Well hello there, and come on in. Let’s grab some coffee or whatever else you prefer. It’s hot here in South Africa, so I’ll probably have an iced coffee.

If we were having coffee, we’d reflect on Christmas. I did all my gift shopping online and everything arrived well before time. Of course, because I leave everything until the last minute, I wrapped the presents in a rush. But because the wrapping paper gets ripped open (a tradition in our family) how well wrapped it is, does not matter. Chè thankfully came to help (no, not with ripping it open, wrapping the presents).

The family came together at my folk’s house on Christmas Eve for the traditional Portuguese bacalhau dish. We’re 9 people and we’ve been taking care – Chè and I hadn’t been out for 2 weeks before Christmas. Presents opening was at midnight and then we had some midnight snacks. We stayed over, all the kids and grandkids under one roof again.

Christmas Day is my turn to cook stuffed turkey which I thoroughly enjoy doing. The process starts 3-days before to get the turkey ready for roasting. I also made Bolo Rei – it’s an 8-hour marathon … or odyssey, depending on how you want to look at it. I still have some leftover – do you want a slice?

Boxing Day is Chè’s birthday and whoever wants and is able to join us for a turkey left-over lunch at my sister’s place. Because it is so close to Christmas and bakeries aren’t open there is not usually a cake. I’m not a baker (the Bolo Rei is the only one I make in a 365 day period) so making a cake is not top of my mind. But this year I was organised! I ordered a cake from The Pastry Chef Bakery – a fun cake so suited to Ché – an electronic circuit board. Doesn’t it look so cute, and a total hoot 🙂

Well, it’s Monday today (is it Monday?) and I’m on vacation. I’m going to spend the rest of the day reading and relaxing, having more coffee, and … oh shoot … the Bolo Rei is finished!

Until next week.

Regina