I love Christmas, and as I mature (slightly), I realize that as much as I adore giving and receiving gifts, it’s about the food, baby.

There are several advantages to this; not the least of which is that unlike the mad rush of opening of the gifts on Christmas Morning, you get to set your own holiday parameters – the celebrating starts with the first chocolate popped into your mouth, and only ends when the last cookie is gone.

Here is my list of what makes Christmas, well, Christmassy:

cookies! especially shortbread and gingerbread
chocolate
clementines
egg nog (with spiced rum, of course!)
cranberries
nuts
sausage rolls
turkey with all the trimmings
trifle
mulled wine
champagne
smoked salmon
turkey sandwiches