Christmas: Preparation v. Procrastination

This year my preparations don't seem to be getting into a higher gear.
I had to postpone our family get-together because I was assigned a shift on 24 December. So this year the family will come to my place on the 25th instead.
You would be correct to think - great, one more day to get ready - not so, just one more day to procrastinate.
Result, I am shamefully behind in all preparations. Especially the cleaning needs to be done.
Good that I have done the shopping for the meal today, and I have prepared the party favors.

I have some lovely home made Sugar Body Scrub for my sister and my mother, and for my daughter and brother in law a nice bar of soap.

And in Scarlet O'Hara's immortal words 

24th December: Home from work.

Just made the Tiramisu for tomorrow. This is such a simple dessert to make, and it tastes so good.

I'm now going to do my "mise en place" for the Tajine I'm making tomorrow. At least, when all the veggies are cut, the cooking won't take to long. I'll marinade the chicken and put it aside in the fridge. 

And when that is done, I'm going to bed, have to get up early to do all the things I have been putting off till the last minute.

25th December

Started cooking at 10AM. The Tajine in the oven smelled really good right from the start and bathed the kitchen in good cheer. The spices and cinnamon heralded the party.

At 1PM my sis arrived and helped me get the cleaning finished. The kitchen sparkled and Bryce put some order into the living room and decorated the tree. She did a real good job.

Then, getting ready and setting the table. Mum and my brother in law were a bit early so I was not completely ready, but not far of.

The company was good, the food went down well, stories were told and presents were opened.

And all 5 doggies behaved wonderfully.

It was a very good evening.

26th December: Rest, dishes and some TV. Tomorrow we go on.

Ah, I am so glad others seem to see the world through my type of glasses

Tajine tonight, sis and I are cooking Moroccan

Just dug the tajine out of the garage - freshly scrubbed and ready for use!

Stay tuned, step by step and recipe will follow as work progresses.

This tajine survived the plane trip back
from Morocco many years ago

Preparation is key, you need quite a lot of ingredients. 
For 2 persons you need:

• 500 gr lamb chops (with bone)
• 2 large carrots
• 1 zucchini
• 3 medium potatoes
• 3 tomatoes (pealed)
• 35 g tomato concentrate
• 1 large onion (roughly chopped)
• garlic to taste (min 2 cloves)
• herbs: cumin, sweet paprika, kurkuma, pepper and salt, cinnamon (ground + 2 sticks), Ras el Hanout
• 20 apricots (dried) and 1/2 cup raisins
• chicken stock 
• 1/2 cup green olives (without stones)
• couscous

-

spice the meat (easiest is to put the meat and spices
in plastic bag and shake well)

cut the vegetables in big chunks, peal tomatoes and de-seed

sweat down the onions and garlic without colouring them (put aside)

same saucepan, brown the spiced meat (put aside)
pour some stock into saucepan and loosen  juices
add tomato concentrate and stir

layer the onions, the meat, the carrots, tomatoes, zucchini and
Cinnamon sticks, pour in the chicken stock until
half way up the contents

cover and bring to the boil, reduce heat to simmering
and forget for 45 min

I wish they made blogs in smell O vision, mmmmm

after 45 min add the potatoes and dried apricots, cover again
and leave for another 10 to 15 min until the potatoes are done

In the mean time prepare the couscous with some raisins.

We used a regular stainless steel saucepan for the preparation, but for presentation's sake, we used the tajine to bring to the table.

add some olives to the couscous at the bottom of the tajine

layer on the meat

now add all the vegetables and juices
sprinkle with sliced almonds and some sesame seeds

serve piping hot

 Beware! Enjoy, but watch out for over eating!

Getting my blog started

As I roam the web looking for ideas, I keep reading the most interesting things on other people's blogs, 
So it should not be to much of a surprise that I'm going to start my own blog.

It's going to be a lifestyle blog with focus on Home Improvement, DIY, Art, Cooking and much much more.
My friends keep telling me that I'm sooooo handy and creative, so here goes, I'm going to start sharing projects I'm working on.

Keep me informed if you want to see particular content or if I can help you with tips about projects you are working on.

Love Marjan