Festive Food & Christmas Cheer

With only nine days to go until the big day, Christmas preparation plans are well under way for most families. The decorations are up, the shopping has commenced and the main meal is probably under control. With that in mind, we thought we’d throw a few ideas your way for some festive snacks and some great seasonal games to play with kids, young and old.

Festive Food

Christmas Day dinner takes quite a lot of time and effort and most people have their own favourite recipes and ideas for the showstopper. But, what about Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and that weird bit before New Year? Leftovers from Christmas are all very well but is there another way to delight any guests without simply bringing out the same tired old board of meats and cheeses?

Well, we think so.

Pesto Pinwheels

Image courtesy of BBC Good Food.

Having a pack of pre-rolled puff pastry in the fridge is a great idea for whipping up some quick canapes and snacks. Here’s a great idea for a tasty treat that looks fantastic and tastes good too.

Simply spread a jar of pesto over your rectangle of rolled pastry and sprinkle with some extra parmesan, mozzarella or other cheese. Roll it up lengthways so you end up with a long tube. If you have time, chill this in the fridge for ten minutes to firm it up.

Once chilled, cut the roll into thin slices and place each circle on a sheet of parchment paper on a baking tray. Each one should be about 1.5cm-2cm thick; oh, and it’s best to make the cuts using a serrated knife.

Bake in the oven at 180oC (Fan)/200oC for about 20 minutes until the cheese has melted and the pastry is golden brown.

You can use any pesto variety you prefer but we think this goes nicest with sundried tomato.

Brie, Apple and Red Onion Tart

Image via BBC Good Food.

Another winter recipe that makes good use of having some pre-prepared puff pastry.

Place your rectangle of pastry on top of some parchment on a baking tray and bake in a pre-heated oven (180oC (Fan)/200oC) for about 15 minutes until it is starting to crisp at the edges.

Whilst this is cooking, sauté some red onions in a little olive oil until they begin to caramelise.

Next, slice an apple (it should be an eating variety, not a cooking one) thinly and place them in some white wine vinegar to prevent them from browning.

Once your tart case is ready, spread a thin layer of cranberry sauce across the base like a pizza and then add your caramelised onions, apple slices (rinsed of vinegar) and then a layer of brie. Add some thyme and a little seasoning of salt and pepper and pop back in the oven for 20-25 minutes. It’s ready when the cheese is melted and bubbling and the case is golden brown.

You could add some pancetta over the top or use chutney instead of cranberry sauce. Also, a blue cheese works nicely as does using pears instead of apples; it just depends on your own personal taste.

Wild Mushroom Chilli Toasts

Image via Good Housekeeping.

Another simple idea that is hearty, healthy and (above all) tasty.

Take a pack or two of mixed mushrooms (they don’t have to be ‘wild’ but these are tastiest with a nutty flavour) and cook down in a hot pan with some salt, pepper, garlic and red chilli until golden brown.

Whilst this is cooking, toast up some slices of thick cut country bread. This is easiest if you do it in batches under a grill.

Once the mushrooms are cooked, combine some ricotta and/or goat’s cheese and mix in with some parsley and a little more salt and pepper. Spread the cheese over the toasts and top with the mushroom and chilli mixture.

Spicy Sweet Potato Parcel

Image via BBC Good Food.

Another recipe which uses pre-prepared pastry, but this time it’s filo.

Great for vegetarians and also a healthy alternative, this sweet potato bake makes a great centrepiece at festive mealtimes with the usual accompaniments of roast potatoes and tray baked vegetables.

Cut 4 sweet potatoes into 2-3cm chunks, toss in some olive oil, season and place in a pre-heated oven (180oC (Fan)/200oC) to roast for about 25-30 minutes.

Whilst the potato is cooking, fry off a large onion until soft and golden and then add a couple of garlic cloves, a whole red chilli (chopped) and a bunch of chopped sage leaves. Combine for about 3-5 minutes and then remove from the heat.

In a bowl, add your sweet potato chunks to your onion mix and throw in a 200g pack of chestnuts, roughly chopped. Mix together 3 tbsp of cranberry sauce until everything is well coated.

Next, you need to prepare your filo sheets.

Line a square baking tin with some parchment (make sure it covers the sides so it’s easy to remove) and brush with some oil. Add a layer of filo and then brush with some oil before layering another slice in the opposite direction (forming a star, or cross). Repeat until you have four layers of filo making sure to brush with oil between sheets.

Spoon the sweet potato mixture into the centre of the parcel and fold up the filo to cover it. You can scrunch up a last layer of filo to form a rustic lid before brushing the whole case with some more oil.

Pop it back in the oven to bake for another 30 minutes until golden brown.

Cauliflower & Ham Gratin

Image via Delish.

If, like many people, you favour having a roast ham on Boxing Day then here is a great recipe for using up some of the leftover meat. Gratin’s are a warming winter dish that take no time at all to prepare and offer a hearty meal.

Simply melt some butter on the stove and add some sliced onions and cook until soft. Add 8oz of ham cut into cubes, 350ml double cream, 125ml milk and 4oz of goats cheese. Bring to the boil, add some salt and pepper and reduce the heat to a simmer.

Add the head of a large cauliflower cut into florets along with 3 tbsp of breadcrumbs and a handful of thyme before transferring to a casserole dish. Cover and bake in a pre-heated oven (180oC (Fan)/200oC) for 20 minutes. Remove cover and leave to brown for another 15-20 minutes before serving.

Top with some cheddar cheese when you remove the cover halfway through for a really cheesy flavour. You can even add in some left over greens from Christmas day for some extra veg.

Christmas Cheer

Or should we say, Christmas Cheers.

Yes, to toast off the yuletide spirit, you don’t always need to use spirits….but it can help. Why not try one of these festive drinks to bring some warmth to the occasion.

Cranberry Gin Fizz

Image via Country Living.

Combine a 50ml measure of gin with 20ml of cranberry syrup, 20ml of fresh lemon juice and 15ml elderflower liqueur with ice, some fizzy water and a few fresh cranberries for a winter cocktail.

You can make your own cranberry syrup by simmering up a mix of cranberries, sugar, water and a sprig of thyme.

Mulled White Wine

Image via BBC Good Food.

By this stage of the year, you might be tired of traditional mulled wine. This classic winter drink tends to come out around Bonfire Night and is still being served at Christmas. Instead of mulling red wine, why not try this recipe for putting some winter kick into a white wine.

Put a couple of bottles of cheap(ish) white wine into a heavy pan and add a 500ml bottle of light cider. Add 150ml of elderflower cordial, the zest of 2 lemons, 2 cinnamon sticks and a split pod of vanilla. As the mixture heats up, add 4 tbsp of caster sugar and heat gently until the sugar dissolves.

Bourbon Campfire Cocktail

Image via Olive Magazine.

And finally, a smokey log-fire inspired cocktail that combines the heady and warming taste of a bourbon whiskey with the heavenly sweetness of marshmallow.

Take a 50ml measure of a bourbon based whiskey like Knob Creek or even (though not strictly speaking a bourbon) Jack Daniels and add a 5ml measure of a single malt whiskey. Add a 5ml dash of marshmallow syrup and serve with a toasted marshmallow on the side.

You can quickly make the marshmallow syrup by boiling up 100g of mini marshmallows with 500ml of water and 400g of sugar. Keep stirring over a low to medium heat until the sugar and marshmallows are all dissolved.

Property Assistant

We’re looking forward to spending Christmas together as a family and enjoying some of these festive treats. We hope you all stay safe and have a wonderful holiday.

Property Assistant will be on hand over Christmas if you need us so don’t forget to give us a call during the Christmas period on 0118 912 2370.

This article was first published on the Property Assistant website.