Christmas Meal Planning has well and truely started in this house. I love pulling Nigella and Delia off the book shelf to help inspire me and this year I thought I would put together a list of my favourite festive recipes in a blog post. Some of the recipes are my own, some are from external websites and some are from books (I will include book and page number for you). There will be recipe ideas for the 'main event' but also recipes for the run up to the big day including freeze ahead meals, gifts and edible presents, sweet treats, buffets and 2 menu options for Christmas Eve. To be helpful I will also mark any recipes that can be frozen.
If you have any tried and trusted favourites then leave a link in the comments section and I will add it to the blog post.
Christmas Cakes
Sweet Treats
Star Studded Mince Pies (Nigella Christmas p186)
Desserts
Christmas Eve
I
love Christmas Eve, in fact I think I prefer it to Christmas Day. I really enjoy the build up and seeing the excitement on my
children’s faces in anticipation of Father Christmas coming. Our day goes
something like this……..
The
kids go downstairs on Christmas Eve morning to find an Elf Hamper has appeared
under the tree. The hamper contains new Pj’s, a Christmas DVD (whilst I get on
with last minute preparations), Reindeer Food, a miniature bottle of Whisky or
Baileys for the big man and a secret key as we don’t have a chimney. They also
open their advent calendar and advent stockings.
We
go for a long walk in the morning, dropping off any last minute cards and gifts
around the village, coming back for a lunch of Chestnut and Bacon Soup with
homemade bread rolls. After lunch the kids sit and watch the new DVD then at
4pm its time to walk over to Church for the Christmas Crib Service. All of the
children dress up and the newest baby born in the village is Jesus. The service
is done by candlelight and is magical.
Handily
the village pub is almost next door to the Church so we pop in for a quick
drink with the kids, family and friends then head back to our house for a
Christmas Eve meal. This year there will be 9 of us. I tend to alternate what I
prepare between the following two menu plans – this year it will be curry which
I will make the day before.
Menu
1
Chip Shop Chicken Curry (double quantity (F)) with Rice, Naan Breads, Poppadum’s,
Pakora’s and Onion Bhaji’s, Mango Chutney and Raita.
Menu
2
After
dinner the kids get in their new PJ’s, we track Santa on the laptop and put out
the reindeer food and a drink and mince pie. The kids go off to bed then hubby
and I sit down with a glass of wine and watch a bit of telly…..before Santa
arrives
Christmas Day Breakfast
Christmas Morning Muffins (Nigella Christmas p214) (F)
The Main Event
Roast Potatoes
Bacon wrapped Chipolatas
Gingerbread Stuffing (Nigella Christmas p124)
Parsnips with Parmesan (Delia Happy Christmas p193)
Christmas Sprouts (Nigella Christmas p132)
Boxing Day Buffet
Cold Turkey and Ham
Christmas Coleslaw (Delia's Happy Christmas p93)
Selection of Cheeses with Biscuits
Fresh Bread
Dips and Crudites
Drinks
Poinsettia (Nigella Christmas p3)
Edible Gifts
Christmas Puddini Bonbons (Nigella Christmas p247)
Chilli Jam (Nigella Christmas p241)
Freeze Ahead Meals
Curried Mince and Peas (F)
Lamb and Date Tagine (Nigella Christmas p72) (F)
What festive recipes do you make year after year?
