Coffee with the Girls - more of a story than a note!

To follow, for those who had any room left :

Bramley apple pie

Mince pies

Stollen

and treats for those who are chocolate lovers :

White Christmas – aka Rubble

Malteser Cake

Chocolate and Pistachio fudge

The White Christmas and the Malteser cake were made the week before and fridged - the fudge was made and frozen. The White Christmas and the Malteser Cake are constants and who am I to refuse!

For the snacks :

Smoked trout mousse

Cream cheese and cashew nut paté

Soda bread

Roasted garlic and sweet onion jam for the cheeses

Roasted chick peas

I suppose what I'm trying to illustrate is that you don't have to spend all Christmas Day chained to the cooker, never wanting to see turkey and sprouts ever again.

The only thing you do have to be good at – is making lists and noting when stuff needs to be pulled out of the freezer to defrost properly – overnight in the fridge is best. I know you'll make sure that your cooked turkey and gammon is kept separately from your uncooked fillet steaks!

I can hear you asking – what do you do with the sliced turkey and/or gammon on the day – no-one wants cold meat with the roast. No problem at all – if you are serving 6/8 people then you can place sliced turkey or gammon in one of my now famous foil trays, cover tightly with foil and let it warm through in the oven for 10/12 minutes before serving. If you haven't room in the oven for a foil tray then wrap portions in a flat foil parcel x however many servings required. I'd add an extra parcel for good luck – the girl can't help it!

One final mention of turkey - you'll note that no-one chose it on the Day. It's my experience that the best use for it is as part of six inch high sandwiches – whenever the mood takes.

Midnight snack anyone?!