Finishing touches for a Fabulous Christmas!

Your stockings are hung and there is a pile of presents beautifully wrapped under the Christmas Tree … now the hard part starts. Planning for Christmas Lunch (or dinner) can be the most draining part of the whole season, but with these great decorating and cooking ideas, you’ll be everyone’s favourite come the New Year.

HomeLife really take the cake for great ideas and Christmas decorating inspiration. Start with red and white striped straws for your festive drinks, add matching napkins and a bit of sparkle with silver napkin rings. This Santa red bowl will make a great centrepiece (fill it with lollies, or punch!) and these adorable Christmas inspired salt and pepper shakers are the perfect finishing touch.

Channel your inner Tonia Todman and get creative by making your own bon bons. Tara Dennis has some lovely ideas to personalise these to your taste or family, and they are much simpler to create than you might think! Hit the kitchen in the days before Christmas lunch to whip up something yummy for your family and friends.

Chocolate Ripple and a Pavlova are traditional Australian favourites, but why not try something a bit different? This Golden Mango and Passionfruit Caramel Tart uses fresh mangoes and passionfruit. We’re hungry just looking at the pictures!

And a final reminder of a few things you should check off your to-do list before the big day.

– Check that you have plenty of gas in the BBQ and that you haven’t forgotten the apple and cranberry sauces for the pork and turkey.

– Count the number of guests you have, and how many plates are in your cupboard –do you have enough so you won’t spend all day washing dishes between courses?

– Finally, make a list of what time the veggies need to be turned on, when the meat should rest and how long each will take to cook. No one wants to forget to cook something in a haze of festive excitement and champagne.

Happy hosting!

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