What's left of the watercress - refreshing in COLD water!
Christmas morning – after standing for 15 back-breaking minutes to pick the tender shoots off the watercress and refresh in cold water, I put my hand into the sink only to find to my utter shock and horror that the water is HOT! I want to serve crisp, chilled watercress salad, not soup!
Now, I am so far behind in my preparation for Christmas Day lunch. I haven’t even started to set the table. I have been soaking the black currants in verjuice to make them plump, and will toast the pinenuts to coax the nutty flavour into the overall salada extravaganza – or what there is left of it.
I had the foresight to make the Avocado Soup yesterday and it is chilling in the refrigerator. I have not peeled the tiger prawns that will adorn the soup as yet as I wish to retain that delicious ‘saltiness from the sea’ taste that remains when a prawn comes straight from the shell.
I do hope the silver is polished and the little-used crystal gleaming!
PS: Just as we are about to sit down to eat, I’m asked why there are 7 places set for only 6 people. I’m not used to all this activity – obviously!
Avocado soup lost in all that once-a-year china and crystal. The hand washing-up is a killer!
Chookman, Michael, Pam and Ken, and Victor 'raising a glass' before the Christmas lunch