If there is one thing I can say about Festive Food and the Big Holiday it is this:
It doesn't not matter what you serve at your table , but whom you gather around it with that counts.
It's absolutely true. Just look at the photo above . Are those smiles false? Absolutely Not !
But look at what is on the table they surround . Simple cheese , meat , bread and in the Pumpkin was once a portion of homemade soup that has happily already been scoffed.
Nothing to the level of Linda49s photo of her buffet feast that she posted yesterday , and I encourage you to go and view it too as it is a display what amazing stuff you can do when you pace yourself.
"It's fine!" , you may say , and it was , but it certainly wasn't the food planned for that occasion two years ago. This was New Year's Day , a Roast Duck with all the trimmings and a handmade almond pastry were the foods originally promised to my Festive Feasters.
Yet , symptoms of my other Chronic Health issues had chosen to raise their nasty heads on of all days Christmas Eve . Aching Joints , A UTI , Stomach bloating at every mouthful of food , and the Crown on the Painful Party Pooper , the Deathly Fatigue. Although things had begun to improve by New Year's Day , catering was definitely not going to be on the list. I feared that I would have to cancel , but then remembered whom I had invited . Closest Family and Easy going Friends .
I rang and announced the changes , that our events would now be very quiet and low key , and , that the usual Homemade Banquet was now a distant memory of planning that had occurred before my Body decided to betray me. I offered that I would not be offended if they chose to go to another Open House instead ( a little of me hoped that would be done) . Their answer was a definitive , " No!"
They didn't care what they did , they didn't care what they ate ( they did double check that the Bar was well stocked!😋) , they just wanted to spend the time with Us no matter what we did.
They offered to do the food too . But instead we chose not to slave in the kitchen that day but just raid the fridge for buffet bits and leftovers instead. Everybody else prepped vegetables for my soup , set up our table , made drinks , nipped to the corner shop if required . Beat each other up with spoons , the usual madness. Basically , we all mucked in.
The food was fine , the company glorious . The lack of Anxiety caused by taking the pressure off myself to perform meant I could even take part in a Game of Spronkers.
We listened to music , sang ( some quite loudly after copious Gins!) Played more Games , and finally collapsed into beds not because of Fatigue but because we'd had a jolly good yet relaxing time.
The duck was prepared the following day , served up with a plate of chips , much as the Turkey had been on Christmas Day , because fitting in Preparing a Roast and a few hours in A and E seemed rather silly in the greater scheme of things.
At first I felt a little guilty but that feeling soon left me , when I realised that nobody whom really cares ; really cares , about the trappings and the tinsel , no matter how used to these they may be. People whom love you just Care about being with You no matter what they do ; even if the feast on the table is a Can of Beans.
If you aren't feeling up to the task of doing a Heston Blumenthal or Jamie Oliver this year just like me , just let others take you as they find you , even if you are serving up burnt offering in your favourite Pyjama top and pants ( which can always be hidden under a Christmas Jumper anyway) . If they are prepared to help and know about the changes they really don't care , because they are just Happy that you are there!
Some last minute tips you can do are :
Put on a Pot Luck Party for the first time with everyone bringing food instead of trying to cook a meal alone. PMRCanada told the tale of her own in the replies on Day 1 , you will see that when you try this once it becomes a Tradition that is there to stay.
If planning a roast but suffering , prepare bits of your meal slowly over the next few days and leave in the fridge , including Vegetables , even Gravy . A job every now and then will be a lot easier than trying to do everything in a few hours on one day. Done this way , it's only the cooking left for Christmas Day.
Use foil roasting trays , especially if you are on your own , or the Care Giver for someone else with a Severe Condition too. Not environmental , I know, but sometimes a necessity , plus it means less washing up if you must do the Lot.
Have Dinner later in the day , after the Queen not before , and have nibbles and fruit about to stave off hunger pangs of your guests until you choose to eat. Guests can also arrive later if you do this giving you a quiet morning in which to get your bearings.
Don't set a specific Deadline for serving Dinner , have people arrive by a time, but ready to eat when it arrives. The Stress of trying to sit down " on time" is often the thing that forces you to push yourself in a way you will regret later , and it really isn't necessary.
Get others to lay the table , be sous chefs , be bartenders , and do all the clearing of the table and washing up while you have a Post Dinner Nap with the Cat. If there are only two of you , none of that matters , do everything in your own time and just enjoy each others company.
If you haven't bought food yet or got things from your Freezer , think about how you feel now and buy or prepare what you can cope with and actually enjoy . Don't eat Traditional food just because that's what you do , eat what you love instead. . The Turkey in the Freezer can always do for Easter , or maybe you will feel better in Summer , you could have Christmas Day in June!!!
In essence , it may not be what you planned but it can still be a Perfect Christmas , and most importantly , Pain and Stress Free too.
Merry Munching Troops , hugs and shop bought morsels, Aunty Bee xxx
