Christmas Preparations

Christmas is most definitely my favourite time of year. I don't know what it is about it but I always feel a tremendous sense of hope for the future and know that I will get to make my loved ones very happy be it with food or presents. I love the lights, the smells, the giggles. I love the chill in the air, the dark days and the smell of everyone lighting warm fires...

I of course love the food. I cannot claim to not induldge at Christmas. I enjoy how warm the kitchen is while cooking and I think it's a great excuse to stay creating in the kitchen. Normally Christmas dinner is a big even in our house. We love to challenge ourselfves every year, to create new ways of serving the best feast of the year. Some things don't change. Everyone has their traditions. One of ours is the stuffing. I have been making the same one since I took over from my mom when I was about 15. It's very simple. Nothing fancy involved but it is true Christmas for me. The second I smell it I know it is without a doubt going to be a great meal. This year Jamie Oliver has provided some foodspiration for us and i'm looking forward to putting it all together.

This year we are also having family over this Sunday for a little pre Christmas get together. I say "we" are having people over but in reality I have taken on a lot because Mr Big Red has to work (darn chefs) so all the preparation has fallen to me. Knowing I won't be able to spend a huge amount of hours in one day in the kitchen (4 year olds tend to become destructive after a while) I am preping what I can in advance.

This morning in My Big Red Kitchen we made our Cookies for Santa! I have taken my inspiration from many sites and without a recipe wasn't sure these would actually turn out but they did! I'm sure Santa will just love them!

                                           Peppermint & White Chocolate Cookies for Santa!

I also prepared something I have been wanting to make for a few year but never have. An alternative to mince pies. Lets call them... mince swirls? I'll work on the name...

Before I go on YES I took the lazy route and used store bought puff pastry and store bought mince meat. Why not cut corners?! If you plan on enjoying more than a few glasses of wine over the season (as I do) you really don't want to be worried about the little things. Except maybe keeping an eye that that wine glass doesn't empty!

Simple spread the mince meat over the pastry in a thin layer and roll carefully from either side towards the middle. You will end up with something like this

Next trim off the ends. It's not hugely important to do so but it does make it easier to judge how many even pieces you will be able to cut.
**Make sure your knife is sharp AND dust it with flour between each slice to avoid sticking**

I got 12 pieces. I'm sorry I don't have a delicious golden finished product to show you yet but these won't be cooked until tomorrow night. They will then cool over night and drizzled with a water/sugar Glace Icing. I'll pop them into the oven @ 180F for about 15 mins/until golden and crispy.

                                                              Waiting for the oven

Strawberry Salad

Yes that's right, strawberry in a salad. Don't say no so quickly! Try it out. This really is very nice.

My lovely wife picked up some strawberries today while we were doing out food shop so this was the result when she couldn't decide what she felt like for dinner. "Something light and fresh"

I aim to please

This is really quick and simple, as any salad should be


Serves 4

You will need;

250g Strawberries, tops removed and quartered
1 bag of mixed leaves or about 200g if you grow them yourself
100g Spinach leaves
1/2 red onion, sliced very thin
100g Feta
Good handful of chopped walnuts

Dressing

1/4 tsp garlic powder
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp honey
70ml balsamic vinegar

Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing and pop into the fridge until needed
This can also be saved, in the fridge if you have some left over

Combine all salad ingredients and crumble the feta
Toss gently

Toss through some of the dressing


Serve with chicken, fish, or with some pizza slices like we did

I hope you enjoy

B

Apple Dip

Ingredients:

2 cups peeled, cored, and diced apple
2 tbsp lime juice
3 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp corn flour dissolved in 1 tsp water

For the chips
4 wheat tortillas
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar


Combine all the dip ingredients in a small pan except the corn flour mix

Heat for a few minutes until boiled and becomes watery

Add corn flour water mix

Return to the boil and allow to thicken

Set aside

This can be served hot or cold. It tastes amazing either way


Cut tortillas into triangles

Put in a slightly greased baking try and brush with the melted butter

Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar

Bake at 200C for 5 mins until golden


I found this through the wonderful pinterest and had used it for our daughters birthday. It tastes amazing!

Black Forest Cheese Cake

Ingredients

750g cream cheese (full/low fat)
1 cup icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
200g crushed sweet biscuit, (digestives)
1 heap tbsp butter, melted
1/4 cup shaved chocolate
1 cup fresh cherries, de-seeded & cut into 1/4



Start by greasing your tin with butter or sunflower oil

Gently mix the melted butter with crushed biscuit and press into the base of the tin. Place into the fridge while preparing the rest

Into a large mixing bowl add cream cheese and mix until fluffy but not thick. Add icing sugar & vanilla extract. Mix well until mixture is stiff. Now gently fold in chopped cherries.

Press the mix gently onto the biscuit base ensuring you have reached the edges of the tin. Top with shaved, good quality chocolate. You can easily shave your own chocolate using a sharp knife. How ever if you are not confident with your skills beware as it is fiddly and can easily end in a nasty cut.

Once back in the fridge it will take no more than 2 hours to set as the cheese has been thickened through mixing.

More Crepes!

Makes 8

Ingredients

1 cup milk
1 1/4 cup plain flour
2 eggs
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Chopped kiwi
Icing sugar for dusting


Beat eggs, milk, flour sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl to make a smooth batter

Leave to stand for 30 mins before cooking

Heat a little butter (optional) in a pan and make 8 thin crepes

Fold in 1/2 and 1/2 again

Top with kiwi and icing sugar

Apple Cake

Serves 6 - 8

Ingredients

225g plain flower
100g butter, room temp
50g sugar
50g caster sugar
1 beaten egg
90ml milk
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp mixed spice
350g chopped apples, strong flavoured


Pre-heat oven to 180C

In a bowl mix flour, sugar and baking powder. Using your fingers, rub the butter into the mix to create a "breadcrumb" effect.

Add in the egg & milk. Mix to form a wet dough.

Mix in the mixed spice

Grease a 22inch tin (or as close as you have)
Spoon 1/2 the dough into the base and spread. Cover with a layer of the apple. Depending on the tin size you should use ALL the apple.
Spoon on remaining dough and spread evenly. Sprinkle with sugar.

Pop into oven for 45 mins.

Serve with fresh cream

Blueberry Smoothie

Natural Yogurt 150ml
Fresh Blueberries 3 tbsp
1 Banana
1 tsp icing sugar/honey (optional)



Simply combine and blitz until smooth. Pour and Serve.

This can also be stored in the fridge for later :)

Great as a snack or breakfast!

Apple Muffins

Makes 12

60g butter (room temp)
100g caster sugar
225ml low fat milk
255g plain flour
3 tbsp baking powder
110g apple - chopped & peeled
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp vanilla extract


Pre-heat oven to 200C

Cream butter and sugar in a bowl. Sift in remaining dry ingredients.
Add milk & vanilla and mix (by hand) until combined. Fold in chopped apple.

Line a Muffin tin with cases and spoon at least 1 heaped tablespoon of mixture into each case. Divide remaining over the 12.

Bake for 20 -25min until skewer comes out clean.

Strawberry Rock Buns

Makes 8

1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter (low fat)
3/4 cup milk (low fat option)
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
Pre Heated oven 220C


Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Add milk & Vanilla and gentle mix. Mixture will be sticky.

Fold in strawberries.

Line a baking tray with baking paper and place 8 blobs of dough on.

Bake for 15 - 20mins @ 220C

Kiwi & Mango Posset

Make the night before

Makes 2
1 Kiwi chopped
1/2 Mango chopped
500ml fresh cream
250g caster sugar

You'll be glad to hear it's SIMPLE :)

Pour cream & sugar into a pot and bring to the boil. Add in the chopped fresh kiwi and chopped mango and simmer on a low heat for 5 minutes.

Pour into 2 red wine glasses and pop into the fridge to set. They will usually need around 6 hours but if you leave them over night you're sure to have a good result.

Serve with fresh whipped cream (piped on if you're feeling fancy) and add some fresh mint for that polished look ;)

Enjoy!

Pineapple Minty

This may sound weird but TRUST me you should try it!


You will need;

1 pineapple
Fresh mint (handful)
sugar (judge to your serving)
Pestle & Mortar (or rolling pin & bowl)


First you need to cut up the pineapple. You want long thin strips not chunks. Depending on how ripe your pineapple is you may need to cut more of the centre stalk away. Make sure and remove all the skin so you have only the soft flesh.

Now take the fresh mint leaves and sugar and put it into pestle and mortar. If you don't have one a bowl and the end of a rolling pin will do fine. The aim is to grind it together till you end up with what looks like green sugar.

Sprinkle it on top and YUM!

Apple & Raisin Crepes

I made these for breakfast Saturday morning and they went down a storm!


First make your crepes. I like to make the batter the night before.

You'll need;

1 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
2 eggs
2tbsp melted butter
1/4 tsp salt

I add the dry ingredients first. So into a bowl add your flour and salt. Then add the milk and water. Give a mix with a small whisk.

I advice cracking your eggs into a separate bowl first JUST in case one in gone off. You don't want the whole thing to go to waste!

Assuming your eggs are not releasing a pong... add them to the mix and whisk together. Last of all is your melted butter. Ensure that the butter has cooled before adding.


Personally I use non stick pans for pancakes but I know some people have issues with this so you have a few options. You can spray with cooking oil, rub a thin layer of butter or a thin layer of oil on the pan. Ensure the pan is heated on high and TURN DOWN to medium BEFORE pouring the batter.

I use about 1/4 of a cup for each crepe to get it thin. Spoon it into the pan and spread it out quickly by moving the pan around. Cook until the batter start to bubble in the centre. Time to turn over! I cook until it's lightly golden. If you avoid flipping more than once you will get a better end result.


Now for the topping

You will need;

1 cup of apple puree
2 handfuls (roughly 1/2 cup) raisins
1 tsp of mixed spice
2 tsp of brown sugar

Quick and simple. Whack everything into a bowl, give it a mix and into the microwave it goes. You're looking for the raisins to plump up. I heat in 30 second blasts so that the apple sauce doesn't dry out around the edges. It should need no more than 2 minutes.


Spoon onto your crepes and enjoy!

Blueberry Cheesecake

Blueberry wine glass cheese cake.

Ok so first you need to make the coulis. Add 1 cup of blueberries to a small pot. Pour in roughly 150g - 200g depending on how thick you want it. Add just enough water to the pot to have the blueberries slightly floating. Bring to the boil. Simmer until the blueberries break apart and turn a deep red/plum colour. Stir to help it thicken. To test if your coulis is done, coat the back of a spoon in the mixture. When you can draw a clear line across the back of your spoon (see above) your coulis is ready to be put aside to cool.



Next make your biscuit. It's the same as any cheese cake base. Use a sweet easily crumbles biscuit of your choice. I crushed 4 (large) biscuits and used 50g of butter. If you want the buscuit base to set solid add more butter. Devide the biscuit and press it into the bottom of the glass. Set in the fridge. I make a light biscuit so it will be easy to break through when eating.

The cheese cake mix is make with foil wrapped cream cheese. I like the foil wrap because you don't loose any moisture. The amount you use depends on the size of glass. 500g will give you thick layers. 250g will work with an average wine glass. The cream cheese needs to be whipped until light and fluffy. Add 1 tsp of vanilla essence (more depending on what you like)

Now layer! For best results, each layer needs to set for at least an hour in the fridge. I go, biscuit, cream cheese, coulis, cream cheese and top with a small amount of whipped cream and fresh berries. I just can't eat to many layers and end of stuffed :D