I've mentioned before that we are having a complete break with tradition this year and having Chinese. Me trying to head some of the flashpoints off before they start. We all enjoy Chinese and are going to make a feast if it, with hors d'oeuvres about midday and a sit-down at about £2.00. Of course there will be crispy duck :)

Going to eye up handcarved turkey over the next few weeks and buy when it is discounted. It's wonderful meat, but free-range and all that jazz, so you do pay for it. Pop in the freezer, just enough for sandwiches on Boxing Day as that's all Mum says she will miss. And after all, very little washing up, no long cooking times, no overstuffed fridge. Oddly I think we'll be more in the spirit of a (family) Christmas by not having a roast at all.

The 'rents can do the Christian thing. I just want to do the not having it end in tears thing.

So no preparations immediately. Got nearly a month to pull it all together.
Just 4 x prizes left to buy, and some cards.
I'm enjoying the build-up vicariously through my customers :)

cake 1 of 3
 

That's my goal, too. Although my lifelong experience of Christmas, both in family of origin and family of procreation, is that 'It's not Christmas 'til somebody cries.'

First, we have to get through Thanksgiving. If nobody cries, threatens others with bodily harm, commits assault, or runs out of the house in tears to fall in a snowbank, I will truly give thanks.

Ali - that cake is beautiful.

Thanks ortho. This year i wanted to experiment with stencils. It worked ok, but i will do some things differently next time.

cake 2 of 3
 

Very pretty, Ali!

Lovely Ali. The stencils work beautifullt.

But you might want to watch the nativity cake around these parts; Joseph looks suspiciously hobo-esque to me ;)

Yes, Joseph looks like he might whip out a joint any minute. LOL. Just kidding Ali. Your cakes look fantastic!! Makes me want to hop a plane and eat your cakes. Yumm

Sundae,

How Long is a Chinaman.

Go on, you got me

Sundae - are you going to bake anything special? I think you a fabulous baker and I haven't seen any lately.

Thanks guys. Heres a secret. The red one is going to my ss recipient. Just hope customs doesnt wreck it.

Christmas Preparations 2013
 

OHMYGOD!!!!!! Please let it be me!! Haha.....I know I live an ocean too far away for you to be my Secret Santa. But one can daydream, right? :-P

By the way, love all our cakes. :thumbs up:

(I can't get my emoticons....grrrrr...)

gorgeous cakes Aliantha. nomnomnomnom