Christmas in Brazil

In Brazil Christmas is celebrated on the 24th.. well midnight on the 24th.
On the evening of the 24th families tend to have a big meal and then will exchange gifts at midnight. There are fireworks, lots of drinking and the 25th is spent pretty much hungover!

We are each going to cook something for the meal. I wanted to make something traditionally English. I was going to make mince pies but they don't have mincemeat here and I was too lazy to make my own. Then I thought of trifle, but they don't have custard here. Or fresh cream. Or whole milk - only the UHT stuff. So I thought I would make fairy cakes and decorate festively.  However they only seem to sell teeny weeny cake cases for truffles in the super market.

Seriously Brazil!!! Why are you trying to stop me from baking?!

So I opted for a Victoria sponge cake in a ring tin as that was the only cake tin in the house, with butter icing and some festive decoration.

The cake slightly fell apart because of the ring, and then was undercooked, so I had to put it back in the oven. Then the butter icing completely melted and it was pretty much a disaster!

 We spent the Christmas Eve afternoon at a a friend's house by the pool.

 We then headed home to finish cooking dinner and to put the presents around the tree!

 For dinner we had salmon, Turkey, potato salad, tabbouleh and tuna salad.

 After dinner we opened presents. We didn't wait until midnight as Fabio's brother had to drive back to Floripa.

Neuci - Fabio's mum

Fabio with his stocking!

I bought Fabio some gliders but it seemed his Dad was more excited about them!

 Opening a present from Katy and Seb.
It was a union jack bag!

 Fabio was very excited over his water pistol, unfortunately us and the dogs who he kept using it on weren't!

 Charms Fabio bought me!

Feliz Natal!!!