Christmas dinner

So I’m up in Brisbane a little earlier than usual. I’m here to help Mum and Dad for a few days while Mum continues her recovery from spinal surgery. She’s doing well and maintaining her exercises. I’m pleased to see her getting around and moving better than I imagined. I’m still trying to convince her though that things like ironing and perfect hospital corners on her bed are not essential to living and enjoying life. 

Given that I’m in Brisbane earlier than usual I was so happy that Miss13, Miss17 and Miss19 came for a visit yesterday for Christmas dinner 

I started the day knowing I had a lot of cooking and food ahead of me. 

Vegemite on toast bathed in butter SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 800
Vegemite on toast bathed in butter SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 800

Vegemite on toast, also known as the breakfast of champions.


For lunch I made a simple smoked salmon and sour cream on toasted wholemeal bread plate for Mum and Dad. They both enjoy smoked salmon and sour cream. I should have bought bagels. 

Smoked salmon and sour cream SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/13sec, ISO 400
Smoked salmon and sour cream SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/13sec, ISO 400
Smoked salmon and sour cream on toasted wholemeal bread SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/20sec, ISO 400
Smoked salmon and sour cream on toasted wholemeal bread SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/20sec, ISO 400

In the afternoon as I was thinking about preparing for dinner I got some cheese out for Dad. Dad loves cheese and this was a treat for him. What I also love about my daughters is they will try anything, even smelly cheeses. Miss13 said it wasn’t something she’d actively go looking for again but understood when I explained our palates change over years and as she gets older she may appreciate cheeses like this more. I love the spirit of Miss17, from an early age she’d try things, like oysters. I remember the first time she wasn’t that impressed but she made a conscious decision at a young age to try one every time we went out and now she loves oysters.

For afternoon tea we had Roquefort, Castella white and a Tlba cheddar SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
For afternoon tea we had Roquefort, Castella white and a Tlba cheddar SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250

Christmas dinner is usually quite large in the Lum household. I tried to explain to Mum we could do something simple and still enjoy it. So I suggested we limit ourselves to two meats and just a salad plus some spuds (potatoes for refined readers). 

So here we have a series of photographs that I shot as dinner was being prepared. I’m grateful to Miss17 for help with the salad and of course Mum who supervised and made the apple sauce even though I was meant to be looking after her. 

So I apologise in advance for the number of photographs in this post but what you won’t see is the number of photographs I shot and are still in my Adobe Lightroom library. 

Rolled pork shoulder prior to being rubbed SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Rolled pork shoulder prior to being rubbed SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Rolled pork shoulder after a rub of Chinese five spice and pepper with some star anise plugged in and bathing in sherry and whisky SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2000
Rolled pork shoulder after a rub of Chinese five spice and pepper with some star anise plugged in and bathing in sherry and whisky SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2000
Our chicken before roasting. I love this angle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Our chicken before roasting. I love this angle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500

Chicken

Rolled pork shoulder out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
Rolled pork shoulder out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
Roast chicken out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Roast chicken out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Roast chicken out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 5000
Roast chicken out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 5000
Roast pork and roast chicken after carving SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Roast pork and roast chicken after carving SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Roast pork and roast chicken after carving. More of the chicken in this view. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2000
Roast pork and roast chicken after carving. More of the chicken in this view. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2000
This salad had carrot, cos lettuce, Lebanese cucumber, tomatoes, mangos, avocados, and nectarines SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/250sec, ISO 6400
This salad had carrot, cos lettuce, Lebanese cucumber, tomatoes, mangos, avocados, and nectarines SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/250sec, ISO 6400
Smashed potatoes with mayonnaise SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Smashed potatoes with mayonnaise SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 5000
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 5000
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 4000
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 4000
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 4000
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 4000

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My plate SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 6400
My plate SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 6400

And then we had dessert 

Dessert was red and green jelly with peach slice embedded and three types of ice cream SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
Dessert was red and green jelly with peach slice embedded and three types of ice cream SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200

It was a good day with my parents and daughters. The weather in Brisbane was warm and it was moist. My skin was happy and I was happy. 

I bought Mum flowers for her birthday next week. The Lotus pod reminded me of Canberra's Skywhale because it looks like a carbuncle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
I bought Mum flowers for her birthday next week. The Lotus pod reminded me of Canberra’s Skywhale because it looks like a carbuncle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
I bought Mum flowers for her birthday next week. The Lotus pod reminded me of Canberra's Skywhale because it looks like a carbuncle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/60sec, ISO 12800
I bought Mum flowers for her birthday next week. The Lotus pod reminded me of Canberra’s Skywhale because it looks like a carbuncle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/60sec, ISO 12800

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So if you’ve made it this far thanks for reading. 

Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you have planned for your Christmas dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

13 Responses

    1. You are very kind Karen, thank you. I loved the images from your post today. While I’m not a snow person, your snow laden photographs are gorgeous.

  1. Looks lovely! Good food with the family. Doesn’t get much better than that. The pork with five spice looked and I’m sure smelled, delicious.

  2. We are starting with breakfast at our son’s new apartment in Crace an then moving on to our daughter’s place in Higgins for lunch/dinner. It will be a moveable feast.
    I am making and taking cranberry and pistachio shortbread, Sienna cake, mince pies and Spiced prune and pistachio panforte. My husband is making gravlax, country terrine and smoked trout pate.
    Glad your mother is recovering well from her operation.

  3. I’m going to my sister’s. I’m taking the first course and cheese and biscuits, with home-made, slow-cooker chutney. I haven’t decided what to do for the first course yet, but I’ll probably offer two options. Your dinner looked lovely.

  4. Goodness – what a lot of trouble you went to – lovely to have everyone around at this time of the year and I am sure your parents thought it was all fabulous – good on you..Cheers

    1. Thank you Monique. Yes Mum and Dad were very happy. It’s a very special time to catch up with them and my daughters.

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