To some, their favourite part of Christmas is being with loved ones. To others, it’s the giving and receiving of thoughtful gifts. But to many of us, well, we’re also here for the food!
Whether you’re passionate about cooking and are happy to spend full days kitchen-bound or you simply want to create an impressive, yet timely spread, we’ve listed a few of our festive food favourites, because hey, ‘tis the season to deck those… tables!
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Be Merry, (Bubbly), and Bright!
Have yourself a merry little Christmas indeed by starting the day with a Merry Mimosa! Keeping in sync with the festive colour theme, this bubbly, fruity beverage might be a little bit naughty, but it’s certainly a lot nice!
Ingredients:
- Prosecco (substitute for sparkling white grape juice for a non-alcoholic version)
- Cranberry Apple Juice
- Cranberries
- Rosemary Sprigs
- Cinnamon Sticks
A good ratio is 50% bubbles to juice, however depending on personal preference, lean more one way accordingly – and rejoice!
*Drink responsibly.
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The Bird is the Word
Turkey doesn’t hit the right Christmas notes without a perfect stuffing sidekick. For golden and crunchy edges and a soft, herby inside, Home Sweet Eats has all the steps for this must-have combo.
Perfect as a side or stuffing, this recipe also serves as a great breakfast hash for those still hungry the next day and also makes for a fantastic vegetarian option!
Ingredients:
- 18 to 24 ounces bread cubes, (1.5 loaves of bread, or about 12 to 14 cups) preferably toasted or stale
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 3 cups diced sweet onion (roughly 2 large onions)
- 2 cups diced celery
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- kosher salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 2 large eggs
- A mixture of fresh herbs for sprinkling
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Cheese, Please!
Before the turkey is cooked and the table is set, you might like to start with some appetizers to line any hungry tummies. Behold, we have found the perfect snack that will have you dashing through the snow to get one…
These Cranberry Brie bites are adorable, simple to make and easy to devour. Here’s what you need:
- 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, from 1, 17oz box
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 4 oz. brie cheese
- 1/2 cup cranberry sauce, homemade or canned
- 3 tbsp raw shelled pistachios, chopped
- Flaky sea salt and ground black pepper, optional
Although simple, you can check out the true art of making these moreish morsels over at The Pioneer Woman.
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Bring on the Brussels!
As children, a large number of us despised seeing those little green cabbages on our dinner plate, and some of us are still just as wary. Fear not! We have ho-ho-honed the art of cooking Brussel Sprouts and it involves zero steaming them into mush in the process. Not to mention we’ve added bacon and toasted pecans to the mix… sounds good, right!
Adding some crunch, some salt and some sweet makes this dish a table favourite, and one that will have you going back for seconds.
Ingredients:
- 12 oz Brussels sprouts ends trimmed; and any yellow leaves removed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 slices bacon cooked and chopped
- 1 cup pecans
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Check out Julia’s Album for her step-by-step cooking instructions to get her tips and tricks on this particular dish, as well as some substitutions for certain ingredients.
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Save the Best for Last
Oh, come let us adore the miracle that is Skillet Rolls with Garlic Butter!
Conquer Christmas by hand-making your very own gravy sponges, fluffy and airy all thanks to the direction of Girl with the Iron Cast. Best fresh out of the oven, however you could bake ahead of time as they will keep well for up to three days.
Make sure you have a skillet on stand-by, and gather up the following ingredients to get started:
Dinner Rolls:
- 4 ½ cups bread flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- 1 cup whole milk room temperature
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 3 tbsp + 1 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- ½ tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter for greasing bowl and cast iron
Garlic Herb Butter:
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 tbsp finely chopped Italian parsley
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Flakey sea salt
Bonus Festive Favourite…
No meal is complete without the final course – dessert!
If you’re stuck for time or happy to make something that’s incredibly delicious in under 30 minutes, try this Gingerbread Trifle, that really is the answer to all of your Christmas wishes…
No oven required, here’s what you need to, quite literally, whip up this dish:
- 900ml thickened cream
- 1 cup (330g) dulce de leche (or other caramel sauce)
- 250g sour cream
- 1/3 cup (40g) icing sugar, sifted
- 800g gingerbread cake (or other bought cake)
- 90ml marsala or brandy
- 1½ tsp cinnamon
- 200g gingerbread biscuits (or gingernuts), crumbled
From all the team at Stilhavn, we send you and your loved ones happy and safe Christmas wishes. Eat drink and be merry, and remember, there’s no such thing as Christmas calories…
