Every week when we do join in with the linky, we try to use a word that best sums up our week. This week has been so non descript that it was really difficult to come up with just a word, or even a phrase that sums it all up. We were basically just cruising so that is it. The word of the week is cruising. So I will just share with you some of the things we got up to.
As Christmas is now just around the corner, the tree is up (one of the girls did it solo this year), there are bits of decoration in almost every room and we have begun to make plans for the big meal itself.
Now this might seem strange to some but we have bought, cleaned and seasoned our meats for the festive period. You see, we are Jamaicans and most of us are of the view that the longer meat is seasoned and marinated, the tastier it is. So in the freezer now, we have the beef for the pot roast, goat meat, and oxtail. We will have two meats for Christmas day and two for New Year’s day. So where is the 4th I hear you ask? Well, this year, for the first time, we are going to try ‘turkey! Some of us are not fans of ‘fleshy’ meat but we are willing to give turkey a go this year. We have bought a crown for over £15, and I am going to be so disappointed if it does not turn out well. We have heard that marinating it in a homemade brine in the fridge for about 2 days before needed will improve the flavour. We will let you know if was a winner or not.
The Christmas period is one where we mostly stay home and chill, play games and watch tv. Snacking goes well with all those activities so it is a bit costly too. But rather than have one grocery bill be exorbitantly high, what we have been doing is to add some snacks (those that can last a while) to the online grocery shop and then ‘hide’ them for the season. No lie, I have done this in the past and then, months later get a pleasant surprise when some snacks come out of hiding…..forgotten over Christmas and New Year.
This week we made two drinks that we must really share: One uses hibiscus commonly known in Jamaica as sorrel and we have called it Pink Snow Punch and the other one is the traditional eggnog.
So this week, we have mostly stayed home venturing out only when we had to: putting the garbage out, retrieving the bin, going to the post office etc.
So I guess this is going to be it, just cruising, waiting for the big day, or rather the big season to arrive so that we can relax with family, eat good food and slow down for a bit. We wish you all the best for the season too.
Thanks as usual to Anne for allowing us to join in with the word of the week linky.
It is hard when you have a week like that when there is no obvious word.
It sounds like you are well underway with the Christmas preparations. I bet your meat will be amazing! I have been buying little things every week for the last month or so and the “big” Christmas food shop for the fresh stuff close to Christmas isn’t going to cost that much. Hiding the tasty snacks is good, especially if you find them later. I’ve done that before, it was a nice treat in January to find a bag of biscuits and chocolate. x
Kim Carberry recently posted…This week my Word of the Week is: Shower! #WotW
So lovely to have the Christmas tree and decorations up. Ours are going up this weekend. Sounds like your meat options for Christmas and New Year will be delicious. Hope you enjoy the turkey. Good idea to spread the cost of the Christmas snacks over several grocery shops. Those drinks sound good. I’ve saved the eggnog recipe to give this one a try over the festive period. #WotW
For a moment there I thought you’d taken to the sea! I think I’ve been cruising along too though so I know what you mean. I also have a box that I collect Christmas goodies, my Mum always used to have a hamper delivered but these days they are so expensive and full of stuff we wouldn’t really eat. Your daughter put your tree up solo and my son put our tree up solo. It feels weird because I have always done it, but I was so grateful to have one less job to do. Your tree looks lovely btw x
Anne Sweet recently posted…Market is my Word of the Week 49
I love the idea of preparing things in advance, I bet your meats will be delicious. I’ve been preparing some of the veg and freezing that and also buying the things like snacks that can be stored. The tree looks lovely!
Thank you! All the best for the festive season to you and yours.