Christmas Dinner

Mood:Great Health:Good Weather:Cold

I arrived at Rabab's place in the afternoon. Like the rest, we all helped with washing, chopping, peeling etc. Junichi impressed me with his peeling skills! He done the potato and carrot very well!

On the left was Rabab who has been busying with all our dinner. On the right was Renee from US.She was a terrific helper to Rabab!

The aroma of food soon filled up the kitchen... I was getting hungry... I can't wait for the table to be cleared and set --> can't wait to tuck in!! Haha...

Table setting. Junichi sat on the right

Red and wine wines are common! How about Sake for Christmas?

The first course is pumpkin soup. Isn't it professionally done?

This was my favourite side dish. It was baked potato and carrot. However, it looked like baked crab meat or prawn. Oooo... don't you agreed?

Renee brought special rice! It was from US. The flavour and texture was totally different from the normal rice we have. This was chewy and tasty.

I was hungry but not greed. I had a little of everything! Roasted chicken and potato, red cabbage, US rice and baked potato and carrot! Renee's roasted chicken was great! This was the best roasted chicken I ever had! Have you ever tasted dried and blend chicken. Renee's one was tasty and juicy and the skin was crispy. Wow...

Renee was such a fantastic chief! Don't think that her red cabbage is just normal steamed red cabbage! It was slow cooked for hours with real apple juice, herbs and other ingredients!

Enjoying not just good food but dialogue as well!

From clockwise: Bridget, Jocie, Nick, Rabab, Renee, (Junichi & Sam missing) and Gary. Gary was sitting beside me. He was a tall and tough man. I would never expect humour coming from this ruffian- looking guy! (Shhh... please don't tell him that I said that) He was so funny!! I was laughing so much! Hahaha!!!

The last course... DESSERTS!

You would never imagine. We had 5 different desserts tonight! This was the longest dessert serving I ever had...

Christmas pudding is a must! Rabab steamed it for more than 3 hours, warmed brandy was poured over it. Then she tried to light up the pudding but it was unsuccessful. What a pity!

Never mind...just eat. It was served with Rabab's special brandy cream sauce... Ooo...

Next is Renee's baked clementine cake.

Then different cheese. Guess which is my favourite?

My favourite was this creamy garlic cheesy with herbs on it. Hmm... looked like swiss roll though!

Cheese, crackers and grapes... (suddenly I felt like a mouse)

Mince pie

I thought the mince pie was made of mince meat. A bit to my disappointment, it was sweetened fruits inside.

The last dessert - Rabab's home made sweets

I don't know what they are called exactly. It has some sort of peanuts fillings and crispy skin on top! It was a traditional sweet from Arab or Iraq I think...

Ate so much today... luckily Rabab in advanced, planned to go to the sanctuary tomorrow. This will help us to burn some energy from our food. Good night! I am going to have good rest for tomorrow! Finger-crossed that the weather will be great!