Christmas Dinner

Tis the season to be jolly!

Despite the economy downturn, the global meltdown, I am surprisingly feeling positively jolly! Must be the 7 feet Christmas tree in my living room, it is getting me in the festive mood! Recession but still need to spread the cheer right?

So how do we have a great dinner, with some presents thrown in without causing too much damage to our wallets? The answer is to prepare as much food at home as you possibly can! I am tempted to buy some stuff, so that it will free me some time to worry about other things, or not worry at all. This year, we are having the dinner at my place, wanting to give my poor mum a break. My mum roast the turkey every year, til the oven died. I want to roast my turkey, but given that I have just a oven, and some other stuff to make, maybe I should just spend some money buy me a roasted turkey instead. Four Seasons' turkey is a whooping $178 for a 5kg bird! WAH LAU EH!

Decisions decisions.

I can make the mince pies in advance (as I am typing this, I am having a mince pie attack), the cookies maybe a couple of days before. I want to try making this chocolate fondant so so badly and I can only make it last minute. SO HOW! I think I am being too ambitious, so I will just buy the turkey and the ham. Should I make some gravlax or just buy smoked salmon? I want hummus and pesto dips too! Also, I want to make a trifle! But I have no trifle bowl! The bowl I used last year was Elaine's. I could borrow it this year if her dad didn't break it. So now she can't make any too. I can't settle for mini trifles for everyone. I want a huge trifle bowl! I am thinking of a retro fruit punch! Maybe some fruit spritzers. I have some wines and beers in the fridge, so that is settled. Maybe some good old soft drinks. I need some creme de cassis for my white wine. I have plenty of brandy, maybe I should do some egg nogs! hehehe! Beverage is as important as the food! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise! I will skip the mulled wine though, Singapore's too hot for that.

I will get into the details tonight. It is about time that I lay my hands on my own Kitchen Aid mixer already! My Christmas present to myself. My handheld mixer is not going to hold up any longer.