Monday 20 December 2010

Christmas dinner with my blogger family...Be Jolly By Golly blogfest. This is all about food, lights and tinsel!

This blogfest is Christmas dinner with your blogger family

I want to thank Melissa from Through the Looking Glass for this Christmassy blogfest Be Jolly By Golly. It's all about the way you celebrate, how you decorate.

I have a little problem as I mainly live in an apartment in inner-city Brisbane, but celebrate Christmas at our beach house 100 kilometers north at Peregian Beach on the Sunshine Coast. 

Here is a photo of a family member at the beach house with my little doggie, Foxy Lady, smelling a rose from our garden.

 As we won't be in the apartment at Christmastime, we just bang up fairy lights and have a small Christmas tree here. All the pressies are in the car waiting for me to drive up early this week to decorate the tree at the beach and have everything ready for the family when they arrive on Christmas Eve.


This is beautiful, quiet, perfect Peregian Beach at low tide. Our village is up the sand dunes and very tiny. The metropolis you see is the next town, Coolum Beach. I can't wait to get running along that golden sand...

The first thing Melissa and Jen want is pictures of my decorations, holiday lights and Christmas tree.

 
SO, I don't just want to post our pov little tree and lights here. I thought I'd post a piccie of the Christmas tree in King George Square in the city, just a few minutes from my home here. It is the largest Christmas tree in the world that is completely solar powered. Not bad to have in your backyard!


How we celebrate.


We celebrate Christmas Day by coming together as a family. This changes every year as there are new family members. Everyone comes to the beach house.

We don't bother much with breakfast. Used to, but no one felt like lunch after all that bacon and eggs and croissants and danish pastries! 


We have a roast at lunch (even in this heat!). I'm in charge of desserts and my Toblerone Cheesecake always takes pride of place. There is always Christmas pud for those with a remnant of the Empire flowing through their veins.


We especially love Christmas Tea which is very relaxed. We sit on the deck overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean. We indulge in fresh prawns, hams etc and delicious duck liver pate (made by a chef we know), all sorts of cheeses, toasted Turkish breads, tropical fruits ad infinitum! 


I am to share our favorite holiday treat, ahem, well mine anyway.

TOBLERONE CHEESECAKE


Ingredients:

1 cup plain chocolate biscuit crumbs

1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup thickened cream
1/4 cup ground almonds
200g TOBLERONE Milk or Dark Chocolate for shaving 
200g TOBLERONE Milk or Dark Chocolate, melted
500g block PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
80g butter, melted


Instructions:

Combine biscuit crumbs, butter and almonds, press into the base of a lightly greased 20cm springform pan. Chill.


Beat PHILADELPHIA and sugar using an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in the melted Toblerone and cream until well combined.


Pour onto the prepared crumb base and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours until set, or overnight. Serve topped with the TOBLERONE shavings.


This only takes about 15 minutes to prepare. I usually make three for various functions, so just as well it's quick!
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Share your favorite holiday drink (Either alcoholic or non, share your recipe if you please - Melissa and Jen reckon we're all going to want to drink theirs so they'd like some options to steal too).

We like to make what we call a Toblerone (like a mudslide) for after Christmas Tea. It makes a delicious change after all the wine that's been sipped during the day along with the odd majito or two!


In a blender throw some icy cold rich milk, shots of any liquor you have left - (Tia Maria, Kahlua, Frangelico, Cointreau, vodka, Bailey's Irish Creme - get the drift - not all!! but you need the Bailey's and about three others), whizz for a bit. Get some parfait glasses or somesuch out of the freezer. 


Artistically drizzle (if you can keep your hand steady by this stage) melted Cadbury's chocolate or Toblerone chocolate or at the very least, chocolate sauce, around the inside of the glass (like my Eiffel Tower?), then gently pour in the mix. Top with whipped cream if you're absolutely disgusting! And why not some hunks of Toblerone or chocolate sauce if you're determined to milk this for all it's worth!

Sip reverently.

Remember to drink sensibly. Everyone crashes at the beach house (on a bed, not in a car!) No one drives anywhere. We all go for a run/walk/swim after lunch and dinner at night to deal with all the calories and alcohol. It's nice to greet in the street and admire Christmas lights and on-going parties before yet another perfect Christmas Day is over. 




Once all the Christmas hoo ha is over, this is where I'll sit and read and watch the sunset...dinner will be BBQs on the deck for the rest of the week...


Happy Christmas and New Year everyone!


Don't forget to visit everyone else, share in the holiday spirit and spread the cheer.

46 comments:

Kari Marie said...

I wanted to lick my screen after seeing the photo of the Toblerone cheesecake, but the mudslide image sent me running to the freezer.

Everything sounds wonderful.

Nomes said...

Oooh - thanks for sharing! I LOVE that chair and am SO INSPIRED by that Toblerone cheesecake! YUM.

Denise Covey said...

Kari Marie: Both are certainly yum!

Nomes: Isn't the driftwood chair the greatest?

Melissa said...

I feel totally ridiculous for telling everyone they would want to steal mine. I mean, I love it because it's simple and easy and freaking delicious but out of the ten or so people that have posted already (before I head to bed!) I want to drink all of theirs and they look freaking delicious.

Toblerone is my FAVORITE chocolate ever. Your cheesecake looks TO DIE FOR! (The drink too). I'm printing this off and making it one day. Gosh. I'm drooling all over my keys!

I love that you celebrate on the beach. That sounds (and looks) absolutely wonderful. The solar powered christmas tree looks epic!

Thank you so much for participating in our blog fest!

Ann said...

Your Toblerone cheesecake looks and sounds wonderfully decadent. I can’t wait to try it. Christmas on the beach sounds heavenly. What a lovely spot you have to take a breath and relax after the Christmas rush!

Jane said...

Your holiday plans sound terrific! I could do with a view of the beach! And that cheesecake - yum!

Jane

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Christmas at the beach house sounds like fun!

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous post! I enjoyed reading this, not least because I was transported from cold, snowy England.

I'm going to make that Toblerone cheesecake. Thanks for the recipe. Hope you have a wonderful time at the beach house.

Su said...

Oooh, that tree is gorgeous. What's the building behind it?

And the cheesecake looks heavenly.

Jules said...

Well that beach sure took the chill off. Sounds like a very beautiful tradition you have going there. :)

I LOVE that bench.

Happy Holidays from up top!
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Rula Sinara said...

Mmmmm. I think I gained a few pounds from the pictures alone :) The beach photo is stunning too! Have a wonderful holiday.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Wow, a solar powered Christmas tree! And the drink looks yummy.

Colene Murphy said...

BEAUTIFUL BEACH!! Oh...I would love to spend Christmas on the beach again! You just made me homesick! (in a good, fond memory kind of way)

That milky chocolate thing looks amazing! Yum Nom. mmm...

Merry Christmas girl!!

Christine Danek said...

I'm coming to your beach house for Christmas. So nice. I'm also bookmarking this. Your recipes made me drool. Cute little guy too.
Have a wonderful holiday! I'm jealous of the heat. :)

notesfromnadir said...

Nice solar-powered Christmas tree! You are so lucky to celebrate Christmas in such a beautiful beach house! Nothing like a truly tropical Christmas!

Toblerone cheesecake looks awesome. Thanks for reminding me that I need to buy a cheesecake.

Talli Roland said...

Oh, I LOVE your Christmas! FABULOUS - especially the beach bit! And the drink bit!

Have a great one! And thank you so much for putting the Amazon widget on your blog, with my book! Yay! :)

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

Your post is a great break from the day.
The Cheesecake and after tea drink would end my day, I'm afraid ;o)

Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

The Toblerone cheesecake and decident cocktail sound delicious. Have a lovely family Christmas; that is quite a setting.

Summer Ross said...

I love the blue tree!

Golden Eagle said...

Christmas at a beach house--that sounds like fun!

Merry Christmas!

Denise Covey said...

Sounds like the consensus is that everyone wouldn't mind a bit of beach, cheesecake and cocktail! Merry Christmas everyone!

Mary Mary said...

Awesome tree, Awesome cheesecake, Awesome beach! I am so jealous! Where I live, we get this crappy in-between weather that people here think is great, but it's not. It's not cold, it's not hot, it's just blah. Enjoy a gorgeous sunset for me!

♥ Mary Mary

Julie Musil said...

I love your little doggie, and LOOOOVE that beach. Your holiday plans sound lovely, and I hope you and your family enjoy!

Carol Riggs said...

Sounds like a great hoo ha you have going there--love the photo of the beach! Sounds so relaxing, and your recipes sounds deeeeelish. Merry Christmas!

Ellie Garratt said...

Foxy Lady is so cute! Ooo...can I spend Christmas with you? I want to know what it's like to spend Christmas at the beach.

Toblerone cheesecake?! Yum, yum.

Nicole Zoltack said...

Awesome pictures! That cheesecake looks divine! Merry Christmas! :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

oh my goodness yum!! The cheesecake and drink look so yum! There goes my diet! (again).

Wishing you a very merry Christmas,
Lyn
W.I.P. It: A Writer's Journey

Vanessa Morgan said...

That sentence where you write that you're eating fresh prawns on the deck overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean really makes me want to go to Australia :-)

Avalon Cat Cartoons said...

Hmmmm, Christmas at the beach! You're giving me ideas for next year ;-)

The Words Crafter said...

a remnant of the empire! :)

your day sounds heavenly.....hope it's a fantastic one this year, too!

RaShelle Workman said...

That cheesecake looks divine. Yum!! Celebrating Christmas at the beach is amazing. If you can't have snow, I'd rather have beach any day. Merry Christmas.

HelenMWalters said...

Looks amazing. Have a lovely Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Toblerone Cheesecake? Looks and sounds yummy!

N. R. Williams said...

You sold me, I'm coming for a visit. No, no money...so I will dream of visiting. You've got an elf bench. In my book, the elves have furniture woven out of trees. LOL
Merry Christmas.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author

Jeff Beesler said...

L'Aussie: That Toblerone Cheesecake looks so good I just might have to make one of my characters in a future story eat it.

And you've got a shout-out on my Tuesday blog post.

Jennie Bailey said...

Foxy Lady doesn't look too sure about that rose! Your Christmas sounds lovely - enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Wow where do I start, you have a beach house, sweet as! That tree looks awesome and your toblerone cheesecake sounds to die for. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful christmas.

I have an award for you on my blog
http://bit.ly/eHXy9v

Michael Di Gesu said...

Wow,

What a fantastic city you live in, L'Aussie. It's gorgeous. And what a wonderful tradition to go to your beach house and celebrate Christmas with your family.

Thank you for sharing your incredible tradition with us.

Happy Christmas to you and your family.

Michael

MTeacress said...

Hello, I stopped over from Jeffrey's. It looks like you're going to have a lovely Christmas celebration. Enjoy!

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness! That cheesecakes looks to die for. As if I needed any more incentive to eat Christmas goodies! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

Denise Covey said...

MT: Great.

KM Weiland: Yes, we all indulge too much!

Botanist said...

That cheesecake looks and sounds delicious. So simple, too. The perfect dessert to top off Christmas dinner in your climate.

Unknown said...

Your little doggie so cute! And I like the look of that cheesecake...

Unknown said...

Your little doggie so cute! And I like the look of that cheesecake...

kerrie said...

Hi L'A
your photos and food are lovely - Australian have the best food and cooks in the world and they really now how to enjoy spare time happy and delicious boxing day
K

Botanist said...

Just wanted to let you know that I tried your cheesecake recipe yesterday.

It was so delicious that I blogged about it here, to give you due credit. Thank you!