OK, so I know it’s usual to get Halloween out of the way first, but in my opinion, it’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas recipes. After all, there’s a lot to look forward too – Mulled wine, Mince pies, Christmas pudding and that all important piece de resistance, the Christmas dinner itself.
So I thought I’d do a round up of some of my favourite Christmas recipes (if only for research purposes at this stage of the year)!
Mulled wine
What better way to kick things off with than Mulled Wine. Now, you can get the shop bought stuff but there’s something about making it at home in a saucepan with fresh ingredients that just makes it taste so much better. The good thing is, as long as you get the quantities right, all you have to do is stir and let the wine “mull” – so there’s very little to worry about. So be sure to check out my Mulled Wine Recipe which you should hopefully have some of the ingredients for already.
Mincemeat
Mince Pies taste great when made at home. Make the mincemeat as well and you’re definitely onto a winner. I’ve also found a jar of mincemeat makes a great gift during the festive season. If you need to preserve it simply add a tablespoon of brandy to the mixture each year. Again, most of the spices are ingredients you’ll already have in your cupboard so with a bag of mixed dried raisins, currants and sultanas, plus a few pieces of fresh fruit, you’ll be able to make it in no time. Here’s my Mincemeat Recipe to get you started.
Mince Pies
Where there is mincemeat, there are mince pies! Fortunately, there’s not much to say about them as they’re so easy to make. It’s the usual pastry mixture filled with mincemeat then dusted with icing sugar once baked. There’s no better feeling when someone says “did you make these” and you say “yup, and the mincemeat as well”! So here’s that Mince Pie Recipe for you to follow.
Crunchy Roast Potatoes
OK one more recipe for now, and that’s how to make the perfect roast potatoes. You may have heard about cooking them in goose fat (which is one of my tips), but for even more crispiness, be sure to toss the potatoes in semolina between rinsing the water out of them and putting them in the oven. Follow my Roast Potatoes Recipe and you’ll have a nice uniform crisp finish on your roast potatoes.
So, here's to a fantastic Christmas for 2013 - full of great tasting food, friends and family.
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