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As we start to get closer to Christmas (less than 4 weeks away!) our focus starts to turn towards Christmas day brunch, lunch, BBQ or dinner meals and the food required for them. ÌýÌý

Some of us think of it as just another meal and are confident in the kitchen, but for many it comes with a huge amount of challenges. Not only is it stressful Ìýit can be the most you have to cater for a all year challenges like your Aunty Pam only has her lamb cooked well done, or you have new dietary requirements you are not used to. Ìý

All inÌýallÌýit can be a very stressful time and a time many of us simply dread.Ìý

But I'm here to help! and don't worry even I get nervous when I cook for the family or large groups at Xmas, as its simply the day we all want to get it right.ÌýÌý

SoÌýthis week I want to change it up a bit and instead of bringing you a recipe I want to help you and give you some tips to plan for the big day!Ìý

• Write a menu and shopping list of ingredients.Ìý
• Choose one protein that suits all tastes for everyone, we don’t need ham, beef, lamb, fish, turkey, and chicken!Ìý Become the head chef and take ownership tryÌýnotÌýto please everyone! I would always goÌýfor ÌýoneÌýpremium meat like a good slab ofÌýGreenÌýmeadows scotch fillet or a side of house smoked salmon or even some great vegetable dishes. Rather than beef, ham,Ìýchicken, fish,Ìýsausages, turkey, prawns all doneÌýaveragely.ÌýÌý
• Start shopping now before the Xmas crazy prices begin for example Ìýasparagus can last for up to 4 weeks if you cut the bottoms off and store in the fridge in water. Spring lamb is really affordable right now and it’s all easy to freeze it. You can buy 5 punnets of strawberries for $5 at the moment, Again, freezeÌýthem, defrost and cook them with a touch of brown sugar as an amazing sauce over your pavlovaÌý
• Seafood is expensive! So maybe spread the day out with some salmon on rye with a lemon sour cream? Or dare I say it prawns! We don’t want to be to likeÌýoutÌýneighbours across theÌýditch !ÌýBut they are a more affordable optionÌý
• You can always ask the rest of the family to bring a plate! To Share the loadÌý
• FinallyÌýit doesn’t need to be all about the meat. Think, lentils, salads, roasted carrots, pumpkins, salad greens, eggs, native potatoes or even getting a bit of smoked salt from our farm shop to add a bit of chef to your yoghurt!Ìý

Hope this helps and most of all I hope it allows us all to have a slightly less stressful ChristmasÌýday meal.Ìý