We had a fresh downfall of snow on Christmas Eve. Just enough to make it all look magical. Most days have been sunny and crisp and it has been a pleasure to be outside. We seem to be in between two weather systems. It is pretty bad everywhere else.
The churches were very busy on Christmas eve, all day. Interestingly though, no midnight service and on Christmas day itself- nothing.
We had a very nice Christmas day with friends. The food was good, we were driven there and back, which was lovely and I didn't have to do the cooking, which was very relaxing. I contributed bread sauce, cranberry sauce, brandy butter, smoked salmon and of course, some wine. I had to make the bread before I could make the bread sauce or we would have had glue.
This is Roland on Christmas day.
Our hostess and daughter
We also managed a few walks to help ward off obesity.
It has been interesting to see if I can do my normal Christmas cooking here. Well I've done my best, but some of the vital ingredients are not to be had. Not round here, anyway. I've made my usual hefty, very rich Christmas cake. A variation on it, that is. The only dried fruit you seem to be able to get here are raisins, raisins and raisins. They do have cranberries that have been practically obliterated by processing and sugar and blueberries. They don't have sultanas or currants. What a strange country! So my cake this year is a weird and wonderful mix of raisins- of various varieties. I'm pretending the golden ones are sultanas. Cranberries, blueberries, homemade peel and cherries. It looks good but is yet to be tasted. They don't do ground almonds, so I've made that from scratch. So the almond paste on top of the cake will have a slightly crunchy texture-(not very efficient american food processor).
They don't do suet, so my mincemeat is suet free, which I know some people prefer, but you lose that wonderful richness. I've tried to make mince pies in muffin tins. Not very successful, they are far too deep and the pies fall apart trying to get them out. You cannot buy mince pies. They also don't do Christmas puddings. Our hosts have brought one from England, otherwise I would have made one.
The traditions round here seem to come from Germany and Scandinavia. Rich fruit breads, Christmas biscuits, spicey, iced and decorated.
They also do what I think of as a purely american tradition, homemade candy. Tons of the stuff. It often features peanuts, combined with chocolate or in teeth shattering brittle stuff, none of which I'm very keen on. We take our own traditions for granted I suppose. As all my friends know, I like British Christmases and they are definitely the best!!!!!
As the east coast gets obliterated by a snowstorms and California is being drowned, we are getting rising temperatures. This friday it will be in the mid 50's, but we will be in New Orleans- hooray. I'm beginning to get Fulton cabin fever and need to get out to feel human again. This also may be my one chance to wear something other than casual. All my slightly smart clothes have remained unused in the cupboard. My extensive range of jewellery is lying unloved in the drawer. Dressing up is just not done except in exceptional circumstances. New Years Eve is my chance to wear a dress!
Have managed to part Roland from his jeans long enough to wash them. He has become permanently attached to them. We have the Rough Guide to New Orleans and are set to go.
Happy New Year.
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