The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
FESTIVE SERVING
We’ll spend extra time in the kitchen very soon, so why not add some festive themed cookware and crockery, suggests Jacqueline Wake Young
If there’s one room that sees more action than all the others over Christmas, it’s the kitchen. As the heart of the home, it’s where visitors tend to head first to oversee the making of their tea (“Leave the teabag in! That’s enough milk! Just a quarter teaspoon of sugar for me!”). It’s where everyone gathers during parties, leaving the beautifully-decorated living room abandoned except for an elderly relative trying to watch TV above the hullaballoo, and one kid on a Kindle.
It’s the centre of operations for all foodrelated tasks, and goodness knows there are a lot of them, from adding walnuts and satsumas to the fancy bowl that only makes an appearance once a year, to assembling the pyramid of Ferrero Rocher for a laugh.
It’s where the turkey is fretted over, the veggie nut roast is burned, and the Bisto Best is kept secret from guests.
Given that some of us will spend most of late December to January 1 in the kitchen, it’s perfectly understandable that we may want to inject some festive cheer into our surroundings.
As with the fancy bowl that only comes out once a year, that Christmas feeling can come from holly patterned oven gloves, festive cake tins and a jug with embossed snow scene.
Festive crockery, tea towels and teapots are a lovely addition, while your kitchen could also be adorned with Christmas themed jugs, casserole dishes and cake stands to be proud of.
It’s from little things like these that precious memories are created, and
children who otherwise would rather not be given chores to do, will have newfound enthusiasm for setting the table when it involves cute Christmas themed salt and pepper pots and penguin napkins.