Does the thought of having Christmas at your house make you:
1. Want to set your hair on fire;
2. Uncork the closest bottle;
3. Contemplate sticking pins in your eyes; or
4. Head for the nearest airport?
We all feel a little rabbit-in-the-headlights at the thought of being responsible for the Christmas Feast, even me who cooks for a living. What happens if you bugger it up? You’ll ruin everyone’s Christmas and become a social pariah, never to be trusted again. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas! Hardly….
Why is it that we put so much pressure on ourselves for Christmas Day? It’s not as if we don’t have enough to completely stress us out at this time:
– Getting together with your family
– Playing nice with his family
– Finding the perfect gift for everyone in your family (because you love them), his family (because you have to), your besties (can’t live without them), the kids’ teachers (you may get them next year), the crappy kris kringle at work (god, who invented that?), the guy who makes your coffee every morning (best to keep him happy), your hairdresser (best not to annoy her – GI Jane’s not a good look), your doctor (coming up to pap test time, want it to go smoothly), the garbage man (so could not live without him) and the dog (the only one who loves you no matter what you say to her)
Top Comments
OK, just want to ask everyone a question...
Having family over my place for dinner in the evening, having all been elsewhere for lunch. Everyone's going to be full from lunch, but surely we have to serve *something*...
Another problem to throw into the mix: I'm pregnant. This means no meats that are chilled and not re-heated to piping hot, no store-bought salads, no cheese or pate platters, and no cold / raw / undercooked fish or shellfish (such as my favourites, smoked salmon and cold prawns). Argh! So what *can* I cook / have ready to serve? Espec. given we will be out of the house all day, arriving home *with* our dinner guests?
Antipasto, cheese, wine....
I only have my immediate family in Australia so Christmas' have always been relatively small, which after reading other comments, I am sincerely grateful for.
We always do a traditional English Christmas lunch at my mum's house. Two of my siblings still live at home so it makes sense. Christmas Eve will be spent at Dad's house with his partner. Fingers crossed with that one - who knows what he has in store for us.
My favourite part of Christmas Day at mum's is a tradition the girls of the family (Mum, Sis and I) started last year. Cocktails for breakfast! Strawberry daiquiris, champagne cocktails and peach bellinis with our cereal. No better way to start the day!