a rare and startlingly domestic post

Having just sorted out the Xmas lunch menu, I feel compelled to share it with the world - or at least that part of it that reads my LJ.

I've become rather worryingly domestic this year. First, I stupidly volunteered to host Xmas at our place, because Wuff's parents have downsized into a townhouse that isn't quite finished yet - they don't even have a table! Then I invited indigo_girl to join us, rather than suffer through what promised to be a hellish day with the soon-to-be-in-laws (her sister is, apparently, marrying Franco Cozzo's lovechild). And as if all that wasn't weird enough for me, I got the urge to, well, actually plan something - that involved cooking.

So, this is what I've come up with ...

Starters

Australian King Prawns with lemon wedges and cracked pepper
(Prawns are a Dalton family tradition. It's an awe-inspiring and somewhat terrifying sight to see three generations of Dalton/Azzopardi men attacking a giant mound of prawns.)

Smoked Tasmanian salmon on rye toasts with creme fraiche, dill and capers


Main

Baked ham with orange marmalade and Dijon mustard glaze

Crispy skin roast turkey breast

Wuff's famous potato salad with crumbly bacon

Garden salad

Pear, walnut and rocket salad

Blanched green beans drizzled with olive oil

Cranberry relish


Dessert

Christmas pudding with custard or cream

Fruit salad with yoghurt or sorbet



Nibbles

Cherries

Nuts



Afters (for the sitting-around-with-cups-of-tea-and-staring-blankly-into-the-distance phase of the afternoon)

White Christmas Rocky Road

Shortbread (possibly chocolate-dipped)




I haven't started thinking about how I'm going to dress the table yet.





I may well go insane. Or explode. Or possibly both. Ho. Ho. Ho.





Dear, dear me ...








(Oh, and Chez Retro will be open for escapees from relatives on Christmas Night ... feel free to seek sanctuary with us. Bring leftovers. And alcohol.)