It is this time of year when we are all rushing around trying to get the last minute food shopping done before Christmas Day.  All the big supermarkets are open near enough 24 hours a day trying to capture as many sales as possible.  The shelves look like they have been ransacked, metal trolleys scattered all over and people running around looking stressed.
I picked up the turkey at the weekend and have got the majority of the alcohol and food that will keep.  It is now just a case of going back down to brave the rush for vegetables and consumables that are better to get closer to the day.
I think when Christmas Day actually arrives I will be sick of the sight of food and not want to eat any!

I always go through phases of eating something over and over again and suddenly going off it. My favorite phase was when I was addicted to Boost bars before they bought out the ones with guarana in them and I had to have one every day, sometimes twice. This lasted for around four or five months and yes, I did put a little bit of weight on but I couldn’t not have a boost!

This is the same when I am cooking, sometimes I have to have brown pasta with tomato and chili sauce for days running because it’s the only thing I fancy. Why is this? It may be that I am lacking in a certain vitamin or mineral that the craving possesses however I have always found it a bit strange. Any ideas people?

I am pretty sure there will be millions of people across the country who will have an abundance of turkey left over from their traditional Christmas dinner this year. The majority will be waking up on Boxing Day morning to consider what they should do with the left overs…I have found there is plenty of inspiration and ideas online which should help you out if you do not want to be eating turkey sandwiches for the foreseeable future!

Having had a look, here are some of my favourites which you could try: Turkey stew, turkey stir fry, turkey Kebabs and turkey casserole.

For those of you who want to start the New Year health kick  a little bit early you can make a turkey salad, turkey wraps or turkey soup!

I think I am already suffering from over indulgence and the Christmas holidays are only just starting! If asked if I had a sweet tooth, then I am most likely to say no………only at Christmas!
It is far too tempting to be good at Christmas and avoid the desserts which I deprive myself of all year round. I love to enjoy the traditional mince pies and Christmas pudding with custard after a turkey dinner, but there are lots of other desserts which are very easy to make over the festive period which are very popular in our house. Apple pie with custard is one of my favourites or vanilla and chocolate ice cream with baileys is an extra special treat! -quick to make and simply delicious!

I have to admit I am not exactly a master chef in the kitchen. If I have the choice between cooking dinner or going out for a meal, more often than not I will take the easy way out!
I am sure the more I practice the better I will get, but sometimes it is difficult finding the time to fit everything in to the day, so eating out is usually the quickest and simplest option.

Although I have to admit that no restaurant in the world can compare to my Mums home cooking. She is a fabulous cook and spends most of her time in the kitchen. My personal favourite is her homemade lasagne followed closely by her chicken casserole.

Cooking is not rocket science and it can be very therapeutic, so I would encourage everyone to jump in there and have a go!

It took me quite a long time to try a variety of foods, as I am generally very picky. I never imagined I would enjoy Chinese food……but I was wrong! When I got invited for a Chinese meal with my friends a few years ago they all encouraged me to try as many different dishes as I wanted. Spring rolls, special fried rice, sea weed, sweet and sour chicken, sesame toast, prawn crackers- you name it, I tried it! I have to say it was absolutely delicious!
I imagine Chinese food is very difficult to cook, however I wouldn’t mind giving it a go.

My favourite food in the whole wide world has to be mash! I do not really eat any other carbohydrates, and potatoes can be cooked in so many ways that they will almost always be suitable to go with any dish. Mashed, boiled, roasted, new, and jacket are delicious on their own.

The only dish nicer than mash, is mash with cheese, specifically cheddar cheese!  Once you have mashed the potatoes, simply sprinkle grated cheese on top and place under the grill. Wait for the cheese to go crispy. Add some vegetables of your choice and sprinkle with a dash of Salt……delicious!

As mentioned previously, we are now in the run up to Christmas and now is the time when everyones attention turns to Christmas dinner. In our house we have the traditional turkey with all the trimmings followed by Christmas pudding and custard. We have optional extras, of mince pies, apple pies, chocolate logs, brandy snaps topped off with a glass of baileys or a glass of cherry.

Christmas day is the only day when I forget about the diet and completely indulge in all my favourite festive treats! There is such lovely food available at Christmas it would be a shame to deny yourself the small pleasures in life!

It may not be to everyones liking but fish is something I really love to eat! There are many different ways it can be cooked and there are many different varieties, all of which are very good for you! With Christmas fast approaching shoppers will be hastily visiting the super markets to get the best deals available. My personal favourite is  traditional fish and chips, but it has to be cod!  Steamed fish is also really nice and there are lots of easy to cook options available, so there is no excuse not to try and cook up a treat during the festive period!