On Boxing Day we head down the coast for a week. Both Stephen and I are going to leave our MacBooks and mobile phones at home. Hence, I won't be blogging while we are away as we'll be spending our days on the beach and lazing in the sun. I hope to resume life as we know it by the second week of January, or there about.

So have yourself a very Merry Christmas and may the year ahead be filled with abundant joy, hope and new adventure.

I have all my side of the family coming over to our house for dinner this Christmas Eve so it will be loud, chaotic and very Maltese. Hence, I wanted to try and keep it simple food wise, so I plan to make a couple of one dish wonders yet again. There will be Timpana for the carnivores and a huge Spanakopita for the two token vegetarians, although I'm sure some of the meat eaters will no doubt dive head first into the spanakopita as well. I have put my sister on 'salad duty' so she is going to make a large fattoush and my sister in-law is on 'fruit duty' which basically means that she will bring cherries, mangoes, berries and a load of cheese.

For dessert I wanted to make something summery and festive so I decided to make a tiramisu of sorts with layers of fresh raspberry purée and zabaglione, yet instead of using the traditional Marsala I used Grand Marnier. I also added some fresh mascarpone to the zabaglione and then folded through some melted white chocolate for good measure.

At this time of year when gift giving is at it's peak, I thought I'd share with you a few of my favourite things that have found their way into my kitchen this year.

 M-CUPS



This set of 6 dry-measure cups nests neatly just like traditional Russian matryoshkas. They accurately measure 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and 1 full cup, and they're built from heavy-duty, food-safe, long-life engineering plastics. M-Cups are useful, easy to store, and quite charming, so why not doll up your kitchen with a little Russian folklore?
 

Now that you all know that my name is Nanette I thought for the sake of ease I would no longer refer to the father of my children as Huxley, but instead use his real name - Stephen.  I'm going to continue to refer to the children as Hoover and Fussy because Hoover still inhales her food and Fussy, well he is still pernickety.

So now that we have attended to that little bit of housekeeping and are all on the same page I'll thought I'd let you know what I made the other week for Stephen's birthday dinner.

Unfortunately Stephen was going to be in America for his birthday, as he had to go to Chicago for work. I was not too thrilled about the situation and the children were rather upset at the prospect of not being able to 'help papa blow out his birthday candles'. So at the very last minute I invited Jacqueline and Andrew and their two gorgeous girls over for a lovely impromptu birthday dinner for Stephen - minus the birthday cake.

Today marks a year since I published my first ever post on Gourmet Worrier and thus made my debut onto the blogging scene. In doing so, I unexpectedly joined the ranks of those suffering from what has been referred to by some as 'gourmand syndrome', which as far as I'm concerned is a most pleasurable and joyous condition to be struck down with.

In looking back at the year that was, I can honestly say that I didn't really think that anyone would be remotely interested in what I had to say, think or cook. Hence, I am completely gobsmacked that people actually take the time to read my blog and continue to do so every day!

I primarily started this blog for me, as I desperately needed a place where I could find my 'own' voice and 'vent my gastronomic spleen'. If truth were told, I never set out to write for any given audience, because no one was really out there, right? I was happy with my little piece of the blogosphere, content being Ms Gourmet the anonymous, naive, newbie blogger.

Yet within what seemed like a matter of moments I began to connect with other like-minded food centric souls who not only understood me, but also wanted to 'follow me' and get to know me. Your genuine interest, honesty and sincerity demanded that I shed my alias and reveal myself - pronto! So down went the 'bumblebee' avatar and up went the photo of moi! Yes I was cautious and tentative like the rest of you, but I allowed myself to be led by instinct and began to let you in one at a time.



I now enjoy the many conversations that fill my day with people I would never have had the chance to connect with due to the obvious constraints of time and geography. For someone who is painfully introverted, deeply suspicious and at times can border on paranoid - blogging has proven to be a most therapeutic outlet.

Despite my major faux pars and the huge learning curve before me, many fellow blogger's have proven to be incredibly generous and helpful with their suggestions and advice, and so for this I thank you!  Very early on there was Christie with her constructive, yet ever so gentle criticism, followed shortly there after by Ilva who although frank and direct is also incredibly seasoned, honest and wise. Then along came Bron, Deb, Jessica and Mona and to my utter joy came Heidi, Jamie, Anissa, Pip and Denise. Never in a million years would I have ever believed that Marcella herself would show up on Gourmet Worrier.

Dear readers I'm constantly blown-away by your friendship and incredible kindness, despite us having never met face to face or having shared a meal together. Well all except for Mona who not only shared a meal or two with Huxley and I when we were recently in Malta, but who then graciously allowed us to crash in her guest room after that unforgettable meal at Tal-familja.

It was only late last week that I found this gorgeous comment that Elaine had recently left on my very first post. Hence, Elaine managed to articulate everything that I am currently feeling at this time:

'Blogging serves a purpose if only to allow some to bloviate endlessly. However, when one magically connects with a food geek that is serious about their obsession then palates are expanded, relationships developed and food knowledge grows. Sharing meals, cooking marathons, or visiting markets together all virtually, makes those experiences all the more sweeter.


Thank you internet, for bringing together a food community we otherwise may never have known, with those such as Ms. Gourmet.'


So thank you for coming along with me on this journey of sorts and for helping me to understand that genuine, authentic connection is far more rewarding than hits and page views!

I do not consider myself to be a religious person, although I do have this thing for religious icons. My latest acquisition involves old, disused holy water fonts and vintage Mary statues and miraculous medals. I have no idea why, but it just 'is' at the moment.

Hence, when I was in Rome last year feasting on great food, ancient art and religious icons galore I found that I was suddenly surrounded, as it were by nuns in full habit. It seemed that everywhere I turned there standing before me was a nun. I spotted nuns shopping at Campo dei Fiori, standing outside Zara and chatting on their mobile phones.



The one above taken on the Rome Metro is a current favourite of mine.

In Melbourne we're really spoilt for choice when it comes to coffee as we have a plethora of café's that serve outstanding coffee, consequently I have very high caffeine standards. Hence when I'm abroad and in pursuit of my daily hit, I find that my frustration in trying to find a semi decent espresso is often interpreted by those around me as - 'whingeing princess'.

One year, out of sheer desperation I packed the Bialetti and 250g of ground Genovese coffee, so to ensure caffeine consistency whilst on holiday. This year I thought I'd throw caution to the wind so I left my Bialetti and the Genovese coffee at home.

Stupid move!

Within a couple of days of being in Malta I found myself desperately reaching out to the locals on twitter for some caffeine assistance. Thankfully Mona, Andrew and Andrea came to the rescue with the unanimous suggestion that I should pay a visit to Piadina Caffe in Valletta. Whilst being grateful for the 'local knowledge' it didn't solve my caffeine crisis whilst on the island of Gozo, although I did find momentary bliss here. Yet, what it did do was urge me to board the next ferry to Malta in search of this famous café in Santa Lucia Street in Valletta.

When you think about blood orange sorbet you would naturally assume blood orange juice + sugar and then churn, freeze and serve, no?

Well think again and think vanilla! Yes, I said vanilla - bean, seeds and all!

I know. I too was slightly dubious when I first came across this recipe because blood oranges and vanilla are not your normal run of the mill bedfellows. Needless to say I had to try this one for curiosity sake more than anything else. And can I just state for the record that this sorbet  just tastes so 'right' in a nature intended kind of way 'right' .

Do you get what I'm saying?

How about you get half a dozen blood oranges and make a some sorbet for yourself and then you'll see that I haven't gone stark, raving mad here.

Last year I went to Rome seeking hope, happiness and answers

And like the proverbial tourist I threw three coins in the fountain

One coin for each child of mine

and a coin for me...

Three coins in the fountain,

which coins will the fountain bless?

If I manage to drag myself out of bed early enough when on holiday in Gozo, I love to walk from Marsalforn to Qbajjar all the way around to Xwieni Bay. There's just something magical about being up just after dawn, before the hustle and bustle of daily life begins to intrude upon the previous nights silence.



I love watching the faithful fishermen set out to sea from Marsalforn Bay in their brightly painted fishing boats. Every Maltese luzzu, which is said to be of Sicilian origin, proudly bears the eye of Osiris on her bow, a symbol that dates back to the time of the Phoenicians. These unique and sturdy boats have been carrying men out to the ever-present Mediterranean Sea, which has 'throughout the ages, made men excellent mariners' as this 'ubiquitous sea has always attracted men to fish'.