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Monday, December 30

Yule time - Family event 2.



Having had our Christmas Day at my sister in law's house it was my turn for a buffet. To be honest the buffet idea was my own suggestion as I didn't want to have a sit down meal after the lovely time spent on Christmas Day. Maureen had told me how stressed she had been about the whole Christmas Dinner as she has such a small kitchen (due to be revamped/extended in 2014) and felt it was her turn to do the dinner. Last year Maureen  had some family business to attend to following the death of her partner's mother resulting in them not being with our family on Christmas Day and Maureen had really missed our traditional get together hence her wanting us round at their house.

A buffet sounds so innocently simple yet I could hear the stress in my voice every time I complained to long suffering Jon about the kitchen. At one point I apologised to him for being so unreasonable - it was all so disorganised for me, despite my lists and plans. Another reason for doing my own buffet was because I wanted to make sure the food was decent - ie alternatives to pastry and fatty foods which we tend to get if we buy prepared buffet food - no, mine would be healthy yet tasty.

I made some potato scones



which I then filled with cream cheese and smoked salmon, quiche without pastry,




good old egg sandwiches, pork sausages and scotch eggs. At one point I had thought about making something along the lines of an M&S product which was fish, on a potato  with mushy peas, but came to my senses when I pictured the obscurity of such an operation with an hour to go before the family arrived.

Deserts - thank you Asda!

Next get together is Friday - at the other Mrs Nesbitt's!

Watch this space.

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20 comments:

  1. I echo Jo - "Yum" everything looks so good. Perfect for a buffet!

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    1. Blogger has removed Jo's comment Leslie! How very rude eh?

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  2. Sometimes it's really nice to have a big family. Ours is small and only one son and 'wife' could make it to THE DINNER and stayed for a week. As it turns out, one son and co is all we can handle. They came all the way down from the snow and ice in Boise so it was really good to see them. You know we down sized and that includes our capacity for entertaining Our other son and wife had commitments over Christmas, but hopefully we will spend part of New Years with them. They live locally but spend a lot of time away.

    It was a lovely Christmas and I now have a legitimate reason for having guests in small doses. That suits me just fine as my culinary skills are somewhat limited.

    Glad you had a good time. Hope all that snow and gales -- and rain -- have blown away. HAPPY NEW YEAR to the Nesbitt family!

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    1. Aw Chris ........always picture you round our Christmas table xxxxx

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  3. Buffets are always fun.
    Since our family is small, we cook all day Christmas Eve than have a lovely dinner.
    Christmas morning it is gifts with brunch. Dinner is already made and all we have to do is warm it up.
    Perfect.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Great idea AP - will think about doing it next year!

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  4. It sounded like really lovely tasty food that I would love to eat. Yum.
    Have a very Happy New Year.
    Maggie x

    Nuts in May

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    1. Well you are welcome anytime Maggie! Happy New Year!

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  5. magnificent buffet, I especially would like to try the potato scones! I love, love, love scones. My family is big, compared with modern families, with four children, two spouses of two of my children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. And I live in a mobile home- so it's cozy (my term), just right for my idea of perfection!
    happy new year to you and yours!

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    1. Will post the recipe on your blog Norma xxx

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  6. Buffets are the best. I'm sure you had a wonderful time.
    Christmas Eve was spent at my son's home with a help yourself meal of ham, potatoes, green beans and salads plus a pile of desserts. There were 11 of us.
    Christmas Day was at our house and it was a marathon of eating.
    Breakfast for 6 with my Granddaughter making the eggs, son doing the sausage and me baking the "monkey bread" (cinnamon rolls). Dinner was all out on the counter to take to the diningroom table. Beef roast, baked potatoes, veggies, salads and rolls...we then rolled ourselves away from the table...played games and then had several desserts to choose from. Oh my, diet here we come!!!
    Happy New Year Denise and thanks for all the years of ABC Wednesday. Its been fun and I love having friends from across the world.

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    1. Sounds lovely Suzan xxxxx Yeah the diet and January eh? Made for each other. Our slimming group will expand by at 10 next Wednesday - at least!

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  7. Looks like a delicious meal. Happy New Year from An Arkie's Musings

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  8. That sounds and looks yummy! Carver, ABC Wed. Team

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  9. I would enjoy watching you putter around on that lovely stove (on a non-stressful day). It looks perfect for cooking on on cold wintry days.

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  10. Happy Yule to you, Denise. Happy new year!

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  11. looks quite tasty. And your stove is beautiful as well.

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  12. Yum indeed! Everything looks tasty and lovely!

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  13. It looks and sounds like everything was delicious. Happy New Year!

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Thank you for your comments, always nice to know somebody has taken the time to let me know what they think.