Bang! My Bubble Burst

Like a shot in the dark, 2017 caught us by surprise. Yet I feel hopeful about the future, embracing 'Put pressure aside' as my mantra to foster peace and resilience in the year ahead.

Although Christmas and New Year are sad times for us as a family, we’re divided and scattered across continents, so we can rarely celebrate the Festive Season together. Butch and I enjoy celebrating Christmas with our nearby families.

I love planning, sourcing and setting my table. I have to-do lists, shopping lists, gift lists and guest lists littering most of the tabletops in the house for weeks. Our invitations go out months in advance; we like to make sure everyone is there. Sharing these traditions helps me connect with others and inspires them to cherish their own holiday moments.

But “First things first” is my motto, so I headed off to an inspiring festive-season cookery class. The day was perfect; the menu was creative. Our inspiration, Marie-Joan, cooked up a storm in her beautiful kitchen overlooking Walker Bay. Armed with fresh ideas, I drew up my shopping list. Online shopping has become a reality in Hermanus this year. Progress.

Our table would have to please palates of all ages. Simplicity and the KISS principle won out over the opulent and the decadent. A simple table it was. Black slate tiles doubled as placemats, and later, when the plates were removed, guests could leave quirky messages.

I fished out some old recipes and reinvented them with a twist here and a new platter there. With a jazzed-up musical palette, I switched on my iPod, donned my apron, and set about, at a relaxed pace, preparing our Christmas Eve feast.

Our spontaneous “family photo shoot” was a brilliant idea and should become a tradition. The usual suspects, village idiots, the young, the old, and the middle-aged all looked gorgeous as we smiled, laughed, took things seriously, and then had fun. We’re all so beautifully different.

The Minstrels came around once again to lift the festive mood a notch; such a nostalgic Cape tradition, like a good Bobotie, has to be savoured to be appreciated. Sharing this tradition highlights the joy and uniqueness of our holiday celebrations.

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MY CHRISTMAS FEAST

Do try one of these easy-peasy Savoury Mousse recipes; they conjure wonderful memories of long-gone dinner parties and bring people together with simple, delicious flavours that everyone enjoys, especially the littlies.

Our Brandy had lost more than a swig of its usual alcohol content, tripping me up when I made my grande entrée, bearing my flambée Gammon and black cherry pièce de résistance; although impressive, the flame sputtered and died prematurely.

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EASY SALMON MOUSSE

METHOD:

1. Line a small bread tin with cling film. Once the cling film is in place, carefully line the tin with the smoked salmon slices.
2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine all the ingredients and whisk until smooth (the hot gelatine too)
3. Once smooth, pour the filling into the lined bread tin, cover the top with cling film
4. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours, until the gelatine has set.
5. Turn the mousse out onto a large plate or platter and garnish with cucumber slices, gherkin, one or two Rosa tomatoes halved and a few sprigs of fennel.
6. Serve with slices of Melba toast or a fresh, crispy roll.

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MUSHROOM AND SPECK TERRINE

Chicken, salmon, or tuna may replace ham and bacon. A vegetarian mousse can be made using only sautéed vegetables such as spinach, bell peppers, Rosa tomatoes, courgettes, and grilled aubergine. Instead of lining the tin with Speck, line it with thin ribbons of cucumber or thinly sliced, grilled aubergine.

1. Once again line a small bread tin with cling wrap. Once the cling wrap is in place, carefully line the tin with the Speck, sliced cooked ham, or ribboned vegetables.
2. In a large frying pan, melt the butter. Add bacon and fry until slightly browned and cooked, not crispy. Add the onion and sauté until glassy. Add mushrooms and sauté.
3. Remove from the heat and pour into the attached bowl of a food processor. Blitz for a few seconds. Add the chopped ham and blitz.
4. Add the cream cheese and feta, then blitz for a few seconds.
5. Pour the hot gelatine into the bowl and blitz until well mixed. The mixture must be chunky, not smooth.
6. Pour the filling into the lined bread tin and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
7. Just before serving, turn the terrine out onto a large flat plate, a pretty platter, or a wooden slider.
8. Garnish and serve with either a small Apple and fennel bulb salad, homemade bread or Melba toast. Serve with the Apple and Ginger relish.

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APPLE AND GINGER RELISH

1. In a small saucepan, bring all the ingredients to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer until
2. the apples are cooked. Serve at room temperature as an accompaniment to any pork or chicken dish.

Bon Appétit.

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Although I believe that most resolutions are doomed to fail, I have a few thoughts, based on events I observed and experienced over the festive season: one or two illuminating light-bulb moments, and some simple philosophies I TRY to follow during my wanderings.

1. Be who you are. We’re not all created equal; we’re unique in every way. The hurt, misunderstanding, and loss of a full creative life lived in fear of what “other people think” is both crippling and emotionally devastating. Be true to yourself. You can fool some people some of the time, but you can’t fool yourself. Do not live a lie. Live a transparent life without guilt. It’s painless in the long run.
2. Who you are daily depends on a conscious decision made like clockwork. Choose to live a happy, content life.
3. Choose to be friendly, kind, helpful, compassionate and forgiving. Not always easy, but therein lies the challenge.
4. Anger is a waste of time. Don’t justify it. Truthfully make life changes.
5. Sometimes wishes come true; an old gypsy curse. Think about it.
6. Making drastic lifestyle changes has consequences. Are we really ready for it?
7. Longevity depends on a sound, healthy mind and a healthy, fit body. Can’t have the one without the other.
8. Our lives can change in a wink of an eye, with devastating consequences. Live each moment to the max. Life is short.
9. Our relationships change and grow/ Making it work is hard, and allowing it to stagnate is wasteful and sad.
10. Simple things are rewarding.
11. An old cliché, but choose a glass half full. Don’t settle for half empty.
12. Don’t be the addict nor the enabler.
13. A viper’s tongue used thoughtlessly causes lasting hurt.
14. An action can be judged; our uniqueness can’t.
15. We always have a choice. Bullies, brats, and battleaxes aren't friends. If they hurt you, walk away.  A friendship shouldn't bring out the worst in us.
16. It’s never too late to say “I’m sorry”!
17. Families always have secrets; when let go, they’re almost always “the biggest non-secret-secrets” anyway.
18. Finally, challenging our fears, insecurities and comfort zones is exhilarating! Build that yacht, truck or shack on the beach.
19. Healthy boundaries are there to benefit a relationship.
20. We can forgive and NOT forget.

I’m ready for an exciting year of travel and new adventures in faraway places. I look forward to meeting new people and learning from them. If you’re a ’57er like me, you’ll be excited and inspired by a new milestone; we certainly have a lot to live for! I look forward to seeing all my friends flourish, grow and have FUN.

“Have a big enough heart to love unconditionally, and a broad enough mind to embrace the differences that make each of us unique.” Hardup.