Lack of updates, busy and then Christmas

So,
Wrote nothing for a couple of weeks, since Chicago, done very little in kitchen, other than standards, had a couple of pub meals out, nothing interesting, good or bad to mention and been very busty at work.

Christmas was very busy, 3 of our kids (1 pescatarian) over for several days plus one boyf for a night and my Mam for a week. Either driving to or from airport or making endless meals and / or drinks for the week.  

Fifteen in total for Christmas dinner, only 2 now children, so getting harder to get them around the tables but all went well

Starters:
Smoked salmon and pate on soda bread

Mains:
Roast turkey
Boiled Ham
Roast potatoes
Mashed potatoes
Sausage mash
Marrowfat peas (dried from a packet and steeped in bicarb and water overnight, then boiled)
Carrots
Sprouts (quartered, boiled then tossed into frying smoked bacon before serving)
Gravy (using a Jamie recipe, that worked well before)

Cooked ham and gravy and prepped veg on Christmas Eve, put turkey in at 7:00am - all spot on for 3:30 dinner

Desserts from Paul, 2 great cheesecakes and an apple sponge from nieces.  Few bottles of good Oz wine from our last trip and Ciara

Spent Stephen's Day putting all the furniture back, driving the dish washer, hoovering and mopping the floors


Just booked Nerja and Malaga for mid-Jan, looks like Mozambique end of March and tonight back to the Vintage Kitchen, looking forward to all three and will try and update more....