Getting ready to head down that holiday road!

[Jenny]

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be on annual leave after 6pm today (GMT).

I’ll be back on 28th December for a day, then I’ll be off again until 5th January 2023.

If you need anything, @Quincy will be back on 28th December, our wonderful @Bhumika will be here, then @Sybe and @Emilie will return on 4th January 2023!

I’m really excited to be spending Christmas with my Mum and Dad for the first time since 2019.  I can’t wait to see everyone and to have some of Mum’s wonderful home cooking.

Other than that, I’m taking it easy.

What holiday plans have you got coming up?

Looking forward to catching up with you all when I return.

Take care!

Jenny

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

Hi Jenny

Best wishes for a fun and relaxing time off and lots of Mum's wonderful cooking! 

Kitty in California

[Jenny]

Thank you so much @Kitty-and-Creek0 - I've been given so many updates on what's cooking and been assured there will be leftovers for a few days too!  

Hope you have a wonderful festive season.

Jenny

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

Ah, Jenny...

We love leftovers! Especially if you can take some home with you. 

I just made a huge pot of red posole. It is always better as it ages.  It will be filling, nurturing and warming for a week at least and we're filling the freezer with it today. There's enough to share with our friends, and we've a big stack of corn tortillas. Posole is a must for every festive occasion, or none!

Be safe out there on the road...

Kitty

[Jenny]

I had to do a search for red posole, @Kitty-and-Creek0! It looks just my sort of food.  I might try my hand at it if I can find my slow cooker!

I'm looking forward to the "Christmas ham" - so called because it's the only time Mum makes it.  She bakes a joint of ham (from my brother in law - a butcher) after marinading it in dry apple cider, then covers it in honey, mustard and cloves.  SO GOOD.

Looking forward to catching up with everyone here on 28th.  Take care!

Jenny

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

Hi Jenny

For Thanksgiving I made Green Posole, with promise to make Red Posole this week. Totally my kind of food too. I just use a big pot on the stove, and it makes so many meals for the freezer that I don't bother with the pressure cooker. 

I make pinto beans too, in the style of my friend from Mexico. She buys the fresh crop from a farm, so the beans cook rather quickly and without soaking overnight. The flavor is very different from the old ones we find in the grocery store. I was considering making tamales, but was lucky enough to find my favorite Tamale Man selling out the back of his car, twice this month. His kitchen does a wonderful job. Yum! 

I'll make Japanese food at home as soon as we yearn for something different than Early California/Mexican food. 

Mum's Christmas Ham is a real treat, and fresh from the family butcher - it doesn't get any better than that, does it!

Take care and Enjoy!

Kitty

[Huma0]

@Jenny Have a lovely holiday (shame you have to come in for one day in the middle of it!).

I am also looking forward to my first family Christmas since 2019. I thought I would be the one doing all the cooking (it was supposed to be round at mine the past two years but got Corona cancelled) but now we are going to my brother's family and I only have to make the desert. Yay!

[Jenny]

Thank you so much @Huma0 - I hope you have a lovely time - and feel free to share what you'll be making for dessert!  I'm lucky that Mum insists on cooking everything herself.  I'm not sure she'd let me contribute!  

I think I'll enjoy the 28th to be honest, as it'll break the naps and the eating!

Jenny

[Huma0]

@Jenny It sounds like you will be well fed!

Most of the family do not like Christmas Pudding or other traditional Xmas deserts. There are also some fuss pots who will can not stomach cream, buttercream icing, custard etc. 

So, I plan to make an orange, pistachio and honey polenta cake. It's quite a bit of work, but the results are worth it. I made it once before for my guests and it went down a storm. I will try to make enough to have some for my guests too.

This time, I wanted to try to make a rose icing (inspired by the delicious pistachio and rose cakes from Gail's) to make it look extra special, but unfortunately could not find the rose essence needed. 

I will try to remember to take photos and can post the recipe if anyone is interested. Last time I used blood oranges instead of the regular ones, which I think made it extra yummy.

[Jenny]

That sounds delicious @Huma0 - please share the recipe!  

Everything was absolutely wonderful at my parents' house.  We had the traditional turkey for dinner and for pudding there was chocolate mousse (homemade!), Baileys cheesecake or Christmas pudding.  I had the mousse as it's my favourite, but I did get some cheesecake to take home.

Jenny

[Huma0]

@Jenny Three puddings? That does sound indulgent!

Here is the recipe:

https://www.easypeasyfoodie.com/orange-pistachio-honey-polenta-cake/

You can also make this as individual cakes, which I did the previous time for my guests, using a muffin tray.

[Crawford3]

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