Flashback to Christmas many many years ago and my In-Laws at the time were super intense about the big day, like there was no other reason worth living except Dec 25.
And this was a problem because the whole gift-giving thing was laced with issues inside the family and out. They wanted to show how rich they were but also wanted to be petty to some folks on the day. A double win when someone gets an iPad and someone else gets a Toblerone.
Anyhoooooo. One year I suggested an "Edible Christmas" where you have give presents that are food or ingredients, or just bring something for Christmas lunch.
It was marvellous. My sister-in-law was hopeless with money and Christmas was her worst day of the year, trying to find presents she can't afford for people she doesn't like anyway. But this time she made little chocolates herself and packed them into little white jars with a birdy for a handle, and some Japanese paper to wrap around the jar.
Edible Christmas let her participate and show her creative talent and avoid wasting money. I can't remember for sure but I think she might have even smiled on the day.
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Ewen Bell 📸
in reply to Ewen Bell 📸 • • •Ewen Bell 📸
in reply to Ewen Bell 📸 • • •But the best bit (and I do mean the absolute best part of the entire schmozzle of spending that Christmas Day with my in-laws) was that Edible Christmas was also how I ended up getting to know my future wife.
Ironic? Shocking? Delicious? All of the above.
I had started hiring this talented young girl to do styling on my photo shoots, and ended up getting her help to secretly make some edible presents myself. Then ended up doing a blog post for the recipe as well, so it was a cook and shoot day and we worked for about 16 hours.
And the lesson is, if you can work with someone in a room for 16 hours and not get into an argument then you should probably marry that person. It was many years later before all that happened, but I will always remember "Edible Christmas" as the best Christmas ever because it was when I realised I had to something about my life and stop pretending that I could find a way to cope being married to the wrong person.
So now I really enjoy Christmas. I get to spend time with my amazing wife, and every year is Edible Christmas because we a
... show moreBut the best bit (and I do mean the absolute best part of the entire schmozzle of spending that Christmas Day with my in-laws) was that Edible Christmas was also how I ended up getting to know my future wife.
Ironic? Shocking? Delicious? All of the above.
I had started hiring this talented young girl to do styling on my photo shoots, and ended up getting her help to secretly make some edible presents myself. Then ended up doing a blog post for the recipe as well, so it was a cook and shoot day and we worked for about 16 hours.
And the lesson is, if you can work with someone in a room for 16 hours and not get into an argument then you should probably marry that person. It was many years later before all that happened, but I will always remember "Edible Christmas" as the best Christmas ever because it was when I realised I had to something about my life and stop pretending that I could find a way to cope being married to the wrong person.
So now I really enjoy Christmas. I get to spend time with my amazing wife, and every year is Edible Christmas because we already have everything we need and we really don't need any more junk in our home but there is always room for something delicious and always time for sharing that with the people we care about.
Ewen Bell 📸 reshared this.
Ewen Bell 📸
in reply to Ewen Bell 📸 • • •OMG have just found Shellie's original post from that jelly jar shoot and it's funny looking back now and we've been married so long I cannot imagine my life without her. And in a way, it all started with Jelly Jars and Edible Christmas :)
ironchefshellie.com/2013/12/25…
#JellyJars #EdibleChristmas #ChristmasRecipes
Merry Christmas {with a bonus gift!}
Iron Chef ShellieEwen Bell 📸 reshared this.
Scotty
in reply to Ewen Bell 📸 • • •Ewen Bell 📸
in reply to Scotty • • •Easier said than done of course. I knew for a long time that I was in the wrong place, but by that time I was no longer strong enough to find a way out. Then the MIL had a series of health traumas and yadda yadda. There's never a "good time to do it".
I stayed way longer than I should have, and failed to prioritise my own health. It feels like a lifetime ago now. I am very lucky to have had a chance to start over, and even luckier to have met Shellie. Cannot believe I would be this lucky.
Chery (Great Australian Pods)
in reply to Ewen Bell 📸 • • •Ewen Bell 📸
in reply to Chery (Great Australian Pods) • • •@cheryanne
🤍
Last year I was working in Antarctica for Christmas and missed being with Shellie. I had penguins instead of turkey :)
This year we're heading out of town to stay with friends far away and be their guests for Christmas, which will be totally unique for us and a bit special. And she's doing that for me. So I already have my present this year.
S★m V★rm★
in reply to Ewen Bell 📸 • • •Ewen Bell 📸
in reply to S★m V★rm★ • • •@samvarma
Ya might have to get me drunk first!