We have spent many recent Christmases holidaying away from home, which is something we love. We enjoy having our Christmas meals made for us, we like having a range of activities available for everyone and we like that holiday feeling adding to the togetherness of the season. This year, because my grandson is due on the 18th December, we have decided to stay at home ready for when the call comes to tell us that the baby has been born. So I am having to think hard and make plans to ensure we have a wonderful Christmas. I am quite excited about having a change.
Food is a big part of our family traditions at Christmas. We love eating the festive fayre that is available at this time of year. Being vegetarians means that we have to be a bit more creative with our Christmas dinner but there are some traditional foods that we love as much as the next man!
Cheese and Christmas go together perfectly. There is nothing as evocative of Christmas than a cheeseboard, loaded with fabulous blue cheeses like Stilton and Shropshire Blue, alongside a smooth Brie and Camembert, a tangy goat's cheese, a traditional Cheddar and a crumbly Lancashire. I also love Austrian smoked cheese which reminds me of being a little girl at Christmas. It was always my favourite and my children now love it too. Add some top quality crackers and a bunch of grapes and you have the perfect Christmas tea time treat.
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| A Premium Cheese Selection from Waitrose |
A fruit bowl is also synonymous with Christmas. I love buying a crate of Satsumas which still have the leaves on, making them somehow more special! I also buy the usual assortment of apples, oranges, bananas, grapes and plums, which the kids can dip into whenever they fancy a fruity snack. It's much healthier than having mountains of chocolates and sweets permanently accessible!
I love baking for special occasions. At Christmas, it is wonderful to make traditional gingerbread with the children, yummy frosted cupackes and festive muffins. It is lovely to cook together and even lovelier to enjoy the spoils of a day's baking while sat down together enjoying a Christmas family movie.
I've definitely got lots to look forward to this year and I'm excited about making my plans to ensure we enjoy lots of fun activities together. Having my family around is what really makes Christmas special, sharing traditions and indulging in the finest festive fayre. Plus I'm about to be a Grandma...it doesn't get much better than that!
