Thursday - Boxing Day

Good morning!  It's pretty chilly outside and we have a bit of a frost but the temperature is due to rise fairly soon and the day is supposed to be wet and dull, unlike yesterday.  Wasn't it a beautiful day yesterday, all sunshine and clear, blue skies.

Christmas dinner isn't usually a challenge in terms of cooking but it is a bit of an organisational challenge so I have my little list of Times In, Times Out and Other Things to Do.  I thought it worked well until the moment I sat upright in bed in the middle of the night realising that somehow the parsnips hadn't made it to the table.  Sure enough, they were still in the (cold) oven in their serving dish!  Ah, well, that's one thing I won't have to cook today and no-one made comment about them not being there.  There was certainly plenty without them.

The turkey was a doddle to cook - Kelly's turkeys always have been.  However, I swear it was heavier than I'd ordered.  They always err on the generous side anyway and I well remember with a certain amount of horror the year there was a note in the box saying that the turkeys had grown well that year and there was a bit of extra and free weight - it was so huge it was too big for my largest roasting pan and I had to phone Mum, comparing oven and tin sizes so that she could bring over her largest tin.  Even then, we had to cut the legs off before it would fit!
This year, there's an awful lot of leftovers, especially as brother John, who usually takes a fair chunk home with him, wasn't here this year.  It's lucky I love turkey leftovers, isn't it.  I shall go on a Google recipe hunt later on.

We played two games of Scrabble and, most unusually, I won both but the latter one was so close it was down to the fact that I finished first so got the leftover tile scores.

It wasn't a noisy or boisterous day, a little bitter-sweet at times but it was lovely.

Today, Boxing Day, should be more or less the same (apart from pressies).  Beth and Alex are turning up for the tea I had planned yesterday but, because we were so full, we didn't have!  Until then, I expect Dad and I will snooze the day away, him because he does and me because I haven't slept well.  Too much buzzing around in my mind.  It doesn't matter, there's plenty of time to catch up.

I have a turkey to deal with although I think I will do it in stages.  Today I will boil up the giblets and what bones and bits I can cut off and tomorrow I will deal with the white meat, remaining leg, etc.
I have this - well, I suppose you'd call it a tradition or a habit, that I make some quality stock after The Day and freeze a portion of it to make the gravy the following Christmas.  It's such a useful thing to do and saves hassle the other end as all it needs is thickening.

Lunch will be leftovers.  All the veg went apart from a few little roast onions and those poor parsnips so I will do something green and a few more roasties but all the rest - meat, sauces, gravy, dessert - is all ready and just needs re-heating.  Easy!
Then tea will involve such healthy items as sausage and not-sausage rolls, crisps, ham, cheese and, as a sop to Slimming World, a bit of salad.

Once the leftovers are all cleared, it will be back to normal.  It'll be a relief, I think.

I hope your day went really well and was everything you wanted and expected it to be.  Thank you for your lovely comments.

Happy Boxing Day!

xx