sweet chestnut stuffing

as the song goes,
'it's beginning to look a lot like christmas....everywhere i go'.

i am just back after visiting my parents where we had a mini christmas which was delightful.

my memories of christmas as a child are magical and the highlight, after the mountain of presents, was the christmas dinner...all made by my dad. 

we always started with escargots, snails in garlic butter - unusual in ireland ! main course was, of course, turkey, ham studded with cloves, roast potatoes, brussel sprouts and honey roasted carrot and parsnip. the turkey was accompanied by five different types of stuffing !

i really enjoyed helping dad prepare the meal last week and i'd love to share the recipe for his chestnut stuffing, our favourite, with you.

it comes from his beloved, well read and slightly battered, good housekeeping's cookery book, dating from the 1950's.

 and here is the chestnut stuffing recipe...

it is sooo easy. dad uses a tin of puréed chestnuts as that is easier and quicker.

here he is mixing away...

he makes it all look so easy, after stuffing the neck of the turkey he covers it with a layer of streaky bacon to keep the moisture in.

here is dad posing proudly beside 'the bird'.

i look forward to sharing some more of my christmas at mum and dad's and will continue it in my next post. 

is it beginning to look a lot like christmas where you are ? i hope so.

a bientot...