Lobsters.. & a Lockdown Christmas 😔

Lockdown + [Lobster](=)?? Well, there's two words I bet you never thought you'd see in one sentence! 😂 Christmas Lockdown Sadly, there was a COVID outbreak in the area I live (Northern Beaches of Sydney), just one week before Christmas and we're headed for a Lockdown Christmas. Things happened quickly - last Thursday afternoon, there were rumblings of a few new COVID cases in a suburb two up from me, after 12 straight days of no community transmissions Australia wide. By that evening, the COVID cluster had grown into the 20's and the entire Northern Beaches area of Sydney was in Lockdown. No one allowed in or out except for Permitted Reasons, and other states in Australia began to shut their borders to travellers from the greater Sydney area, not just the Northern Beaches. Defeated resignation…. coupled with anger As you can imagine, Christmas plans for many are in complete disarray. The mood has been a mix of resignation and acceptance, hope, and also anger. Anger at reports that this outbreak was spurred by two individuals who had COVID symptoms, got tested, but instead of isolating at home to await the results (which take a mere 24 hours!) visited 5 cafes in one day plus a local RSL. Who goes to FIVE cafes in one day?? I don't even go to five in a month!! And from that one day, a COVID outbreak has blown up and ruined Christmas for many. And I speak not just of celebratory gatherings, but also the many healthcare professionals pulled in from leave and are now working 16 hour days. The many local businesses for whom this last week of trading is the biggest of the year. The list of over 100 establishments visited by infectious people that have had to close for deep cleaning. Testing mandatory for anyone who visited during certain times. Yep, I got tested - and got the all clear. (I'm smiling under that mask and sunnies!!) (I think… possibly not. That COVID testing stick went so far up my nose, I swear it swabbed my brain!) Dozer and I! This story I share is not new to any of you, and I'm not seeking sympathy. We have all been living through this all year. The timing of this is rather unfortunate, having started to return to a life of semi-normality and expecting to enjoy Christmas with family and friends. As for me personally - it looks like it will be a quiet Christmas rather than the usual raucous extended RecipeTin Family gathering. Today, the premiere of our state announced terms of a slight relaxing of Lockdown rules for 3 days over Christmas, permitting 5 guests to visit. Unfortunately these rules centre around a Red Zone in which I reside, and my family and my close group of friends all live outside this area and are unable to visit me. And I am not allowed to leave! I feel very lucky that friends in this area have extended invitations to join their family Christmas. It looks like I might be doing a bit of lunch-hopping on Christmas Day! [Lobster recipes](=)?? Which brings me to the story of today's somewhat left field post. Lobster recipes?? 2 days before Christmas? Who does that?? Here's the back story. Rounding off a crazy year, Australian mainstream grocery stores have been selling lobsters at steeply discounted prices in the weeks leading up to Christmas due to trade tensions with China. The lobster export industry has basically come to a standstill, so now millions of dollars of lobsters have been snapped up by local grocery stores and are being sold to everyday Aussies at never-before seen prices of $20 per lobster. As a result of which, I've been receiving MANY requests from fellow Aussies for ideas for what to do with them! I purchased some for my family Christmas lunch. And as soon as I heard the Premieres announcement at 11.10 am this morning and realised Christmas wasn't happening for me, I headed straight into the kitchen and by 11.11 am, the lobsters were being sacrificed for today's recipe. Well, recipeS. Today's post is really about 6 different ways to use these lobsters for Christmas-worth dishes. All very simple, because when you've got something as luxurious as lobster, you really should keep it simple and let the lobster speak for itself! More next time! I have some more updates to share but I'll sign off here because I've been rattling on for longer than I realised! You don't need to hear more moaning. Don't you just want those recipes?? 😉 Back in your inbox one more time before Christmas with a fun little tradition. Wherever you are in this big wide world, I hope you are safe and well, and able to enjoy some Christmas Cheer! - Nagi x (and Dozer in spirit from upstairs where he has taken himself off to bed. I didn't realise it was so late!!!) --------------------------------------------------------------- [Last-minute Christmas worthy Lobster recipes](=) Created, photographed and written this afternoon, using lobsters purchased for the RecipeTin Family Christmas which isn't going to take place this year due to COVID Lockdown! PS I packed up 2 of these for the Man At The Dog Park with a side of truffle butter pasta - very Christmas worthy, I thought! But he wasn't there. I was a little late, so he probably went out to get something else for dinner. However, you will be happy to hear that it went to an elderly gentlemen in my area who is also on my food-drop schedule. He was very excited!! 🦞🦞🦞 [Get the recipe](=) --------------------------------------------------------------- Life of Dozer Lockdown boredom, a big box and Dozer. AND a Christmas Tree. I would be worried too Dozer. - Nagi x [Unsubscribe]( | [Update your profile]( | PO Box 883, Gladesville, NSW 1675