My mother will cook the meal but I decided to add my personal touch to the Christmas menu (my mother and I don't have the same taste when it's time to cook).

So, I'll prepare the starter and the dessert.

Our Christmas menu will be:

- Spanish appetizers
- Avocado cream
- Lamb and potato gratin
- Baked apples
- Iced Christmas log

Here are my recipes:

Starter: Avocado cream

Ingredients:
2 chopped avocados
2 lemons (juiced)
2 chopped shallots
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Use a fork to mash the avocado
Stir in lemon juice
Add the chopped shallots
Blend all the ingredients
Serve cold in small glasses
Decorate with lemon zest

Dessert: Baked Apples

Ingredients:
10 mashed speculaas
120 g almond paste
40 g dried grapes
2 tablespoon rum
4 tablespoon grounded hazelnuts
1 tablespoon honey
8 apples, washed, cored and halved
Sugar glace

Preheat the oven to 365 degrees F
Combine the mashed speculaas, the almond paste, the dried grapes, rum, hazelnuts and the honey
Put the apples in a baking dish
Garnish with the mixture
Bake for 15 à 20 minutes
Serve warm with ice cream and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Bon appetit and very Merry Christmas!