• Start planning your menu late November/early December.
  

• If you are making a Christmas pudding or Christmas cake, make them as early as possible. Both will improve in taste with keeping.
  

• Write a list for all of the Christmas gifts you intend to buy, and a list for all of the Christmas cards that you intend to send.
  

• Complete all of your gift shopping early in December and gift wrap them.
  

• Write and address all of your cards so that they are ready for posting.
  

  

• Whether you are cooking a traditional roast turkey or other meat or poultry, make sure you order it well in advance.
  

• Think about furniture - is your dining table big enough with sufficient chairs? If not borrow additional items.
  

• Do you have sufficient china, cutlery, glassware and cooking utensils? If not, see if you can borrow some from a friendly neighbor or relative.
  

• Decorate the house and Christmas tree with your favorite decorations..
  

• "Spring-clean" the house well ahead of the big event.
  

• Complete as much of the food preparation ahead of time as is possible. Dishes suitable for freezing can be made well ahead of time while others can be pre-cooked or partially cooked and chilled.
  

• Try to buy in any food that is not highly perishable several days before.
  

• Clear out the refrigerator - you will need lots of space!
  

• Do as much of the final cooking preparations as possible on Christmas Eve.

And finally, write down a timetable for the cooking of the Christmas meal and think it through step by step so that you are fully prepared for the big day!

My all-time Favorite Eggnogg Recipe

CHRISTMAS EGGNOG

INGREDIENTS

2 egg yolks
4 cloves, whole
4 cups/30fl oz whole milk
4 cups/30fl oz heavy (double) cream
1 cup/8 fl oz light rum
½cup brandy
½cup bourbon
1¾ cups sugar
2½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg

METHOD

• In a heavy based saucepan, blend together the milk, cinnamon, cloves and ½ teaspoon of the vanilla extract, place over a medium heat and bring up to almost boiling point. Remove from the heat.
  

• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar until very light and creamy. Then add the hot milk a little at a time whisking well between each addition.
  

  
  

• Now transfer the mix back into the saucepan and place over a low heat. Continue to heat gently, stirring all of the time. After several minutes the mix will thicken sufficiently to coat the back of the spoon. Do not allow to boil. Remove from the heat.
  

• Pour the hot mix through a strainer into a jug. Cover with cling wrap and leave to cool completely before refrigerating for a couple of hours.
  

• Now stir in the cream, liquor, remaining vanilla extract and the nutmeg. Taste and add more liquor if required! Refrigerate overnight.
  

• Serve in attractive glasses or punch cups with a little extra cinnamon or cocoa dusted over the top.

zChocolat
Here you will find the most exquisite, hand-made chocolates presented in beautiful, keepsake hand-made mahogany boxes. Yes they are expensive, but in my mind, worth every dollar!

Hotel Chocolat
This site offers a wonderful array of truly original gift ideas for chocolate lovers.

GourmetStation
My good friend Donna Miller runs this amazingly slick operation offering sublime, gourmet dinner gifts, delivered mainland USA. Currently offering a 50% discount to readers of this newsletter on their Ole English Beef Wellington Christmas Dinner

Dean & Deluca
For the most beautifully packaged and extravagant (yet very affordable!) foodie gifts around.

Gourmet Grocery Online
A wonderful collection of gourmet gifts, flowers, seasonal fruit baskets and much more.

The NEW YORK FIRST Company
I love just browsing around this fascinating store! It has a delightful and original, olde-worlde charm!

Fortnum & Mason
At Fortnums, you can be as extravagent and decadent as you can afford, or you can shop for a few small luxury items to suit your budget. All products are of the very highest quality.

Recently I have introduced some exciting new seasonal menus. All are designed for the busy host or hostess who doesn't want to spend excessive amounts of time in the kitchen! And all of them come with their own planning notes, tips and time-planner:

Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner
With the most amazing center piece recipe for Brined Roast Turkey.

An English Christmas Dinner
With all of the traditional trimmings that we love so much!

New Year's Day Buffet Menu
An extravagant feast perfect for an informal celebration.

Valentine's Dinner
A really easy but quite luxurious romantic menu for two.

Please do check into my site regularly as I am constantly adding new pages.

very best wishes until next time
Robert