People seem to avoid saying it of gps like this. Even so I will wish all a most Merry Christmas and temper it with my simple Christmas dinner menu.
There will only be 4 sitting at my table this year since sons and their families are doing their own thing and my 97 year old father has gone off to Cornwall to stay with his favourite Granddaughter and see his two great great grandchildren!
On arrival a traditional mulled wine
Starters Pigeon Pâté with toasted "soldiers" and salad.( I am serving a specially sweetened strawberry wine with this which is an excellent foil against the richness of the pâté.) ( I made the pâté yesterday with the breasts of 6 wood pigeons and several chicken livers and ......)
Fish Course Simply Fresh Oysters served on crushed ice with one langoustine. Served with a glass ( or 2) of Muscadet I am collecting the oysters today and they will live in a bucket of brine till the fatal hour!
Main Course with wine -- Barolo (I have found a couple of bottles of my favourite wine at a reasonable price!) Wild Duck or Pheasant. I shall roast quite simply with and apple and a garlic clove in the body cavity -- 2 pheasants and 2 ducks so we all have an equal choice. Served with all the traditional vegetables roast potatoes, roast parsnips and so on
Dessert Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and or Christmas Baked Alaska. I am trying mini individual baked alaskas this year so that I can make them quickly "on demand" as it were.
And I have a whole blue stilton which was a Christmas present from my younger son. It has been fed with port for 10 days and will be a fitting end to dinner. A choice of an LBV Port or my 1996 fortified Elderberry
And couple of bottles of Vintage Cava to clear the palate
To be able to survive this I shall do a 20 mile cycle ride first thing on Christmas Morning before starting up the oven!
Anyway I hope you all have a good Christmas day. It is good to enjoy one day away from the realities of this world we live in!