Christmas 2011

And Christmas is nearly here already!
My how this year has bloody flown.
Anyway, I have been stuck in the repeating tasks of Christmas crafts with the kids - usual of Santa heads, Bells, ornaments, xmas stocking decorating, cookies and little houses (photos of them below).

Soooo, rest of this update, is - shock horror - a photo update!

Their relatively new cubby and the outdoor Xmas tree (aka Loquat that suddenly died on me)

Fake gingerbread houses. Look at my cooking blog on how to make the "Ungingerbread House"

All wrapped up and ready to give away. There are going to be 8 kids at the Christmas party this year, so my boys and I made enough for all the kids!

For the place settings at the Christmas party, I thought I it would be 'cute' this year to make up bags of Reindeer Noses.

One of the painting projects for the cubby. We had some left over Bouganvillea wood, so painting it seemed like a good idea.

More painted wood for the cubby decoration.

We took all the kids down to a life size snow dome.

Xmas

Okay, just a basic photo post...
These are the appetisers that I made for Xmas eve

My secret sauce - Kecap Manis, Sesmae oil, toasted sesame seeds, frsh ginger, spring onion, mirin etc.

My Sashimi Tuna and avocado ceviche (lime marinated) spoons.

Sashimi Salmon spoons.

Prawn appetisers with lemon and dill sour cream mayonaise.

Smoked Salmon with fresh dill on a chive and cream cheese spread on fresh French stick.

Chocolate boxes for guests - White choc rum ball, dark choc rum ball, peanut butter cream, cherry brandy cream, ginger brandy cream, honey caramel, and plum pudding ball.

Xmas day left overs lunch. Only new dish is the eggs - made with lemon and dill sauce mixed with egg yolk, piped back in to egg whites and topped with caviar.

Glad it is over with for another year. I think I am going to save the 'foodie' stuff for dinner parties with friends and people who will actually eat it, or at least try it.

Christmas

Just because I want to go completely overboard!

I am pretty sure I am going to do a version of cake pops for xmas for the kids - but instead of cake, I am just going to do chocolate truffles as it is easier. Bakerella did some beautiful ones.

I also want to do mini apples. BUT, do I do the caramel apples from Meet me in the kitchen ?

 or I could do the mini caramel apples at From glitter to gumdrops ?

OR should I do the mini chocolate apples from Zuppas ?

Which would you do?


I will be doing the appetisers for Xmas Eve dinner. So I think I have decided to do this

^Bread, Smoked Salmon, Salmon Roe, tiny bit of spanish onion and a shave of truffle (olive pictured but that is too phallic). Parsley to garnish

^Bread, Camembert, grapes and parsley to garnish.

 ^bread, ham and cucumber.

^bread, prawn, slice of lemon and aioli.