It's feeling a lot like Christmas

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Posted at 12:02PM, 16 August 2011 by Sarah Sysum - Assistant editor, Easy Cook magazine

Do you like Christmas, I mean really, really like it? Enough to eat, say 20 Christmas cakes in one sitting? OK let me explain. As assistant editor on BBC Easy Cook my job is to root out and test products bringing the best recommendations to our readers.

Turkey dinners are compulsory in August and we get visits from the Easter bunny in December...

What you might not be aware of is that we work about five months in advance, so yes, it means turkey dinners are compulsory in August and we get visits from the Easter bunny in December (confused yet?)

Christmas is the big one; where new foods and gadgets are displayed by the major retailers. Normally you might go to two shows a week - at this time of year it can be anything up to 20. Of course every retailer wants to exhibit their products in such a memorable way that you'll naturally want to feature them first. Over the years I've been privy to a giant gingerbread house , a chocolate maze and this year I got a life-sized Victorian Street, Santa's grotto and ice sculptures.

And of course there's the food. Over the course of the next month I'll blind taste over 40 Christmas cakes , 20 puddings and 70 different types of canapés . Yes you can have too much of a good thing.

Last year everything seemed to contain Christmas pudding (yes there was a pudding cheese and a pudding butter, what was that all about?). This year it's salted caramel . Now I love salted caramel, I can eat a whole box of salted caramel chocolates in one sitting but there's a certain trepidation building within me incase I have to start tasting salted caramel turkey, carrots and Brussels sprouts.

Can I say at this point I love proper Christmas; I keep menu spreadsheets, have started buying presents and have already made my own cards. However, there is one thing I really loathe: fake snow, and it's in abundance wherever you go this time of year. Fake snow and sandals do not mix.

The lady doth protest too much? Yes (I whisper), I love it really. Every last morsel of mince pie , scrap of turkey and dodgy canapé. So what should you buy? That'll be telling. You'll have to read Easy Cook and Good Food magazines in December to find out...

Started your planning yet? Let us know what you think will be the tastes of Christmas 2011.

Comments

alan/diane

18 August 2011, 9:55PM
alan/diane

what a great site ,so happy i found it thank you

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rozmorgan

19 August 2011, 9:49PM
rozmorgan

I'll admit it. I've started planning Christmas already and I've bought, and wrapped, some gifts. Christmas just makes me feel better but I also have a family who are hard to please and who need the menu run by them in advance.

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German_Connection

23 August 2011, 7:13PM
German_Connection

Salted caramel is a new one on me - look forward to trying it!

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The Harrow Belly

29 August 2011, 8:55AM
The Harrow Belly

Check out our food stall at Chelsea Market (Saturday) and Spitalfields Market (Sunday) in London. We sell Caribbean sweet and savoury food at fine food markets. For our Caribbean cakes, we've already soaked the vine fruits in sherry and rum for the best part of this year. Doing some more this Bank Holiday. And our family christmas cake has already been made! Wanna taste it? Come to our stall in October....! www.rummanco.co.uk

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llifon

30 August 2011, 10:14PM
llifon

Christmas is a military operation for me - I have to be organised and have lists for lists! I have made my Christmas cards, cake and mincemeat. Puddings are on the cards for this weekend. I have bought some pressies but have not wrapped them yet. By beinb mega organised now, will save me so much stress. Come Christmas it wil be feet up and enjoy.

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aspiringamateurchef

31 August 2011, 1:55PM
aspiringamateurchef

At least we can rely on the grub featured in the Magazine in December. That's the price you pay for Service to us and we deserve it cos we don't want to buy something and find it is a dud product.

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Michelle

9 September 2011, 9:17PM
Michelle

What an incredible job you have!!!

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