Excitement is in the air this time of the year in most of the western world with Christmas on the way.
The malls are all decked out in brand new decorations & festive lights, Christmas songs can be heard all around and shelves are heavily laden with gifts for young and old. Poor old Santa Claus is everywhere but looks different every time one turns the corner; young ones and old ones, skinny ones and pot-bellied ones! Some look quite authentic and others really fake.
While we have been programmed to spend...spend...and spend again at this time of the year, we really should consider making our own Gifts, something I was inspired to do this year when I saw the theme for Season 3's finale - Cook with us #34 - Secret Santa, run by the awesome team of 
A big thank you also to 
Our family did Secret Santa last year and it really worked brilliantly as one could concentrate on getting something really nice for that one person whose name we drew out of the hat. Secret Santa is very popular with office parties as well.
I had been racking my confused Gemini brain about who was going to be the recipient of my Secret Santa gift - special fellow foodie friends, some other really good Steemit friends, the awesome people working behind the scenes in groups I belong to and of course a big contender was our Steemit Sandwich Contest manwich king 
I was really chuffed with the name I drew as this lady works quietly and tirelessly for members of 
Does 
I sneakily asked her on Discord what her absolute favourite foods was - Fried Chicken, Potatoes & Corn featured among others.
Hope she enjoys the menu I'm serving her today - Crispy Fried Chicken Wings from Africa, Corn with Sour Cream and Baked Potatoes with a Mushroom, Spring Onions & Bacon filling, dusted with Parmesan cheese.
Unfortunately I don't think this serving will be enough for her trustworthy other half, the Doctor 
FRIED CHICKEN WINGS
- 10 Chicken Wings - sinewy end piece trimmed off
- 1 Lemon - juice & rind
- handful Fresh Thyme
- 1 Egg - beaten
- 4 tablespoons Cornflour
- 1/2 cup Regular Flour
- Rustic Garlic & Herb seasoning
- Oil for frying
Marinade chicken in herbs, Lemon juice & rind and season to taste
Drain off juices & pour egg over to coat
Place dry ingredients in large bag, add chicken wings & shake to coat all over
Heat oil in deepish pan & fry chicken on a medium heat on both sides till golden brown
A great silicone cover to avoid splattering all over stove top when frying
Drain chicken wings on kitchen paper
Crispy on the outside but tender and juicy on the inside
A quick look at making Crispy Chicken Wings
BAKED POTATOES
I will share how to make the best baked potatoes - no recipe
Use soft cooking potatoes, cut a shallow cross on both sides of potato, cook in microwave on high for about 6 min for a single potato, turning halfway (time will vary, I used the sensor setting)
Leave to stand a little before squeezing to pop potato open on one side
Sautee Mushrooms & Spring Onions in a little butter & spoon into potato
Top with grated Cheese
Finally top with raw diced Bacon
Pop under grill till Bacon is crispy, dust with Parmesan cheese
A quick look at the making of the Mushroom & Bacon filled Baked Potato
Served with Corn & Sour Cream, this made for a delicious meal, hope you enjoy your Secret Santa gift
Merry Christmas to all my #cookwithus friends, wishing you special times with your loved ones, until next year, keep on cooking and steeming!
Thank you for stopping by
Comments, upvotes & resteems all much appreciated :)
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