Cook books are pretty common fare as Christmas gifts – especially those that have been heavily publicised in the press, on television and so on. If you have received a new book full of different recipes then there is no point in sticking it on the shelf never to be looked at again.
You may as well get acquainted with some of the recipes in your new book even if you don’t intend to try them all. Flick through the book and mark any pages that feature recipes using your favourite ingredients. It is good to enjoy a new take on things you already like and even if a whole book only expands your repertoire by one or two recipes it will have made a positive difference.
Salmon curry is not the most traditional food to have on Christmas Day, but that’s what my uncle brought round for us this year to whet our appetites before the turkey, ham and piles of veggies.
Having Indian parents means my uncle is a dab hand in the kitchen and he always knocks up something pretty special as a starter for Christmas dinner. Salmon seems to be at its very best when it is curried and he first brought round a salmon curry a few years ago. That dish took on legendary status, but it never reappeared until this year when it was very welcome.
Other curried starters on Christmases past have included dishes using quail which is a fantastically delicate way to begin a meal.
For as long as I can remember I have always received two food-related treats at Christmas: a Terry’s Chocolate Orange and a box of After Eights. These confectionery delights are as much a part of Christmas to me as the tree and hangover from Christmas Eve.
However, this year I’ve discovered something strange about myself. I’m no longer capable of finishing either. I can’t gorge myself on chocolate like I used to do. Even the savoury treats are too much for me. Perhaps it has something to do with all the alcohol that is consumed over the Christmas period.
Nevertheless, it appears that the end may be in sight for one of my personal traditions at Christmas time.
Christmas is a great time for food, but it is easy to take it too far! This Christmas I’ve managed to reign in some of the overeating but that hasn’t stopped me from gorging myself on cheese and crackers between every single meal.
I feel that the government needs to introduce a program whereby people can tell at what point they need to seek professional help as a result of brie abuse. There ought to be a system of guidelines that tells you how much cheese you can consume in weight before an intervention is staged and you are offered rehabilitation on the NHS.