|
Issue 11 - Christmas Bells |
 |
 |
This year, when the bells of Christmas ring it should act as a reminder that this is a special season and a time for us to hold our families close. If nothing else, what has been happening around the world, should makes us even more aware of how precious it is to be together with our loved ones.
Each year more and more of us have changed our Christmas Day menus to reflect the light foods of summer. We have learnt, many of us from bitter experience of cooking in 40 degree heat, that these are the best foods for this time of year. Now we are smarter and have seafood and salads, cold turkeys and hams and wonderful summer fruits but we might find it hard not to go back to the tradition of a hot Christmas pudding or cake. However even that is changing. Christmas Cakes are now being made from marinated dried fruits blended into softened vanilla icecream
Christmas Bells
This year, when the bells of Christmas ring it should act as a reminder that this is a special season and a time for us to hold our families close. If nothing else, what has been happening around the world, should makes us even more aware of how precious it is to be together with our loved ones.
On a more commercial level the shops are full of gift ideas. Of course one of the best gifts we could give each other would be rain in great abundance but as this is a little out of our hands we will have to make do with more material things. Dont forget that Gourmet Shopper has many gift ideas from spice kits to cookbooks, Christmas cakes and hampers to boxes of fudge and cookies.
Whilst this year we may not want to travel to exotic locations we can indulge ourselves with the marvellous foods of Christmas, exotic or otherwise.
Each year more and more of us have changed our Christmas Day menus to reflect the light foods of summer. We have learnt, many of us from bitter experience of cooking in 40 degree heat, that these are the best foods for this time of year. Now we are smarter and have seafood and salads, cold turkeys and hams and wonderful summer fruits but we might find it hard not to go back to the tradition of a hot Christmas pudding or cake. However even that is changing. Christmas Cakes are now being made from marinated dried fruits blended into softened vanilla icecream.
Instead of brandy butter we are making mango butter from the wonderful mangoes available over the Christmas period.
In fact, according to the Happy Gourmet Guide for Summer, mangoes should be eaten with everything or added to summer cocktails or daiquiris.
Because we are entertain a lot more at this time of year, we should also look to varying the types of alcohol we serve before or during the meal. Fashionable in the drink stakes for summer will be infused vodkas some commercially bought and others which you can make yourself by soaking your fruit of choice in a bottle of vodka. Sparkling reds are wonderful before a meal, particularly if it is a barbecue, and the aperitifs of Italy such as Campari or Aperol are refreshing and perfect for a hot summers day.
This year the Happy Gourmet family is going to be serious about finding a good local rosé to serve along with the splendid Rieslings from South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. They are a wonderful example of a fresh crisp summer wine that marries perfectly with seafood.
Earlier this year I wondered whether we could ever see fruit soups returning to the summer tables and whilst this may still be a long way off there is a return to compotes made with berry fruits or clafoutis - a batter like mixture poured over any fruit but particularly good with peaches or apricots.
As summer is the perfect time for them have you thought about stuffing peaches or nectarines with coconut macaroons or amoretto biscuits and then baking in the oven or grilling fruits such as figs on the barbecue? If all else fails a glass bowl of cherries over ice is a wonderful end to a summer lunch or dinner.
Make your Christmas Day and your Christmas entertaining easy this year. It is really much more important to use the occasion to be with family and friends than to be stuck in the kitchen. And when you are together spare a thought for those families who have lost their dear ones this year and let us all make sure that we consciously use the time we have to enjoy each others company.
May we all wish for a happier and more peaceful 2003.
The Happy Gourmet
|
|
