Festive food & Baking

What are you guys doing for Christmas? We're going to some friends of mine in Stafford, which means we don't actually have to do much, we've made some Christmas puddings, well, Pete has made some - using the ever reliable Good Housekeeping and the slow cooker to great effect, and bar picking up a bottle of wine or two then we don't need to think about everything else for the main event. Well, Pete has to make his favourite veggie substitute - a cheese and lentil loaf - but that's it.

I've planned Christmas morning, panettone and fizz for a change. We'll have to remember not to recreate the year we spent on our own and consumed so much alcohol we fell asleep of the sofa by 8pm. Although that was fun...

So, for a festival the has so much to do with food we're at a little bit of a loss as to what to plan and eat. We're good for veg, since our Christmas delivery arrived yesterday, and we'll be skipping around pubs tonight, so no chance to recreate last years epic raclette, but then maybe that would work well for boxing day now Pete's not in work.

Any other ideas for exciting things to cook and bake over the festive period...

I've already made Mince Pies & a Cake. I might make biscuits today - Jess is coming around later for coffee and presents swapping....

I've gone back to 'Domestic Goddess' for both the spiced sponge cake and the mince pie pastry recipe - so I can blame Nigella and my slightly rubbish oven if they don't work....