My childhood memories of Christmas are wonderful - Santa, toys and family. As I got older, though, I realised that Mum spend an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen. Sweating. Perspiring.
So when I was handed the Christmas reigns last year, I decided to make an abrupt departure from traditional fare and the Keeping Christmas Merry Menu was born.
The ideas behind it are:
- little tastes of food - a kind of Christmas tapas menu.
- lots of little jobs that can be delegated - I've found there's always lots of willing helpers around, but unless I'm organised I can't really make the best use of them.
- cooking on the BBQ and using the smoker. Because I can't stand the heat in the kitchen - boomtish!
Salt and Pepper Prawns with Lemongrass Mayonnaise. BBQ these bad boys!
The great news? It worked! Everyone was happy to do a little job and I didn't spend the day sweating it out in the kitchen and missing out on the frivolity!
So for your Christmas cooking pleasure I give you the Keeping Christmas Merry Menu.....
Christmas Eve
Whole snapper flavoured with Asian aromatics and baked in a banana leaf. (Baked on the barbie.)
Sides: Bok choy with oyster sauce and fried crispy garlic & rice.
Christmas Day
Oysters served a few ways: natural, Japanese, kilpatrick, thai with mango & pomegranate or grilled with garlic crumbs.
Salt and pepper prawns with Lemon grass Mayonnaise.
Asparagus wrapped in pancetta.
Barbequed Haloumi
Smoked salmon with salade folle.
Peachester Gold ham - you can order this directly from the Barry Family Butchers. Ask for Nathan - he's gorgeous!
Cold cooked prawns.
Keen for a tasty Christmas that's fun for everyone?
I'll be sharing all the recipes you need over the next few weeks. Subscribe by email and they'll be delivered neatly to your inbox.
In the meantime, have you got any Christmas tips? How do you stay organised?
lyndal says
so, you know I'm totally coming to yours now, right? x
cookerandalooker says
I'll set an extra place! x
EssentiallyJess says
Oh Nice!
Our family likes to be traditional, and I'm not a huge eater so not really fussed either way. So long as their is garlic bread and chocolate trifle, I'm happy! 🙂
cookerandalooker says
You're a better woman than me Jess - I wouldn't be cooking a roast in the NT heat! x
Becci Sundberg says
What an awesome Christmas Lunch!
We do a very simple lunch. Everyone brings something. We sit down about October and start planning. Usually it's a Chicken salad platter, sliced cold ham and turkey roll. Plus either a potato bake or potato salad, watermelon salad and a rice salad. Trifle and fresh fruit salad and pavlova (nests this year) for dessert.
We don't have a huge amount of people to feed though. Just us 5, plus my mum, sister, step son and his girlfriend this year. If there are more people then we add in a couple of extra salads and add a bit of extra meat.
We also have lots of basic nibbles and some traditional family fave baked goods, like apricot balls, crown mint slice and hedghog.
Thanks for visiting my blog 🙂
Alicia says
Your christmas fare sounds wonderful. That dessert looks bloody beautiful!! I'd be gatecrashing just for a slice of that!!
cookerandalooker says
Alicia, the vacherin is a beauty. The mango and raspberry are so fresh - it's a great way to finish Christmas lunch without wishing you'd worn elastic waisted pants!
jackwafabwa says
Oh yes I'll be back for several of these recipes. Yum yum!