Post holiday post...

I've put off my postings for a good few months!! So here it is, past the holidays, and I think I must put on a few things that were part of my seasonal festive comestibles. If only to reminisce about delicious things gone by...

From the all day house party on December 23
Stilton with Madeira (normally with port, but a lucky gift meant we had its close sibling instead).
Hummous
2 jars of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
juice of 1/2 lemon
4 tablespoons of tahini
1/3 cup of olive oil
1/4 cup water
2 garlic cloves crushed to a paste with salt
salt and pepper

Blend. Adjust flavors as needed- spread in a dish, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle on some smoked paprika or chopped parsley if desired. Serve with vegetables.

Tea Eggs (specialty of my husband)
For this, we took 80 quails eggs, boiled for 1 minute, gently cracked them all over, then boiled a pot of water with plain black tea, star anise, chinese rice wine, soy sauce (lots), and then replaced the eggs in the tea off the burner (there are optional other ingredients for the broth as well, dry orange peel, cinnamon, green onion, ginger...). Once they are cool, when they are peeled, they are beautifully marbled and taste of smoky tea. You can do it with chickens eggs as well, but boil for 3 minutes to start.

Chicken Liver Pate from Nigel Slater's Appetite (recommended book!)

Also, various cookies, candy, fruit, nuts, a Chinese congee with chicken from a friend, and lots and lots of wine, eggnog, bloody marys (made with fresh horseradish, mmmm), and loads of friends. Thanks to all of you who came, you made the day really great!