Deep breath in...

Who are you calling fat?

... and smell that Christmassy goodness. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa and shedloads of brandy. The alcohol burns off in the cooking though. Honest. At least that's what I'm told.

In an act of pure extravagance, the pudding is in a vintage Emma Bridgewater bowl. Purchased from Ebay a year or so back, it has clearly been well used for many Christmas puddings past. I rather hope this is not its last!

That is my one and only culinary chore for Family Christmas, although I believe I have to bake some cakes for the Senior Citizens' party  SmallDragon#1's school runs each year. In a stroke of bad luck, last year's party was cancelled due to the sudden heavy snow fall and I got left with a large chocolate gingerbread cake and a large lemon drizzle cake. In the spirit of Christmas and to save my waistline, I did donate half the lemon one to our neighbours. The chocolate gingerbread was going nowhere though.