Family Lunches and Mince Pies



Mince pies finally made.  Well batch one at any rate there are 2 rather large jars of unopened homemade mincemeat to go and quite a lot left in an opened one in the fridge.  Baking is not my forte, Bake Off would be my idea of hell and Hollywood head in hands might well be a more forthcoming feature than the famed handshake.  The mincemeat’s not bad though.  I would share the recipe but it was a River Cottage one which was followed more in spirit than anything else.  I had some Conference pears and Bramley Apples  from the garden, rather a lot of crystallised ginger, a mix of cranberries and raisins, no currants and walnuts replaced almonds.  




My family lunch was held at the Boathouse at Farndon, near Newark which has proved convenient as a meeting point over the last few years when my sister, her husband and my niece to come down from the North West.  Distance wise it is definitely in our favour but given the diversion to pick up Mum and Dad I am not going searching for an alternative regular.  Maybe a little close to Christmas for a roast dinner but it was a roast dinner I was not clearing up after, so it was very pleasant to sit back and enjoy the hard work of others.


S’s family do last Sunday was larger (extending to aunts, uncles, cousins and their children).   It was held at Cote at Hayes Galleria with a view of The Tower of London, the City and HMS Belfast so we got to see some fabulous lights and Christmas Market stalls afterwards as we walked along the Thames and across Waterloo Bridge to Covent Garden where buskers and a shared bottle of champagne outside The Crusting Pipe enhanced the day still further.  




Just have the work Christmas lunch to go on Tuesday and I can settle in for Christmas.

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