So what are you all having?
We have smoked goose breast with baked potatoes and braised red cabbage on Christmas Eve (I've got a nice Cote du Rhone lined up to go with it) and on the day itself we will start with champagne and smoked salmon (we've got neighbours coming in for that bit so I bought a Magnum, as it was reduced it was cheaper than two bottles) followed by a pheasant stuffed with a partridge stuffed with rabbit, they are all de-boned so carving is a joy (Claret to go with that, I've been saving a 1998 Margaux). There'll be roast potatoes, carrot & parsnip purée with green peppercorns, brussel sprouts, fried breadcrumbs and a light gravy. Christmas pudding to follow with a glass of Marsala. Later there'll be Christmas cake with a glass of dry olorosa sherry and later still Stilton with walnuts and apples and a glass of Port. Rum, chilli and basil truffles with sloe gin (all home made) to see us into bed.
Boxing day we'll have a piece of boiled bacon with onion sauce, and plain boiled veg and on Tuesday we've got family coming so we're having a piece of roast Pork with fried apple and onion rings.