Day 10 – Christmas Day
It wasn’t exactly like it usually is, but was lovely just the same.
We started the day with ham and egg rolls. Rather than cut into the top of the ham, which needed to stay intact for glazing, we snuck some slices from the underside.
Braden and Victoria had managed to order a few online goodies because of our presents all being at home. Pamela loved her fish shaped rubber egg separator, Dave ate his chocolates by mid-morning, I had my first cup of tea for the day from my new mug and Dad spent a lot of the morning practicing whistling to find his keys 😉 We also had a lovely foodie gift pack delivered from Braden’s family, filled with a range of chocolates, wine and some yummy apricot coconut balls!
Dad set up a 10.30am Zoom conference and invited all Pamela’s and our family. While not quite the same as being together, it was lovely to see everyone’s smiling faces, Robby’s fabulous looking ham preparations, the large stack of kids’ presents and watching the dogs do laps of the pool at Bek’s place!
Lunch preparation began mid-morning, but didn’t conclude until we served up at nearly 3pm. We went deliberately slowly, motivated by the desire to have one meal rather than both lunch and dinner. I shucked 30 oysters, Braden marinated some of the green prawns and ‘salt and peppered’ some others (he now knows how to crush garlic with the side of a knife 😉 ). Pamela sliced and diced all the salads, including potato, coleslaw and Greek. Dad, Dave and Victoria busied themselves getting drinks and setting the table outside including getting the food serving table ready to hold the enormous amount of food we had prepared.
We kept our hunger at bay with this lovely little platter prepared by Victoria.
I really love preparing a glazed ham. Methodically removing the rind, scoring the fat and reducing the sweet and sour mix till syrupy and sticky. This years glaze was fairly traditional – Cider, Lime Marmalade and seeded mustard. (Recipe HERE). The oven here is less than fabulous (the top element doesn’t seem to work), but after much basting and loving, we ended up with a gorgeous golden glaze ready to place as the centrepiece on the now groaning table!
You’d expect a great dessert when you have the famous Pamela Clark on the task! She didn’t disappoint whipping up this amazing trifle. Remember, there’s no ‘popping to the shops’ so was pulled together from what we had. Victoria rated it ‘best trifle ever’ and given I don’t normally eat dessert, the two bowls I enjoyed gives you an idea that I too loved it.
The cool breeze stopped us from having a swim, but as we lay by the pool, reading and listening to Christmas music into the late afternoon, we contemplated our less-than-usual Christmas. Yes, we missed our family a lot, and yes, we had minimal limited presents and no ability to shop. But the day was still filled with Christmas cheer, family and fabulous food.
Five more sleeps until we are back in Wagga with the most of the family. Who’s up for Christmas, take 2?
