CHRISTMAS

Are you ready for Christmas?  It is late November already, but there is time to be organised for a perfect Christmas to share with the family and friends.
What have we done so far; check your list, for example, the gifts-done!, Christmas cake and biscuits - done, that's a good start.

Preparation for Christmas.

The List
Christmas Cards for Friends
Christmas Gifts
Christmas Cake, and Other Baking
(Wrapped up and put them away)
Christmas Table, and Decoration
- The tablecloth, serviettes etc
- The cutlery and Glasses and serving accessories
- Christmas Tree and Decoration

The big job but has to be done
- Cleaning the house
- Air all the rooms
- Clean and wash the oven and the kitchen
(it is advisable, otherwise a massive work afterwards)
- Set up the Menu
- Ham bag, all containers have to be ready
  (keep them on the particular draw which is easily accessible)
To keep the leftover hygienic way is very important.

(The bags have been in the storage for a year, rinse and quick wash is necessary)
Obviously, the tablecloth and the linen serviettes have to be pressed too.

At my place: this time, the children and their family are not coming home on Christmas day, actually, for the past few years, the grand cooking has not been done in my kitchen.  It is the celebration for being older, the children had us for Christmas instead. 

For you, all young people hope you have a happy time to prepare for the season, have fun!.

At Christmas.
Cooking for Christmas in here is varies, there is no traditional Christmas cooking as I observed.  People do cook a roast turkey, baked glace ham and serving the famous Christmas Pudding but not everyone.  With the hot weather over Christmas, cooking the traditional Christmas dinner is too hard, and could be not very enjoyable for some.  The idea of festive cooking and having a delicious meal for a family get together on Christmas day is getting more practical. And it is agreeable.

In my case, a roast turkey is the association of the Christmas feast, and I found the enjoyment of cooking it, almost a ritual for me as Turkey meat is only served on Christmas in my home.   For the dessert or sweet, the English Trifle was prepared in the past after sometimes we have any delicious desserts or only mixed berries with liquor and cream.  The traditional Christmas pudding is delicious but serving easy, and light dessert is my choice now.  This year I am very relaxed, even the Christmas cake has not been made yet; usually, it baked in early November.

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I was thinking to bake a light dessert or sweet, and it is based on English cooking, the bread and butter pudding.  I thought it is delicious. I attempted to bake one, and it was successful.  The look is pretty, with the red and green cherries at the top. No recipe to follow, but you could do it without.
Be generous with the ingredients, this pudding is perfect.

I add in lots of dried fruits: sultana, cherries and almond nuts for the topping.  It served with whipped cream, or you could make light custard too.


Susy Bread and Butter Pudding.

I use stale bread, a large loaf of sourdough, trim the crust and sliced.
Soak the sliced bread with hot milk to soften.  Put layers in the baking dish.
Adding lots of dry fruits in between layers, make egg, sugar and butter mixture pour over it, rest for a while before the baking.

For a large pudding, it takes one hour or more to bake in a moderate oven  at 165 degrees C

It freezes well.  A time you want to have, take it out from the freezer and reheat it with cover until it warms up before serving.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The Process

                                                                        
Serving
Sliced, served with cream or custard.  It is delicious to be eaten cold or room temperature.

Baked a large dish of pudding, to share.  Similar preparation as above,  love to serve in room temperature and dust with icing sugar.

The Topping

The Preparation

Cover the dish to bake

Floured dried fruit lightly.

Dressed the top with cherry
and almond nuts

Freshly Baked Bread and Butter Pudding

Cut into small pieces when it is cold, dust with icing sugar, a delicious little sweet to go with tea and coffee.

Before Christmas is a hectic time, but enjoy whatever you do.  All the very best for the Christmas preparation.

It is a happy time to think of family friends and looking forward to having a joyful celebration at Christmas.

Thinking of you girls, Melanie, Jane and Susan.  I am sure you all be alright even though a lot of tasks had to be done in your household and for the family.  For all of you, the end of the year at work and children to care for is a big responsibility, busy people are happy people, always find a way to get the job done and to love others well.  Proud of You!

Take It, Easy Everyone, Enjoy The Christmas Season.

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Susy