Holidays and favourite food

Harvey, 2yrs 1 month

Reuben, 1yr 7 months

Well we run full steam ahead to the end of this year. I sit listening to the wind and rain outside and whilst it is already 8.00 am there is little light in the sky because of the dour weather.

Monty, 1 yr 3 months

I have just been going through the photos over Xmas and although we have not been studious in our attentiveness to this I must say we are keen on photographing food!! so I have just taken some last photos of the year of the cats.

Bertie, 8 months

Luna, 7 months

Although our run up to Xmas involved both two members of the family having health issues we did manage to get them all here for the day. Grandad was definitely fragile whilst my Sister in Law had only just had a two knee operation a week before!!

It wasn't our most lively Xmas but one that revolved around family. Everyone enjoyed their presents and I could not be more pleased with a darn lovely pair of boots and a beautiful Coach handbag, a total surprise, and my Focus magazine subscription.

Mutton……that was our Christmas dinner. Gorgeous - 5 year old heather fed Black Face Mutton.

http://www.blackface.co.uk

Full plates and only just fitting the family in.

A huge 4.4 Kg Shoulder and a 3.4 Kg Leg arrived to be shoved somehow into our normal oven. We cooked the shoulder in the end for 7 hours on 140 C surrounded by stock and wine whilst on a bed on onions and veg. The shoulder we added a mustardy/ herby crust to and cooked for 3 hours. This year we were reasonable in our variety of vegetables etc. We each had ONE carrot, yes only , but a special one. Tom Kerridges carrot recipe is a must,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/christmas_carrots_90489

 Scrape and smooth the carrot, one for each person then place in a pan of buttery, sugary water and cook for a long time. Those carrots become unctuous. Brussel sprouts were sliced finely on a mandolin and just sweated simply with butter and fried lardons. The Cauliflower cheese was just thick creamy and cheesy whilst our roasts were parsnips and potatoes done in goose fat. Yorkshires were added as golden clouds of yumminess and the deep glossy winey gravy made up from the stock upon which the mutton had cooked finished up our lovely main Christmas meal.

Then we started again!!! Dessert. But only one this year!!!

The MOST calorific dessert ever, I have always threatened to work out the calories. Croissant Butter pudding, wow, wow, wow. This buttery, creamy, whisky soaked, white chocolate saturated dessert is divine. It's light in texture with sweetness but with a kick of alcohol. To add to the unhealthyness we added custard, yumm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/whitechocolatewhisky_86302

So that was Xmas however I had not had my favourite meal of the year yet, Venison Wellington which finally made its appearance yesterday. I am so happy. A Venison fillet had been sitting in the freezer waiting for this special moment. It did not let us down. So happy.

Apparently it is not special enough for Xmas!!! but for me this is the king of meals. The venison is wrapped in a mushroom duxcelle with added herbs and bacon held together with large savoy cabbage leaves and enclosed in puff pastry. The jus is slowly made from spare meat and veg with loads of wine and beef stock plus a little redcurrant jelly. Then finally we have shredded savoy cabbage cooked down with sweated onions and fried streaky chopped bacon with a tiny splash of cream. Did I mention I was so happy.

Well I may post again before the new year but maybe not so Happy New Year to one and all.See you in 2014.