Christmas Recap and a giveaway
Well Christmas has come and gone, I hope you all had a fabulous day filled with lots of love. I spent the holiday entertaining my mom who’s here from New York City, my in-laws as well as friends. It was a wonderful day filled with laughter and lots of food.
I started preparing for Christmas day from Thursday. I set my table by using garland, candles and various ornaments I purchased at Walmart. I mixed the old with the new by using my old dishes and some ornaments I’ve already had. I loved the way in it turned out and I didn’t spend much. Walmart offers low prices, every day on top brands for all holiday essentials – from holiday meal favorites to must-have gifts and festive décor. Thanks to Walmart for sponsoring my holiday table.
After my table was set, I focused on the food. I decided I wanted to not only make dishes that were tasty, but also very simple to prepare. I prepped my ingredients on Christmas Eve day as to make it easier and less time consuming. On Christmas Day I was able to cook the entire meal in 4 hours!! I believe in doing what you can ahead of time, so that you have the day to sit and mingle with your guests and not be exhausted. I had my traditional Guyanese Christmas breakfast of pepperpot and bread, I skipped the garlic pork this year. After breakfast, with a glass of sangria in hand, I started preparing my Christmas meal. Just in case I hadn’t finished before guests arrived I had candy, nuts and hummus with pita bread to tide them over until the main course was ready. Luckily I was done before the first guest arrived. I was pleased with how it all turned out and received rave reviews from the guests. *Pats myself on the back*
Since it’s the season for giving, I will be giving away a $15 Walmart gift card to one lucky reader…there may even be an added surprise. To enter, simply answer the following question in the comments section:
How did you spend your Christmas Day?
One entry per person please. Winner will be announced on Friday 30th. Sorry but this is open to US residents only.
Christmas Menu
Roast Leg of Lamb with Fig Balsamic Sauce
Roasted Salmon with Lemon Herb Compound Butter
Burgundy Mushrooms
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Corn Soufflee
Persian Jeweled Rice
Zucchini stuffed with Feta and Walnuts
Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream and Homemade Caramel
White Sangria with Apples and Pears
Gingerbeer
Guyanese Black Cake
Carrot Cake
The Spread
Corn Souflee
Persian Jeweled Rice
Roast Lamb, Burgundy Mushrooms, Roasted Potatoes and Balsamic Fig Sauce
Zucchini stuffed with feta and walnuts
I spent the day with hubbo and his friends from work at a party. So much food!
We spent the day at home. The kids played with their new gifts, hubby and I cooked, and I had to look after my 2 year old who was sick with a fever.
Mmmmmmm…………
Beautiful table and the menu sounds mouthwatering.
The food looks delish…table looks lovely!
I spent christmas at home with mom. Made some meatpies and chin chin.
I spent Christmas with my husband’s family
thanks
Woke up early like a kid, I’m still a kid at heart. Myself, hubby, brother and father in law had pepperpot and homemade bread for breakfast. Then we opened our gifts and took lots of photos, my father in law is 80 years old so we treasure every moment we have with him. I enjoyed spending Christmas with my brother, we have not spent Christmas together for 6 years, brought back many memories of childhood with our late beloved mother.
We relaxed, then my husband made dinner which was cornish hens, corn pudding and a few other goodies.
That menu sounds superb! It was a lazy day for us. We did much of nothing.
I began Christmas Day a hot cup of English Breakfast Blend tea. Reheat the Pepperpot and bread I made the day before for breakfast with my hubby, son, daughter and mom and dad. After which we open the presents from Santa, families and friends. Then, onto the the Christmas Dinner–roast chicken, garlic pork and herb butter turkey breast, creamy mash potato with caramelized onions, praline sweet potato, string beans with mushrooms and garlic, roasted brussel sprouts. Dessert consisted of fruit cake, sponge cake, assorted homemade cookies and ginger beer. Appetizers were hot artichoke and spinach dip with toasted french bread and vanilla dark and stormy cocktail. Like you, I did it in about 31/2 hrs with my sisters helping and my mother just chatting along with us. As usual, it was a very enjoyable and joyous day for all of us.
Wow Kamla!!! Sounds like you had an awesome day!
I spent the day at my friend Patricia’s parent’s house. My family is 1000+ miles away so I had no one to celebrate with. They made me feel very welcome and even gave me gifts (including 2 vegetarian cook books – yay!).
Your table looks simply beautiful and your food delish!
To answer your question… I spent the day with my family. A few hours were spent in the kitchen cooking and baking. Lunch was served at 2pm so there was enough time to mingle and play games. We even caught a few Christmas movies on the hallmark channel. It was a special Christmas.
Hope you had a great holiday! Your table and food looked amazing! As for your question about my Christmas. The week before my husband came home from army boot camp to spend Christmas with me and our son. We had a nice quiet dinner with my parents and my sister. And my parents bought us a keurig coffee maker. Of course the best present of all was just having him home! Hope you have a happy new year and thanks for all the wonderful recipes!
That sounds wonderful Justine. Thank you for visiting and for you support. I love reading all of your comments. Sound like you all had a wonderful day!
Your table looks beautiful and the food sounds so good. I haven’t had lunch yet, so it’s making me hungry.
On Christmas, we were woken by my 5-year old daughter bright and early. She then went to wake her 3-year old sister. They could not contain their excitement looking at all the gifts under the Christmas tree from Santa, mommy & daddy and family. It was also a special Christmas because it was Baby’s First Christmas for our 9 week old son. Of course the girls enjoyed opening all his gifts too. After all the gift opening and breakfast (reindeer pancakes for the kids), I started on lunch. My brother in law, sister in law and nephew were coming for a few hours from Orlando. I made a Herb-roasted Chicken, mac and mozzerella cheese with green/red peppers and asparagus. I wanted to do something simple, so I could be done before the got here, so I could spend time with them before they left. When they were here, it was a gift opening session again. Later in the evening, we went to my brother’s house for Christmas dinner with his family, my parents, and 2 sisters and their family. I love family get togethers. Though missed my other 2 sisters and their family who are in NYC.
Sorry if this got too long, I tend to write a lot!
Oh I forgot to mention my mom’s black cake. Can’t have Christmas without black cake 🙂
Your Christmas dinner looks amazing Jehan!! Our family started Christmas with the classic Guyanese tradition of Pepperpot for breakfast. We suprised a few relatives by showing up singing carols and bringing gifts. We spent most of the day eating food and making memories with family.
Hi Jehan, I just recently stumbled upon your blog while looking for A Black Cake recipe.I noted quite a few recipes I would like to try.
You table setting is simply elegant ..just right…and the menu is is so varied and beautifully displayed…everything looks scrumptiously delicious.
I work in healthcare and I so I had to work a 12 hour shift in a busy pediatric unit. Santa did come by,which was nice.We each brought a dish to share and to be honest,at the end of the day it was actually full filling.
I miss our Guyanese Xmas …especially the cake and pepperpot.
Happy New Year!
Sandy
Our daughter spent the night… we opened presents together then did some dinner prep. Her fiance came over and we picked up my mom and dad and brought them over. Lunch was around 1:00. The rest of the day was spent relaxing!
Can you PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEE make Chinese black bean cake that we have in Guyana 😐 “chinie cake”–that’s its name according to my mom
Hi Rae, I’m sorry, I don’t have a recipe for that but will definitely research it since it’s being requested over and over.
http://www.guyanaoutpost.com/recipes/recipes-c.shtml#Chinese Black Bean Cake —thats the recipe pleaseeee!!!