Well, Christmas is over but we’re still in that cosy in-between bit where it’s perfectly acceptable to eat above average levels of chocolate and/or cheese each day until New Year. I love it really, it’s like a final chance to consume all the Christmas goodies as well as enjoy any foodie gifts.
I was blessed with some beautiful gifts…many of them centred on food and tea of course! From beautiful flowering green tea to cheese accessories, gorgeous glassware, a soup set, a huge panettone and a super stocking full of all my favorite foods, I was one lucky girl this Christmas!
A few of my food themed gifts this year!
I did something a little different this year and spent Christmas day at the lovely Lainston House Hotel in Sparsholt, which was a lot of fun and saw plenty of food and wine consumed! Here are some of the highlights…
The driveway of Lainston House looking beautiful on Christmas Day
A starter of Potted Turbot Terrine with Caviar Dressing
Roast turkey with chestnut and apricot stuffing and all the traditional trimmings
Christmas Pudding with rum custard and brandy butter
A few festive tipples later
There were five courses of festive food in total, and whilst nothing will ever quite compare to my dad’s good old roast dinner, I have to say that Lainston House did a pretty great job of everything! We were even lucky enough to get a visit from Santa Clause himself, who gave us all a little present…
My gift of Hampshire Chutneys from Father Christmas! Nice to see Santa giving locally sourced gifts
After a quick cocktail in the beautiful wood-panelled cocktail lounge at Lainston House we were off to join family and friends for more food and drink! Laughter, festive viewing, turkey sandwiches and bubbles filled the rest of the day.
Boxing Day saw me heading to my family home for our traditional post Christmas meal of cold meats, pickles and homemade chips. You can’t beat it! I indulged in my usual ‘everything sandwich’ – consisting of chips, cold meat, stuffing and other leftovers, accompanied by various chutneys and pickles.
Later that day there were more bubbles and a traditional boxing day get together to attend. We were certainly all a little slow to start but as usual we soon got into the festive spirit of things with peach bellinis, champagne and lots of nibbles!
Festive fun!
Now I’m looking forward to New Year’s Eve (and fitting into my clothes again!).
Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, wishing you all the best for the New Year! xXx
