In My Kitchen ... in December
Christmas planning is in full swing! That means I'm planning to make this Christmas recipe - my all time favourite! Perfect for any Christmas party it's my spectacular Meringue and Red Fruit Salad Christmas Wreath. Loaded with the gorgeous red fruits of our Aussie summer season - cherries, watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, red seedless grapes and redcurrants soaked in a luscious boozy syrup it takes pavlova to wonderful new heights!
The Christmas Pudding has been made! This year I've used Stephanie Alexander's recipe passed on to her from her grandmother, Emily Bell. You will find the recipe in her 'go to' book The Cook's Companion - one of my most used cookbooks. It's the first pudding I've cooked using suet - and I'm thrilled with the result!
The family gathered to stir the Christmas pudding prior to cooking. Everyone made a wish - and we stirred and made wishes for those who couldn't attend. I hope they like what we wished for them!!!
We've had another birthday! This time I revisited a favourite cookbook I hadn't visited for ages - The Gretta Anna Recipes (orange cover) published in 1978. I made - for the first time - the Chocolate Torte Los Angeles. Wow! Where has that recipe been all my life! It was marked 10/10 by everyone - adults and children alike. Already I have requests from several family members to make it for their birthdays! If you have the book - this recipe is a winner!
I just love being able to use produce fresh from the garden and these little beauties are the first tomatoes of the season. This summer I'm trying straw bale gardening for the first time. Has anyone else tried this?
This Father Christmas plate has been with us for over 30 years now. It has a couple of 'love bumps' along the edges but filled with Christmas truffles and chocolates no-one notices - and I'm not retiring it any time soon!
Father Christmas bought me an early Christmas present - this SOLIDTEKNICS AUSfonte Sauteuse pan, manufactured right here in Adelaide. Recently recommended by my friend Liz of Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things it is amazing! I have never cooked better steak in my life! Thanks for the recommendation, Liz!
Finally, wherever you are, I wish you and yours the most wonderful Christmas and New Year. May health, happiness, peace and gratitude fill your hearts throughout the coming year.
Merry Christmas!
Cheers!
Marian
Marian, what a gloriously Christmassy post! I love your Santa plate, and that red fruit pavlova ring is the most gorgeous dessert ever - I love that you cut the watermelon pieces into star shapes! Absolutely stunning! Have a fabulous festive season and thank you for sharing your wonderfully joyous kitchen with us this year! :) xxx
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed the post, Celia! 'Tis the season! The pavlova is every bit as good as it looks - the syrup adds something really special!
DeleteI'm looking forward to participating in the IMK series again next year! Thank you so much for hosting IMK!
Merry Christmas!
Marian, the colours in your meringue are just stunning. I love how you and your family each made a wish and stirred the Christmas pudding. What a lovely tradition. Have a very merry Christmas indeed! Kirsty xx
ReplyDeleteKirsty, I gather every red fruit in sight at our local greengrocers when I make the meringue! The soaking in syrup makes the fruit glisten - not to mention taste amazing!
DeleteAll that stirring and all those wishes over the Christmas pudding do make for a lovely family tradition - and makes the pudding that much more special on Christmas Day.
Merry Christmas, Kirsty!
Marian, I'm so delighted that you love the Solidteknics pan... it's a beauty and I use mine almost every day! So many other goodies in your kitchen, including the pudding and the pavlova. Delicious! Compliments of the season to you and yours, my friend.
ReplyDeleteLiz, the Solidteknics pan is amazing! John has fallen in love with it too! There seems to be so much to do during December - but I do enjoy all of the Christmas preparations and traditions.
DeleteWishing you and your loved ones a beautiful festive season! Merry Christmas!!!
Stunning pavlova - almost makes me wish that Christmas was in the summer when our soft fruit is at it's peak.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anne! Likewise I look at all those snow scenes and rich Christmas recipes and drinks to warm you up on a chilly day - and am a teeny bit envious! The pavlova is a great summer party dish whenever your summer season occurs!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas from Australia!
such great things in your kitchen marian. i love the santa plate- such a cutie. and that pav!- wow! the pudding looks fab too. i love using suet; it gives such a great texture to dishes. and i have pan envy- that cast iron pan is gorgeous. merry xmas to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sherry! I have not used suet before - but I will be again! The results are amazing! I am passionately in love with the pan - it's the best I've ever had. We are using it every day! Have a wonderful Christmas!
DeleteMarion, everything looks fabulous, so Christmassy I can't believe how organised you are. Your pav really does look a treat. Wow
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by Glenda! I know I'm biased but the pav really is good!
DeleteWe've had a lot going on this year - so being organised has been essential to keeping our heads above water!!!
Do have a fabulous Christmas!
I'm going to have to break down and buy one of those cast iron skillets. I wondered if it wasn't going to be big enough so I held off. I haven't found one I love so maybe this is a sign. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely ready for Christmas. I've only scratched the surface so I'd better get busy.
Hi Maureen, Treat yourself! The pan is definitely a worthy addition to your kitchen! I do love Christmas - that pudding is just a start! I can see a few busy baking days ahead! Thanks for dropping by! Merry Christmas!
DeleteG'day What a gorgeous, festive post that brightened my day Marian!
ReplyDeleteYou had me at the spectacular Meringue and Red Fruit Salad Christmas Wreath and love your Santa pan!
Thank you for this month's kitchen view!
Cheers! Joanne
Thanks so much for dropping in, Joanne! The meringue wreath is a fabulous Christmas dessert - I do enjoy serving it! Merry Christmas!
DeleteI love the red theme going through your post. The meringue with boozy berries looks stunning and the plum pudding looks like a winner.
ReplyDeleteHi Francesca, The red theme seemed appropriate for a December post! I'm hoping the pudding is a winner - it's the first time I've used suet - but it certainly looks promising! Do have a wonderful Christmas!
DeleteWhat a gorgeous post - I love your pav and the santa plate is all the more gorgeous for the love bumps (I have a few plates with love bumps - great way to describe them). Your christmas decorations are just beautiful too - hope you have a merry christmas
ReplyDeleteHi Johanna! If you look closely at that Santa plate you can see those love bumps - but that plate is a Christmas favourite! The Christmas collection of Santas and snowmen and an angel or two are for my beautiful grandchildren. I think Granny's house should be 'just a bit magical' - especially at Christmas! Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
DeleteGee you have some amazing things to show! I tried straw bales for growing tomatoes, strawberries and zucchini a few seasons ago and it was great. I did find it was a bit water needy but the crops were great. I planted into some compost added some worms too and the end result of the spent bales was the most beautiful compost/mulch I've ever had. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHi Maree, Thanks for dropping in! I'm very pleased with my straw bale garden so far - and can't wait for that beautful compost to enrich our garden soil. I am keen to see how the bales go during the hot summer that is being predicted. Have a wonderful Christmas!
DeleteThat meringue wreath looks so beautiful and delicious. I wish berries were in season here now. Maybe I could make one in summer for the Fourth of July and add blueberries! Love the Santa plate. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteHi Gretchen, I look forward to seeing your Fourth of July pav! The secret to it's amazing flavour is really the syrup and soaking of the fresh fruit! Merry Christmas!
DeleteThe pav looks amazing with the shiny redcurrants. Not something easy to come by in this neck of the woods but I must looks out for them. As to Father Christmas - delightful. Those were the days when something Christmassy was unqiue and hard to come by. Now, they are in every shop but they don't have his heritage do they? Thanks for sharing your kitchen again this month and all your adventures on the coast during the year. Looking forward to more posts next year. cheers Fiona x
ReplyDeleteHi Fiona! Our local greengrocer shop gets those red currants in just for Christmas! It might worth an enquiry.
DeleteMy Santa plate was quite a prize when I purchased it many years ago - it's seen some fun times!
Do have a fabulous Christmas!
Marian, it's so nice to see your family involved in making your holiday creations. I believe I've seen you mention your Fruit Salad Christmas wreath last year- it looks delicious. Merry Christmas to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Fran! It is one of the great pleasures of being a granny to have excited little people help stir the Christmas Pudding - and make a wish or two! That Christmas Wreath will be making another appearance on our Christmas table - I do have a weak spot for pavlova! Thanks for dropping by! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
DeleteMerry Christmas Marian! What lovely Christmas preparations! I love your wreath - absolutely beautiful - and your pudding and decorations. I’m also envious you already have tomatoes - in Canberra only the very best (and luckiest) gardeners have tomatoes by Christmas :)
ReplyDeletecheers
Beck
Hi Beck! Thanks for your kind words! I'm trying a twist on the pavlova wreath this Christmas - will let you know how it goes! I've not ever had very good luck growing tomatoes - so I'm hoping that this year is my year! Merry Christmas!!!
DeleteALL your food looks AMAZING ... but the Christmas Wreath had me drooling and it's already bookmarked :D It's a real WOW factor dessert - I think I'll start volunteering for next year so I can impress everyone with my 'skill'!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for dropping by! The Christmas Wreath is easy - but always worth a practice I think - just to enjoy it an extra time! Once you've tried it you'll be hooked - and on everyone's invitation list I'm thinking! Have a wonderful Christmas!
DeleteThis is my first time visit here. From the tons of comments on your articles,I guess I am not only one having all the enjoyment right here!
ReplyDelete