Time to get Festive!
The festive season is well and truly upon us and we’ve reached that time of year when the kitchen sees a flurry of excitement and activity, from baking festive treats as a family to entertaining with pre-Christmas drinks and the main event with dinner itself.
It’s one of our favourite seasonal celebrations and a chance to take time out of our busy lifestyles in order to spend quality time with friends and family, all in the cosy comfort of the kitchen. To help you get into the spirit of Christmas, we thought we’d share a few of our favourite holiday recipes to inspire your traditions in the kitchen this year…
Jamie Oliver’s Christmas recipes always guarantee delicious, comforting flavours and this mulled cider recipe is no exception. Warm and wintery, this tipple will instantly lift your spirits and set your mood for the upcoming your festivities. Easily adapted for the kids, just swap out the cider for apple or pear juice!
2 litres good-quality traditional cider
(or fresh apple juice for the kids)
6 cloves
3-4 star anise
¼ nutmeg, finely grated into the pan
1 cinnamon stick
1 vanilla pod, halved
1 orange, juice of
2 clementines, juice of
1 pomegranate, juice and seeds of
4–5 tablespoons caster sugar
Click here and head to Jamie’s website for the full recipe with method instructions.
This recipe is taken from Rye Londonand is ideal for enjoying a relaxed afternoon at home, baking with the little ones. Easy to make, full of classic spices and fun to decorate, these tasty treats are the ultimate Christmas cookie and will be a firm favourite with all the family.
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup powdered cane sugar
1/4 cup flavourless coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup carob molasses
2-3 tbs almond milk
1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cloves
1,5 tsp vanilla paste
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon, extra to marble the cookies
To decorate
6 tbs powdered cane sugar
1-2 tsp almond milk
1/8 tsp vanilla paste
toothpicks
Click to visit the Rye London blog and discover the full recipe.
Festive Stuffed Porchetta Pork
This recipe from Rosie Birkett’s blog A Lot On Her Plate was created for BBC Good Food and explores an alternative festive feast to turkey at Christmas. A classic Italian dish, Rosie’s Porchetta is stuffed with a fruity herb mix and topped with crisp, crunchy crackling.
1 ½ kg bone-out pork belly
1tbsp bicarbonate of soda
3 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp chilli flakes
For the stuffing
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
½ fennel bulb, hard cord cut out and discarded, the rest finely chopped
½ tsp coriander seeds, crushed
2 garlic cloves, crushed
250g minced pork shoulder
1 slice sourdough bread, torn into small pieces
25g toasted pine nuts
grated zest of 1 unwaxed orange
3 dried apricots, finely chopped
3 sage leaves, finely chopped
½ tbsp rosemary leaves, chopped
½ tbsp lemon juice
freshly grated nutmeg
1 egg, beaten
Click to find detailed cooking instructions over on Rosie’s Blog or The BBC Good Food site.
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