‘Tis the season of feasting with your loved ones.
Christmas is a time for celebrating with your near and dear, and what better way to do it than over delicious meals? Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a kitchen newbie, one of the best ways to show love to your family and friends is to whip up a home-cooked meal.
Here are three fool-proof recipes to get you started with your Christmas parties:
Christmas Tree Potatoes
Recipe from Delicious
Christmas tree potatoes are a festive and delicious side dish that is fun to serve and prep during the holiday season. It will be a hit with kids and adults alike.
Photo credit to Delicious.com.au
Ingredients
- 12 baby potatoes
- 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 6 sprigs of rosemary (lower leaves removed)
- 12 toothpicks
- Sea salt
Method
- Place the potatoes in a saucepan of cold water and bring to a boil
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 8 minutes until the potatoes give slightly when pierced with a toothpick
- Drain and cool slightly, place potatoes in a bowl with oil and sea salt, and toss well to combine
- Slightly flatten each potato by pressing down with your hand and sit one potato on top of another, securing in place with a toothpick
- Preheat oven to 190°C
- Place potatoes on an oiled baking tray and bake for 10 minutes until crisp and golden
- Remove toothpicks and replace with rosemary sprigs to serve
Bourbon and Pineapple Glazed Ham
Recipe from Delicious
A delicious recipe that combines ham, pineapple, and bourbon will be the perfect addition to your Christmas feast. The perfect marriage of savoury, sweet, and smokiness creates a mouth-watering dish that will impress your guests.
Photo credit to Delicious.com.au
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 6 cloves
- 6 bay leaves
- 1 pineapple, core removed and slicked
- 2 tablespoons chardonnay vinegar
- ½ bunch bay leaves
- 8kg smoked ham
Method
To make the glaze
- Combine sugar, spices and 1 tablespoon of water in a large fry pan over high heat
- Swirl pan occasionally until bubbling and golden
- Add pineapple pieces and vinegar and cook for 6 minutes, turning pineapple pieces occasionally, until pineapple is golden and a glaze has formed from the fruit juices
- Set aside to cool slightly
To prepare the ham
- Preheat oven to 180C
- Line a rack with bay leaves
- Using a small sharp knife, cut around ham shank in a zigzag pattern, then carefully run knife under skin, around the edge of the ham
- Gently lift off skin in 1 piece by running your fingers between the rind and the fat
- Discard skin, then score fat in parallel lines, 1cm apart.
- Baste fat with some of the glaze and place ham on the rack and set in a large roasting pan
- Roast ham, basting with remaining glaze every 20 minutes, for 2 ½ hours or until caramelised
- Add the pineapple pieces in the last 30 minutes. Slice and serve with caramelised pineapple
Easy Mulled Wine
Recipe from BBC Good Food
A must-have on every Christmas menu! Mulled wine is a traditional holiday beverage made by simmering red wine with spices and fruit, resulting in a rich and fragrant drink.
Ingredients
- 750ml bottle of red wine
- 1 sliced orange
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 3 dried figs
- 4 cloves
- 3 black peppercorns
- 50ml brandy
Method
- Pour the red wine into a large saucepan
- Add in the orange, cinnamon stick, star anise, dried figs, cloves and black peppercorns
- Heat very gently until simmering, then turn off the heat
- Remove the spices and peppercorns with a spoon
- Stir in the brandy
- Serve
We hope you have fun making these delicious yet simple recipes. For last-minute grocery shopping, head over to pandamart and foodpanda shops, to get your orders delivered in as fast as 30 minutes!