Here’s the plan for Christmas…
There will be mini fruit and nut cakes…
Almond rochers and a new hazelnut praline truffle (with a smooth cream and chocolate ganache centre, surrounded by dark praline chocolate)…
Christmas rocky road, filled with cranberries, marshmallows, macadamia nuts and Crispearls. I’m hoping to get a chance to temper more chocolate in the coming week…
Our spiced mixed nuts are a Christmas staple. We make them every year and they’re always popular! This year’s mix includes hazelnuts, pecans, brazil nuts, walnuts, almonds and macadamias. I’ve seasoned them with molasses sugar, Maldon salt, cumin, smoked paprika and Kashmiri chilli powder…
The nuts have been packaged in heat-sealed bags. Each of the Ikea Santa bags (top photo) will be filled with a bag of nuts, a slab of rocky road, a mini fruit and nut cake, and an assortment of chocolates.
In addition, a few bags of nuts have been wrapped with Turkish bowls as a special gift…
Rochester Ginger is Pete’s favourite (non-alcoholic) tipple, so I took advantage of importer Indigo Green’s very special email offer of a 20% discount plus free delivery. They were kind enough to wrap six of the bottles for me for gifting…
I’ve “made” a few Turkish tile trivets as gifts…
…they’ve been double wrapped in gorgeous Costco tissue paper…
Christmas feasting will involve quince jelly glazed hams…
…and jammy dodgers (the dough is made and tucked away in the freezer)…
So…that’s the plan thus far. There are still Christmas day accompaniments to think about, dishes to cook for the street Christmas parties, more baking to do and definitely more chocolate to temper!
Tell me, how are your Christmas preparations going? I’d love to know what your plans are! What will you be eating on the big day? And have you been buying or making any interesting gifts?
PS. It’s a very busy time of year – please excuse me if I haven’t popped by your blog for a while, or responded to comments. Hopefully I’ll be able to catch up on it all in January!
Linking up with lovely Jason’s Christmas Traditions!
(Don’t Boil the Sauce)
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Scrumptiousness from beginning to end! Season’s eatings to you, love xox
Oh, PS, it’s a quiet one for us this year… but we have a ham, which I’ll glaze with my special recipe; retro prawn cocktails; sour peach salad; salmon with mango and chilli salsa; brown sugar pavlova and cherries galore!
Prawn cocktails! I love them, but I can’t see myself going near any place that sells prawns in the next week! Have a glorious one, dear friend! xx
In my heart I am as organised as you Celia. In reality, I cannot believe Christmas is next week. I usually make gifts but after a really busy year that has gone by the wayside, so with only a few of us for Christmas this year we are off to a restaurant. I don’t even have to cook :) Love those Santa bags. I wish you and yours all the joy of the season.
Tania, we can only do what we can do, right? Some years it works well, other years, it’s just all too much, but that’s ok too. Restaurant Christmas dinner sounds like a divine idea! Have a wonderful Christmas! xx
Hello there Celia, your Christmas looks totally delicious already. Homemade is best isn’t it? I have made hundreds of mini gingerbread men and a few batches of fruit mince pies so far. On the weekend I am attempting homemade honeycomb to give as gifts too.
For the first time ever in my life we are eating ‘out’ at a local restaurant for Christmas lunch. A way for bringing my family together on neutral territory! As much as I love Christmas cooking I am looking forward to an easy day with no cleaning up. It will leave more time to concentrate on the kids and family. Merry Christmas my friend, I wish you a wonderful day! xx
Jane, it DOES sound wonderful not to have mess to clean up on Christmas day! And I’m sure Boxing Day at home with just hubby and the kids will be glorious.. :) Have a wonderful festive, blessed Christmas, dearheart. xx
Have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends, Celia. It all looks amazing already!
We are having dinner at home on Christmas Eve – prawn cocktails (for the 15 yr old – he missed them first time around!); slow roasted pork with pineapple and chilli salsa, salad and the veges from the garden; and finally plum pudding. Might be a few tipples as well.
On Christmas Day we will travel to the MIL’s for lunch and then my family’s place for dinner! With all this extravagance, I have decided not to do too much in the way of baking sweet treats etc (as much as I love them!) – we simply don’t need it. We will have a ham though so it can hang around for weeks on end while I find ways to creatively use it up!
Prawn cocktails! You’re the second person to mention those, Bronwyn! Now I’m starting to crave them! :) It’s always nice at this time of year to anticipate all that lovely ham, isn’t it? Have a fabulous festive season and a great Christmas! xx
G’day Celia! i think this a beautiful plan indeed, true!
Enjoy the day and most importantly each other! Merry Christmas to you and your family too!
Cheers! Joanne
Thanks lovely! Lorraine told me you’d sent a gift for me – that was SO kind of you, Jo, thank you for thinking of me! Hope your Christmas is merry and bright! xx
It sounds like you’re very organised. I love the look of your fruit and nut cakes. I usually make something similar but haven’t so far this Christmas. Your ham looks amazing and yes, you have the most wonderful glaze for it xx
Charlie, thank you, I went into the pantry to count how many jars of quince jelly we have left. Still a few to go, so all good! :) xx
I’m surprisingly organised this year. All I have left to do is make some chocolate and some peanut brittle for my dad and a pasta salad for Christmas Day.
I’ve made a spiced salt and sweet chili sauce for hampers and already have my chocolate cake for Christmas day in the freezer.
Actually I still have to make scrolls for Christmas morning.
I always love seeing your hamper contents every year!
Claire, you ARE organised, good for you! It all sounds delicious! Think I’ll make sausage rolls today for the street party! :)
We haven’t given much thought to Christmas. We’ll be seeing my mother-in-law in the dementia unit at the new aged care home we put her in yesterday. They’ve asked us not to contact her for a week so are we expecting an exciting Christmas? LOL no. :)
While we’ll eat with her I’ll have a big dinner on Christmas night. Ham, Mooloolaba prawns and all the fixings.
Maureen, that’s a tough time for you, I hope it’s not too upsetting. We had to put Pete’s mum into a nursing home as well, and it was brutal (she passed away a couple of years ago). Everyone’s having prawns this year! I can’t bear the thought of fronting up to the fish markets! :)
How wonderful it all looks Celia, and what gorgeous gifts! I have Christmas rocky road made with cranberries too & Christmas granola in the oven (having a coffee break to enjoy this) otherwise suddenly feeling I have lots to do & more than a little envious of your organisation!
Andrea, don’t be envious, this year we managed to be organised a bit early, but last year we just didn’t have time to do much, as I wrote about here: https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2012/12/12/getting-ready-for-christmas/
It doesn’t matter though, Christmas is always glorious regardless of how busy we are! :) Your rocky road and granola sound fabulous! xx
Wow what a plan – I’m off to make some of those nuts now! Happy Chrstmas to you and yours :)
Chica, I hope you like them! They’re very popular here, I usually end up making two kilos every Christmas!
Great plan! I’ve been making all sorts of things for gifts, hopefully today I can start baking cookies, the cut out frosted kind.
Pam, I’ve been seeing the most wonderful things coming up from you in my email reader, I’m sorry I haven’t had time to sit down for a proper read. Really want to check out your lip balm!
When you have time to make it, I’m sure you’ll love it! I’m loving your Christmas Plan too!
Cheers!
We start our food shopping expedition on Thursday with a trip to Costco. I’ve already bought the ham, and it’s sitting in the fridge ready to be baked (and, no, my fridge doesn’t double as an oven; I’m just being lazy with language). And Peder still can’t think of anything he wants for Christmas, and everything that I suggest he says, “Nooooo, I don’t think so.” If he keeps this up, I’m apt to buy him a dress that I saw the other day that I really liked. Since he won’t wear it, I’ll offer to take it off his hands. :)
Oh, I’m sure he’d look lovely in a dress! :) Sound like you’re having a good lead up to Christmas, Misky! xx
Just Phil and I this year, pretty low key. Probably a standing rib roast or a leg of lamb plus a simple side dish.
Alex, the youngest stepson is with us until the 23rd, so we are making some dinners that he likes, but for the most part simple stuff, and no desserts, he is not a big eater.
Sally, just the two of you, that’s romantic! :) Lamb sounds like a wonderful idea, but too hot here for a long slow roast on Christmas day.. xx
I’m so impressed you have a plan.
So far I’ve made some cookies, built a gingerbread house, gotten together some gifts and finally am putting up the tree today.
I have to make bread for family gatherings, finish up wrapping and decide what I’m giving the neighbors. I have mini and large fruitcakes much like yours- I think I will make cinnamon rolls for the neighbors and be done with it.
For dinner, Luke is bringing a beef roast- I have some beautiful veg to roast with it- fluffy mashed potatoes, lovely green salad, and fresh rolls.
We get to keep the grandkids for the whole holiday season whilst their parents go to a coffee plantation in Nicaragua so my focus is more on that time together.
Heidi, best Christmas gift of all if you get the grandkids! :) I’ve barely done any baking at all, must get cracking. And I think I’d love to get cinnamon rolls from a neighbour! xx
I will be in Finnish Lapland for Christmas. I think I am assured of a white Christmas. I have no idea what we will be eating, but I’m sure it will be interesting.
Debra, maybe it will be reindeer! That’s Christmassy.. ;-) xx
I made your spiced nuts this morning, I know they will be enjoyed in our house over Christmas! Thank you. Celia, for all your informative and entertaining articles, I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas. xxx
Jeannette, that’s wonderful, thanks for letting me know! All the best for a happy and enjoyable Christmas! xx
I made oats cookies; banana bread ; carrot cake muffins and mini chocolate cakes. Everything for little paper bags that i usually give to my kids. I want all of them having something yummy for Christmas breakfasts.
here in argentina we gather on Christmas eve for dinner. And i ‘m going to prepare a “carre ” (pork ribs without the ribs….? Name??) And salads. Desserts….a triffle, cheese cake and nuts, figs, dates etc.
Ale, your first Christmas with your new grandbaby! I’m sure it will be absolutely wonderful! All your Christmas Eve food sounds amazing! Best wishes for a happy and joyous Christmas! xx
You’re so organized Celia, and surrounded by scrumptiousness! We’ll be having roast lamb, roast Turkey, roast pork belly with heaps of crackle, roast chicken, duck fat potatoes, potato bake, baby carrots, greens, ham, and smoked leg of lamb too. Then there’s dessert! And this is just for the four of us!!!
I’m pretty organized, the presents are all done, the fridge is stocked, so just some fun extra baking to go and a birthday cake to make for Sunday. Xox
Wow Becca, we’re organised this year, but not nearly as organised as you are! Sounds like you’ve got it completely sorted, good for you! Hope the lead in to the big day is happy and stress-free for you! xx
So far this plan looks wonderful. I love the idea of the gift wrapped nuts for gifts – they look so beautiful in that paper. Also the tiles are a great idea. Can’t wait to see what else you come up with Celia, but I’m betting it will put me to shame.
Di, you KNOW that was never the intention. :) I just need to get things down in writing, so I can think straight. Have made milk hazelnut truffles and milk rocky road this morning. What will you be eating on Christmas Day? :)
You know I haven’t got a plan yet but the main course will probably be prime rib roast, then some sides. I think we’ll be having people stop by later in the day so most of my efforts will probably be in the area of interesting grazing food. I still have plenty of shopping to do & until I get it done I find it so hard to focus on the rest. I’ll get there & I think I’ll take a hint from you & start making lists.
I can’t function at this time of year without lists! :) It will be so much fun whipping all your goodies up in your new kitchen! xx
It will be that but right now I’m going like crazy trying to paint – when we had the ceiling done the plaster guy made quite a mess & I didn’t realize that all along the ceiling & wall was chunky plaster mess. 2 days of dragging a wet rag over that then scraping plaster. At least I got that areas primed & will just go over w/the current color. I thought of repainting but frankly not right now – I like the color well enough & would love to move on to Christmas.
Each and every delight you offer to your friends and family is beautiful and very special! I l really love the look of the mini fruit and nut cakes! Everything is so perfectly prepared to be a visual gift as well as tasty. I have done a little baking, but nothing like all of this. You really inspire me. And I wish I lived closer…I’d be right over. :-)
Ah, you’re very kind, thank you! :) Hope you get more time to bake – I love doing that at Christmas, but it’s been so hot here that I haven’t been keen to turn the oven on much! :)
Excellent Christmas plan and gifts. It sounds weird but I am pretty much done. All the extended family gifts are delivered. I baked and baked butter biscuits for a fundraiser, leftovers to go to the MIL- we cannot even think about eating them.
I have bit of packing to do, and once we head up north some food shopping. Christmas Day will be be just the G.O. and me eating at home in between going out visiting and to the beach so it will be simple ham, chicken, salads and yes, us too, prawn cocktails if there are any prawns left from Christmas Eve dinner. I’m making deconstructed trifle again for sweets but this year bought a Pandoro from Salts Meats Cheese and will make jelly and custard :)
Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas :)
Prawn cocktails! You’re all Tom Sawyering me into them! :) I actually have a bag of frozen sustainable peeled Aussie prawns in the freezer, so I *could* do a prawn cocktail, I’d just have to cook them! :) Thanks again for encouraging me to buy Beth’s fabulous chicken, ED, I’m so glad I found a place to buy them nearby. Deconstructed trifle sounds superb. And you, my friend, sound calm and relaxed, which is wonderful! Hope you and the G.O. have a glorious and happy Christmas! xx
Love your christmas preparations – so many good things – I really like the sound of your spiced nuts We have made iced gingerbread biscuits that I meant to give out yesterday and forgot so we are giving them out today when it is a scorcher so I have visions of them dripping in icing – hopefully they will still taste good. Have a few other ideas for presents but need to see how I feel when it comes to wrapping
Jo, it’s been hot up here as well – I had to temper chocolate in the living room with the aircon on today! Wrapping is always such a big part – I do love it, but I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time each year trying to figure out how to package things.. :) Have a wonderful week!
Oh it does sound like a wondrous and traditional Yule at your place ~ have a great time and may that be the beginning of a successful and happy year ~ thank you so much for sharing this one with us!! . . . such great fun and so much knowledge! Personally not a traditionalist and more than half way to being a Buddhist . . .thus lovely peace and ‘recuperation’ until it all catches up with one in the New Year!!
Thanks Eha! Have a wonderful festive December!
Oh, forgot to say I am heartedly envious of Debra K :) !
With all the special things that you do in any given week, Celia, it’s hard to imagine you doing much more for Christmas but here you are, outdoing even yourself. These preparations are all fantastic and the stuff of which warm Christmas memories are made. I hope you and the men in your life have the most wonderful of holidays.
John, you are a terrific friend, and I hope your Christmas is merry and bright and not too cold and full of glorious and spectacular food! Lots of love to you! xx
We’re hosting lunch at our place this year, for the immediate family only, all 40 something of them :) lamb spit, lots of wine and joy. I have all my fingers and toes crossed that the weather will be fine otherwise we’re stuffed! Stressing out just thinking of that!
You’ve done so much Celia, and the recipients are certainly lucky to be getting such delicious goodies :) Have a most Merry Christmas xx
Lisa, no chance of rain I think, I just looked at the forecast, and it’ll be 35 – 40+ next few days! Sounds like a fabulous day planned, enjoy! All the best for a very happy Christmas!
Have a wonderful Christmas dear Celia… These are all so beautiful. Thank you, love, nia
Nia, all the very best to you and your family for a wonderful Christmas too! Much love xx
That all looks fabulous Celia. I too did your spiced nuts yesterday. 10 batches of shortbread have been done and I’m hoping Mum brings some for Christmas Day because all of the left overs have been eaten. Wednesday will be a cold lunch sitting around the pool.
I’m so glad you tried them, thanks Jo! It’s looking like being a scorcher here next few days – hope you’re not too warm up there! Have a fabulous Chrissie! xx
Loved reading this Celia – it aligned me in towards Christmas and good cheer. Those truffles, those… all of it (!) looks amazing.
I am completely unprepared for anyone and I don’t think that will change in coming days, aside from offering a cake from the wood oven and I’m planning to save abit of fruit soak for more fruit mince tarts (do they ever end!) once I disembark from a 12hr Christmas Eve drive.
Best wishes to all for a great Christmas. Thank you as always
Hello dear friend, we were just talking about you the other day and wondering how you were going! Do take care, that’s a long drive! I hope it’s been a glorious year, and Christmas is very merry and bright for you! xx
Hehe we’ll be right over! ;) With a menu that tempting I wouldn’t be surprised if people just try and pop in!
It’s a hectic time! I’m off to buy ingredients for your sausage wellington this morning! :) xx
Sounds like a delicious plan!
Have a wonderful Christmas Celia :-)
Thanks Sandy! All the best to you and your family for a very merry one too! :)
oh Celia, your gift bags sound delicious. I have made rosemary and apple cordial, mustard, some salt hand scrub, mint sauce, gourmet style fetta, and camembert with cranberries in it. It is so much fun making things for others to enjoy.
Have a joyous and safe Christmas.
Liisa, the cordial sounds delish, and the camembert sounds intriguing!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you as well! :)
What all the wonderful goodies you have prepared, I think all your friends will be stopping by for Christmas and not wanting to leave.
Karen, thank you! It’s a frantic time of year, but great fun, although tempering chocolate when it’s 37C outside is a bit tricky (as I’m sure you’d know!). All the best for a wonderful Christmas, it’s been a joy going traveling with you this year, thank you! :) xx
I’m coming a bit late to this post, but I just wanted to wish you and your family a great Christmas! If your preparations so far are anything to go by, no-one will be going hungry. ;)
Looks amazing and delish!
I’ve been one a baking binge. Buttermilk bread, Sweet rolls, Christmas cookies, raspberry tart, apple pie… Santa was very nice to me this year and gave me a new Cuisinart food processor. My old one didn’t have to have chopsticks to turn it on but was held together by layers of superglue and poofed out flour and leaked like something from Willie Wonka’s factory. So happy. Maz.
Celia, you make such beautiful confections and I’m wishing you “sweet” rest — no need to reply — take a break, girl! It was fun seeing your Plan among Jason’s “traditions” link up. (I’m just catching up on reading and enjoying one last glimpse of this special time of year.) Most notable “new” tradition at our house: Plum Pudding. Let’s just say it warmed our hearts. ;) Happy New Year!