flame lily

Christmas Dinner for Two!

 

A Christmas dinner of 'Roast Turkey with all the Trimmings' is, I think, my absolute favourite meal ever, both to eat and to prepare.  I like nothing better than to make this for a large group of people, especially for our Belgian family and friends. As there is no traditional Christmas dinner here and the main celebrations being on Christmas Eve, a Christmas Day dinner can be very special indeed!

Having said all of that, this year was very quiet, just Patrick and I for dinner but don't worry we didn't skimp on anything!

Our Menu

Roast Turkey with my own Sausage Stuffing

Chipolata Sausages wrapped in Bacon
Roast Potatoes
Roast Parsnips
Puree of Carrots
Brussel Sprouts with Chestnuts
Peperkoek Stuffing
Bread Sauce
Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Port
Turkey Gravy

********

Steamed Christmas Pudding served with Brandy Sauce

********

The Peperkoek Stuffing is specially for Patrick and a nod to the fact that he's Flemish.  Peperkoek is a Belgian speciality.  It is very similar to gingerbread and I based the stuffing on Nigella's Gingerbread Stuffing.  It's still not quite to our liking yet but perfection is almost around the corner if I say so myself!

 

Laying the table for Christmas dinner is another of my favourite things.  This year our table was a little lacking.  Most of our Christmas treasures are packed away because of the renovation work.  However, we did keep out our Emma Bridgewater Christmas dinner service but forgot about the glasses!  We also forgot about the crackers, something which I really enjoy making myself.  However, we did remember to keep out one of my all time favourite decorations, the Christmas candle pyramid.  This year taking centre stage on the dining table.

 

with love

Flame Lily xx

A Winter's Wedding

 

The weekend before Christmas, Patrick and I were invited to witness the religious ceremony of the marriage of Patrick's nephew, Christophe and to his bride Françoise.

 

In Belgium only the civil ceremony is recognized by law.  That ceremony having already taken place, everyone in the bridal party arrived together.  The procession was led by the bridesmaids and pageboys who looked absolutely adorable in their outfits.

 

Françoise followed on the arm of her father, wearing a very beautiful buttermilk silk satin and lace dress and carrying a very simple but fabulous bouquet of cream roses.

 

Christophe, wearing top hat and tails was accompanied by his mother.

 

With a carpet of snow outside, it was bitterly cold in the church.  Veronique, the groom's sister looked stunning in very vintage style dress and cape.

The church looked wonderful, dressed for Christmas and festooned with red roses and amaryllis for the ceremony. 

 

Sadly, this is the only photograph I managed to take of Françoise and Christophe together.  It's a pity because it really doesn't convey just how happy and radiant they looked......

 

To add to the magical day, the happy couple left the church walking along a rose petal covered aisle towards the huge kissing bough of mistletoe hung at the main door.

 

The bridal party left for the evening celebration in a vintage Swiss Saurer Alpine Postal Motor Coach.

 

Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera to the evening festivies, but I can tell you that we all had a wonderful time and celebrated well into the early hours of the morning.....

 

for Françoise and Christophe 

May you share a lifetime of love, wealth and happiness.

with love

Flame Lily xx

Happy Birthday, My Darling

For my darling Patrick

Happy Birthday

My love as always

Flame Lily xx