By now you are, I suppose like me, striving to overcome the food excesses from Christmas.

Being the canine equivalent of a garbage disposal unit, as you know, this is my favourite time of the year.
The ham bone was mine as were all the morsels that accidentally fell off the table. I tell you those young two leggers are a push over for a smart boy like me. The nose in the correct place, with my best sad look, always wins them over.
The only thing to upset me was the boss man continuously telling me to get out from under the table. This was perfectly fine for him, sitting at the end of the table all smug like, with a plate full of food.
Never mind, as you know I am smarter than the average canine so I always managed to find an opening to sneak back under the table - those long table clothes are a bonus.
The big fellow in the red suit has been and gone for another year so now I am gearing up for the New Year festivities and a little more gluttony – yahoo!
I have been given a list of New Year resolutions by the Boss and after him rescuing me the other week I will probably look at the one that mentions I have to actually outsmart the possums next year. The one about cutting down on my food intake can, like every other year, take a running leap.
On to my old mate Johnny the Aussie Butcher in Gate Pa, the big boy has all sorts of goodies to go on the barbecue. Get in there and stock up for the New Year festivities and please think of me when you are doing so.
Get along and stock up with Johnny's goodies and go barbecue crazy and give this recipe a whirl.

'Jamaican Chicken'

Ingredients
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp paprika
2 tsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 small red chilli, deseeded and chopped
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 red pepper, roasted, peeled and finely chopped
1 Tbsp oil
6-8 chicken leg and thigh portions

Method
In a bowl mix together the soy sauce, paprika, garlic, thyme, onion, chilli, roasted pepper and oil.
Using fingers, lift the skin on the chicken portions.
Evenly divide the spicy stuffing among the chicken portions, using a teaspoon to push the stuffing under the skin. Marinate for up to 12 hours before cooking.
Brush the chicken pieces with oil and cook on a preheated barbecue over a medium to low heat for 40 minutes or until thoroughly cooked through. To check if cooked, insert a skewer into the thickest part of the chicken. The juices should run clear.

Tequila Sunrise
Mix two shots of tequila with orange juice and ice cubes.
Then pour ½ shot grenadine down the side of glass to the bottom. It will slowly rise in colour gradients from red to red-orange to orange.
Enjoy!

Make sure you all take it easy out there and keep safe. It is best to try to be responsible and get to see another year. All the best wishes to you all for a great 2009, remember do it to them before they do it to you. Take care all and catch you in '09.