The kids are here today and tonight and Christmas is making its second appearance at the farmhouse. It could be that the babes are all gifted out: they've had visits from Santa, presents and treats from parents, other grandparents, aunts uncles friends and people they've never met. They are one lucky set of tykes. Lots of festivities, lots of ho ho hos.
Still, there's the farmhouse and their relationship to it. Here, they'll always find a nook, a stack of books, some of their favorite toys and lots of their favorite foods. And a grandma who fusses and an Ed who takes up a disproportionate share of the couch with his massive form. And a wee stack of gifts for Christmas.
And today marks the start of a farmhouse Christmas weekend.
Predictably, I start the day with baking. A buche de Noel of course. An old recipe from that notebook (described in my post yesterday). It has to be light, otherwise it's just too much sweetness and decades ago I found the perfect recipe: The cake is just eggs, cocoa and sugar. The filling is whipped cream with orange peel. And on the outside, I put a very thin layer of chocolate genache.
(the finished log)
Another project for the morning: to work free the shells from the crustaceans, reserving some of them for a broth that I will use to cook the squid.
(the fridge has never looked so full!)
All this after breakfast.
It's a mad scramble afterwards. Put in extra table leaf. Cook, bake, whip that cream, slice those scallops. Poach the fish: a bit of salmon and monkfish, aka the "sea devil" (it looks kind of unattractive and it has sharp fangs! luckily, I picked up a prepared fillet).
And lobster tails! I always await for that day after the Christmas when my grocery store sells lobster tails at half price -- two for $12! I'll steam those toward the end. Not now, because I see the gang is arriving!
We exchange presents. The kids play. They eat, they read, romp, and hug. I'll leave you with a short photo album of a beautiful holiday celebration. Of family, of love. And eating! Let's not forget about the eating part.
(the gifts)
(the hugs)
(the munchies)
(the love)
(the food)
(lobster? mmmmm!)
(forks! Yeah!)
(cherries! ohhh!)
(quiet time...)
Night time. Rest time. Because tomorrow is another full day of play, books, food... love.
Still, there's the farmhouse and their relationship to it. Here, they'll always find a nook, a stack of books, some of their favorite toys and lots of their favorite foods. And a grandma who fusses and an Ed who takes up a disproportionate share of the couch with his massive form. And a wee stack of gifts for Christmas.
And today marks the start of a farmhouse Christmas weekend.
Predictably, I start the day with baking. A buche de Noel of course. An old recipe from that notebook (described in my post yesterday). It has to be light, otherwise it's just too much sweetness and decades ago I found the perfect recipe: The cake is just eggs, cocoa and sugar. The filling is whipped cream with orange peel. And on the outside, I put a very thin layer of chocolate genache.
(the finished log)
Another project for the morning: to work free the shells from the crustaceans, reserving some of them for a broth that I will use to cook the squid.
(the fridge has never looked so full!)
All this after breakfast.
It's a mad scramble afterwards. Put in extra table leaf. Cook, bake, whip that cream, slice those scallops. Poach the fish: a bit of salmon and monkfish, aka the "sea devil" (it looks kind of unattractive and it has sharp fangs! luckily, I picked up a prepared fillet).
And lobster tails! I always await for that day after the Christmas when my grocery store sells lobster tails at half price -- two for $12! I'll steam those toward the end. Not now, because I see the gang is arriving!
We exchange presents. The kids play. They eat, they read, romp, and hug. I'll leave you with a short photo album of a beautiful holiday celebration. Of family, of love. And eating! Let's not forget about the eating part.
(the gifts)
(the hugs)
(the munchies)
(the love)
(the food)
(lobster? mmmmm!)
(forks! Yeah!)
(cherries! ohhh!)
(quiet time...)
Night time. Rest time. Because tomorrow is another full day of play, books, food... love.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.