Food, glorious food!

I have been making and revising my Sainsbury order all week.  And thinking about how things were when I was a child.

The centre piece of Christmas eating was always a turkey.  It was the only time of the year that we ate turkey and after a few days of turkey sandwiches, casserole, curry, soup we were glad it was the only time of the year we had turkey.  A huge bird would arrive from the butchers ready plucked but Mother preferred to draw it herself and then make stock from the giblets for the gravy. A piece of ham would be the gift of my grandparents who would come from their farm to join us for lunch.  

Vegetables were from the garden.  Brussels sprouts, carrots, red cabbage and runner beans which would have been salted in the summer.  The pickles and chutneys would also be largely made from garden veg and would have been maturing a while.  

Mother would have made the pudding, the cake and mincemeat well in advance.  She made her own pastry, puff and shortcrust, but at Christmas she often bought bread.

I too will have turkey, but just a turkey thigh which I will stuff with sausagemeat and wrap with bacon.  The vegetables will come from Sainsbury and will include carrots, sprouts and cabbage but also frozen peas rather than salted beans.  I've made my own pudding and cake but will buy either mincemeat and ready-rolled pastry and ready-made mince pies.  There will be treats too like smoked salmon, fresh orange juice, and some charcuterie meats.

And I shall be very grateful that I have a freezer so I don't have to waste any of those delicious leftovers!