merry christmas! whether you had a barbecue on a hot summer’s day, roasted chestnuts over a roaring fire or delivered presents to children across the world in your sleigh, i hope you had a fabulous time.

this year i decided to do a low-key, rustic lunch for my guests. and, in an attempt to minimise stress, i asked everyone to bring something. i usually am not a fan of the “bring a plate thing” (perhaps it’s the greek in me that is horrified at the thought of not providing for my guests) but as my entertaining becomes more frequent, i have come to appreciate the assistance. 

so, with the ham, prawns, bread, cherries and cheese taken care of by my guests, and with a very aussie christmas spread already on the way, all that was left for me to do was put together a fairly festive table setting and some delicious side dishes.

here are the results (with some attractive legs in the background for good measure): 

the table

place settings

honey roasted carrots, purple carrots & parsnips with cumin seeds

fennel and orange salad

proscuitto with parmesan (also, what happens when your guests start eating before you take a photo)

beef and black pepper sausages with a caramelised onion gravy & thyme

orecchiette with peas, ricotta, mint, chilli and crisp pancetta

balsamic roast potatoes with garlic and rosemary

blanched green beans with toasted almonds & butter

oven roast cauliflower, brussels sprouts and broccoli

overall, the lunch was a huge success, unlike the christmas crackers, which were sadly lacking in exciting gifts. where are the tweezers and nail clippers when you want them?

p.s. i realise i have just included a pile of sausages in a list of side dishes. well… that’s just the kind of person i am.

bon appetit!