Green Tomato Jam

Dad used to make Green Tomato Jam at Coomera. They had a large vegetable garden so I presume that this was a way to use green tomatoes. Jonelle and I have both looked for his recipe in the usual places but can't find it. When we went to visit we always had breakfast from the bar b que. Bacon and eggs grilled tomato then toast with the heavenly jam. Some days my boys would clean up a whole jar of the jam at one breakfast sitting.
Nev planted tomatoes in the garden in November to be ready for summer. Something started to attack them so I picked all of the green ones before they were more damaged.

The produce from the garden yesterday

I googled and found numerous recipes - surprisingly in all of the recipe books I have there were none for Green Tomato Jam. I made the simplest one I could find. I can't imagine that in Coomera in the late 70's early 80's dad would have been sourcing fresh ginger and vanilla pods for a country style jam.

The finished jam

I think that it tastes just right.

Maxi supervising

The strawberry pot

My strawberry pot  has not been used yet for strawberries. 

Begonias

In the lead up to Christmas I wanted some new colour for the pot. I have always loved begonias - it worked.

I must find out when it is time to plant strawberry runners. 

Stone jar with leaves and berries

I have quite a collection of stone jars and vases. It is something that just seemed to evolve. I started saving European mustard pots (after I had eaten the mustard) in the 70's. In the early 80's My Aunt Billie was clearing out a storage shed and gave me a box full of very interesting stoneware pieces. When she moved again this year she gave me the balance of her collection.
This jar was sitting for ages on the shelf out side my laundry window with leaves and berries from an old flower arrangement. Whilst preparing for this Christmas Day I hastily put it on the bakers stand with the ferns etc to get it out of the way. Then all of a sudden on Christmas morning I saw how at home it looked in it's new surroundings.

So at home

Christmas Day Food Preparation

I do love planning food for any occasion. I had to stop myself from thinking about the menu for New Years eve when I hadn't even finalized what I was doing for Christmas Day.

I started with the cocktail. It has to be fruity and cold in the Queensland summer. I remembered the Planters Punch that I had within the first hour that I arrived on the Island of St Thomas in the Caribbean. Cold tall and lots of fruity zing. I have been looking in all of my books for a recipe. I finally found the right one.

So happy I found these straws

I just knew that I wanted to do the ham with the fig glaze again. I had already the made Peach Chutney for gifts.

Getting ready for the oven

Finished

I love a colourful table

The desserts

Sunbeam Mix Master

I really would like one of those fabulous Kenwood Chef mixers that do everything except bake the cake. However Graham inherited his grandmother's old Sunbeam.

This is definitely a 60's model

 It still goes! Not only that if it does eventually die we have a back up - his Mother's. She doesn't use it anymore. Every time I have to use this I am terrified that something will break. It never does.

I just can't bring myself to buy a new mixer for approximately $700 when we already have 2. Plus where to store it. Our kitchen cupboards are full.

Salad with Prawns and Poppy Seed Dressing

I first made this salad in 1995 for Christmas Lunch. A layer of salad greens topped with cherry tomatoes, blanched asparagas and sno peas, then add the prawns and avocado.

So fresh and colourful

I made it again for friends for a Christmas catch up last night.

Goma Members Christmas Party

I attended my first Goma members Christmas party on sunday night. What a glamorous affair. 5.30pm start looking out over the river. It was held in the 'drawing room' part of the Matisse exhibition.

A violinist was playing as we arrived, the room looked amazing.

A view out to the river

There were tables and benches set up all around the room and the idea was that you scetched the still life. The gallery supplied drawing paper, pencils and clip boards.

Even easels

Yes, even a live model

Another pose

A still life

Images of the artist at work

There were plants and shells everywhere

I loved the tropical feel of this

A lovely still life

A rainy Wednesday in December

Rain all day today. Our gardens need this rain very badly. It was the perfect weather to clean and to make 'Peach Chutney' for Christmas Gifts.

All tagged and ready

The house smelt of peaches and spice all day, very Christmasy.

Decorations Christmas 2011

Tree for this year

The coffee table

I have some new red birds this year from the Cornubia garage. They look wonderful. Maxi loves to sit under the tree. He knows he is a wonderful gift.

The vase of white sticks

I love these sticks with the red apples and silver ornaments. The colourful mexican ornaments and the Frieda Khalo image are from the Frieda Khalo exhibition in London that i went to years ago. Lovely memory.

The sun room table

Maxi loves to supervise

Thankfully he no longer runs up and down the tree as he did when he was a kitten.

Espresso Biscuits

I am making food as gifts for Christmas this year. The first party that I needed gifts for was on Saturday night.

I have made these biscuits now for 4 years running, they are great with a cup of coffee.

The gift boxes

I used small noodle boxes and made my own gift tags.

Donna Hay

I have always been a fan of Donna Hay's recipes, especially in the beginning when she was writing for Marie Claire magazine. She was a breath of fresh air to encourage younger girls to cook simple clean fresh modern food.

I knew that she had produced a line of cookware and bowls. Also that she has ventured into packaged food. I don't usually shop in the 'baking' isle of the supermarket as I very seldom bake sweets or cakes now. However I was looking for Cocoa powder to make biscuits for Christmas Gifts. I saw a box of cup cake mix by Donna Hay and just had to try it.

The packet comes with 12 patty papers

The raw mixture tasted very much like my favourite cup cake mixture from the 60's.

Good result

Just don't ask how much butter is in the frosting and the cake. Just be sure that with just one little cake you will have had enough butter and sugar for a month.

The first Agapanthus of the season

I love my Agapanthus flowers. They are very late blooming this year.

The first few blooms

I will add to this vase as the days progress, and more blooms open up.