vinaigrette.


Homemade baked beans made by my friend LA.
I have her recipe and have tried making these twice but they never taste as good as hers.
I must try again...
"If at first you don't succeed try try again!"


Last minute I realized that I had forgotten to buy flowers for the Christmas table.
They were purchased on Xmas Eve from my favourite flower merchants...


Blush roses in the main bathroom...


The centrepiece on the Christmas table.




Organic free run turkey just before cooking...
it was probably the best tasting bird we have eaten in years.


Brussells Sprouts
new recipe I found online...

Halve the sprouts drizzle them with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
Grate the rind of a lemon and arrange peel evenly over sprouts then pour the juice of that lemon on top.
Cook at 350 degrees until fork tender.
Top with shaved parmesan cheese put back in oven until just melted.
Serve.

This recipe works with fresh asparagus too!



During the festive season we make an extra effort to make time for those who are near and dear to us.
We arrange to get together, we bake and make food.
We meet with friends and catch up on our busy lives...
we share stories, we cry, we hug.
We eat...celebrate the extraordinary, share the good and joyous, touch gently on the sadness and the struggles...
sharing among caring and supportive friends is part of what links and binds us.



Hold on tight...
life is precious and we must keep those near and dear close to our heart.

Thank you for your wonderful emails this holiday season.
I am so humbled by your kind wishes.

9 comments:

Jen Lawrence said...

Happy holidays, Hostess!

Unknown said...

We had our first free range organic bird this year too! It was so worth the extra moola. Merry Christmas, happy new year!

Pondside said...

What a lovely Christmas you've had! I wish you all the best for 2015!

Susan B said...

Happy Holidays! What a joyful scene it must have been with the wee ones about. I'm bookmarking that brussels spouts recipe. :-)

Coulda shoulda woulda said...

Looks like a good Xmas and time to rest! I stayed in bed until 230 in the afternoon to recuperate from the month!

Jim & Sonya Guthrie said...

I was pooped today too from all the running around that December brings, but Grandpa beckoned us to call on him, so off we went again. Just glad he is still with us, at almost 95 years old and still living on his own!! Happy Holidays, Leslie :)

No Sacrifice Bags said...

Enjoy your down time Hostess. I wish I could say I enjoyed my organic turkey this year. It was my worst turkey ever! No one complained; but I was not impressed. It was the brand; blue goose. It went into my crockpot directly after dinner and at least it made good soup.
I'm going back to my fresh "free range" turkey; which may not be organic; but it's good.

Karen said...

Thank you for writing so many wonderful posts.
Kind Regards
Karen

Stephen Andrew said...

Merry Christmas! I'm still recovering, too. It's a LOT of work, but I enjoy it tremendously and I know you do as well. It certainly is the time to reflect on the many blessings we have. Your festivities look lovely!