Don’t let the restrictions of the pandemic turn you into scrooge. This is an opportunity to create a new tradition while adding simplicity to your holiday season. Set the stage for a fun and festive updated christmas by discovering simpler and maybe more luxurious ways to celebrate.
WARMING DRINKS
Enjoy a restorative warm drink such as spiced apple cider, golden latte, or peppermint hot chocolate. This is a great way to spend time catching up with friends and family on Zoom or FaceTime, or to relax while reading a book.
SNACKS AND APPETIZERS
Add spicy Parmesan cheese crackers to, well . . . everything. Warning: these can be addictive. They pair beautifully with a glass of wine. A smoky carrot dip or curried sweet potato hummus is delicious with crackers and fresh vegetables. How about roasting your own chestnuts over an open fire? Or that creamy wheel of brie you have been wanting to try—top it with a spicy Calabrian hot sauce.
TIME FOR THE OUTDOORS
Take time out to go for a walk in nature. Breathe in the fresh Sunshine Coast air. Be present in nature and nurture your soul. Enjoy the days that are beautiful and rain-free with a socially distanced meet-up. Grab a thermos and share an outdoor toast to the holiday season.
THE MAIN EVENT
Why do we need to rush? Make your list of ingredients, order what you can ahead of time, and skip the long lineups at the grocery store. With the option of pre-ordering for pickup or delivery, use the “new” ways to your advantage.
Discover foods that nourish both soul and body. Savoury foods. Warming foods. Go ahead and unleash your culinary skills and try your hand at something you would never try (or afford) for a larger crowd. When it’s just a few of you, you can spend a bit more money and time on food.
Our fish markets carry many fresh and frozen seafood choices to make your holiday meals special—crab, eel, lobster, scallops. What about a silky, rich crab fettuccine alfredo? Maybe even topped with our local sturgeon roe that we’ve all seen at the fish markets. Add cold smoked salmon to your holiday breakfast as an accompaniment to creamy chive scrambled eggs and crispy potato rosti—delicious.
Our butchers supply a plethora of special cuts of meats. Rack of lamb can make a beautiful presentation and a delectable main and pairs well with roasted Parmesan-crusted brussels sprouts, a sour cherry compote, and fondant potatoes. What about scrumptious red-wine–braised short ribs with creamy cauliflower mash and cumin-roasted carrots? An Italian-style pork roast with creamy sage polenta along with a stewed orange and apple sauce makes plenty for dinner and leftovers. The pork can be used for a breakfast hash or pilled high on a sandwich (which just makes the next couple of days of meal planning that much easier). Stuffed quail makes a gorgeous presentation at a much smaller size than a turkey.
A NEW SIDEKICK
New side dishes to try: stuffed acorn squash; caramelized onion tart; roasted beets with citrus, fennel, walnuts, and goat cheese; barley salad with herby mushrooms topped with generous shavings of Parmesan cheese; truffle oil or a special salt added or to your batch of mashed or scalloped potatoes. Explore your culinary options.
DESSERTS
Make your own chocolate bark this year, a great way to get the family involved. Choose the best dark chocolate you can find and add your favourite dried fruits. Each of you can make your own chocolate bar with your personal favourite chocolate and toppings. Don’t forget to leave some out for Santa. He’s still working even during the pandemic.
After your fantastic holiday meal, linger a little. The normal tendency is to get up and start cleaning up. Instead, sit and appreciate the nourishment you just provided or that was provided for you. Breathe. Relax. Talk. Allow space for deeper conversation to unfold. Savour that glass of wine or port, a dram of Scotch, a cup of herbal tea, or that liqueur you rarely imbibe.
WELLBEING
Make wellness a top priority! Add good cheer to the air with a diffuser of warm holiday scents. If you don’t have a diffuser, you can create your own blend of ingredients such as pine needles, orange slices, and cloves and add them to a pot of water. Let it simmer all day (refill water as it reduces), and it will infuse the aroma into your house.
Be grateful. Give yourself the gift of a simpler holiday season. Put a smile on someone else’s face this holiday season by donating to your favourite charity or by buying a coffee for the person in line behind you.
Our new technology allows us to stay connected with each other while taking care during this pandemic. We don’t need to eat alone. Connect over the internet and still be a part of each other’s holidays this year.
Belt out those Christmas carols and enjoy creating your new holiday traditions!
