Ahhh December, a month to reflect on the year behind and bid it farewell.  I was thinking the other day how I would sum up my 2009, and I decided it was one gigantic New Year’s resolution resolved (I’ll spare you the details). Happily, this means I have zero resolutions for 2010 and am entering the New Year with utter abandon.  Whoopee!

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen… I feel like I have not stopped cooking all month. Every week I promise myself I am not going to entertain, and every week the calendar fills up to the brim:  lunch for 5, dinner for 12, dinner for 3, lunch for me + 1…  I’m determined, lately, to expand my repertoire, so I have been trying a lot of new dishes and steering clear of my old standbys.   It’s good because it makes cooking more exciting, but it can be a bit terrifying trying to come up with totally original menus all the time.  (Don’t worry, I am writing everything down and I promise to share.)

I was supposed to go to Singapore for Christmas, but I couldn’t find a decent flight so have decided to stay put.  I’m glad, really, because I have thrown myself into holiday mode, decking my place with pine boughs and holly and making a big batch of candied citrus peel for Christmas desserts. If you’ve never candied your own peel, I highly recommend it, because there is nothing more delicious and it will transform your plum pudding and fruitcakes.

Happy holidays!