Christmas canape party in Broadway, Worcestershire 18th December
It never feels like Christmas till I have done this canape party. They really go to town on their decorations -I love it!
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| Christmas canapes in Broadway. This couple live a few doors down from where I started my business 8 years ago - I have been catering for their Christmas canape party every year since. They like the more traditional style - stick with what you know! On this day we had already done a Christmas lunch buffet, then after setting this up it was off to cook another dinner party - busy day! |
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| Beef and caramelised onion roulade with horseradish on parmesan shortbread Smoked salmon blinis - classic! Blue cheese cheesecakes - new improved recipe much better! Spinach, cream cheese and smoked trout roulade |
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| ..and pastrami, gruyere and gherkin on rye bread. |
Staff party for a well known fashion designer based nearby.
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| Mohito's by The Bartender |
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Homemade Sausage Rolls with Sage
Yorkshire Pudding with Roast Beef and Horseradish
Cranberry and Brie Filo Tarts
Homemade Mini Beef Burgers
Potato Wedges with Chive and Onion Dip
Vegetable Sushi Rolls with Wasabi and Soy Sauce
Tomato and Mozzarella Mini Pizzas
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All made fresh on the day from 5am.
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| Boom boom shake the room! |
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| Three generations of the family got together near Stratford on Avon and as it was 4 days before Christmas we cooked up a traditional Christmas dinner - so they could all enjoy the occasion together. |
Loved this house near Malvern!
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| It's called Brook House for a reason. So peaceful - great place to spend Christmas |
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| Saffron poached sea bream with cauliflower. |
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| Poached salmon fillet with coriander puree, beetroot and quail eggs. One of the guests didn't like fish. Or so she thought before that day - she loved this.... simple is often best. |
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| Crab and mango salad Prawns in cocktail sauce Potato salad There were also rollmops as another dish |
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| Then just as I was plating this up the heaviest hail ever fell outside. Nice. |
Clever people at this event! We had cooked at this house on Christmas Day 2010. This time the family we had cooked for then had swapped houses for the Christmas holidays with a family in Australia! Christmas down under. This birthday was for the incoming family which brought together family from 3 different countries. I was cooking and serving that one on my own - no time for food pics.....
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| The owners have a great sense of humour. |
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| Love the aga there. Looks like we might be back there in a few weeks. |
Among all the Christmas lunch deliveries to Burford, Stow on the Wold and Chipping Campden areas was this.....
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| Gluten free Christmas pudding. The gluten free Christmas pudding request had come in quite late - so it went on when I got back from the Sunday lunch party. Used this recipe with a few variations. 8 hours steaming - so it was done by 4am....... |
Christmas Day Wednesday 25th December
4:15 am and it's go go go in the kitchen! Events to organise and some step by step instructions to email to the host of one of the Christmas lunch deliveries the night before. Then it was off to Southrop Manor.
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| Had the entire run of the cookery school kitchen to myself. Only problem - the more space you have the more space you have to clean! Fell in love with their Wolf oven ranges - the best I've used in years..... maybe ever! |
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| Such a stunning venue! Airy and spacious. |
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| Kitchen with a view! You look out on to the courtyard knot garden full of fresh herbs which I cut to use in the Christmas lunch for 32 guests. |
"I thought we'd got for something completely different after a traditional Christmas Day" said the the hosts son. The host himself was en route to hospital in Banbury when we arrived after slipping on the wet decking outside. What a way to spend a birthday. Gave us a bit more time to get ready, and everyone was sure ready to eat once they got back.
Served family style on large platters for guests to share. These pan asian events are my favourite to cook - it's the flavours!
Homemade Asian Milk Bread Rolls
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Crispy Spring Rolls
Selection of Satay;
chicken, pork and duck
Salt and pepper stir fried squid - simple and tasty; it all disappeared
Asian Crab Cakes
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Roast
duck with Pomegranate and Chilli Sauce
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| Marinaded overnight and roasted on the bone, then carved into portions |
Malaysian
Lamb Rendang
Blackened
Cod
served
with;
Tom
Yum Fried Rice
Yaki
Soba Vegetable Stir Fried Noodles
Mixed
Bean Salad
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Apple Wontons
Mango Sorbet
Lychee and Pomegranate Panna Cotta
Phew - after all that it was time for a morning off. Then back to the kitchen for the clear up operation and to get ready for the next event the following day.
The Sunday it was time to get moving on New Year's Eve preparations.
Monday - a wedding meeting and a delivery dinner party to someone testing out our food before booking our services for his birthday party which we did a couple of weeks afterwards.
New Year's Eve Tuesday 31st December
After a couple of delivery menus and setting up another event near Tetbury it was off to Winchester.
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| Complete with ski hats/ ear muffs 'Gone skiing' plaque in the background |
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| Skis on the table - the finishing touch...... |
"Woosh!"
That was the sound of Christmas and New Year rushing past.....
