Here we are...

It's CHRISTMAS DAY.

We made it

Wishing everyone the happiest holiday season or Christmas. 

Enjoy every moment of the food and fun and family!

Happy Christmas everyone!

YES!! We know, there should be the TWELVE days of Christmas....

...BUT...

...did you know the twelve days of Christmas were meant to refer to the dozen days AFTER December 25??

So let's just look at some inspiration (culinary of course!) for the next FIVE days!

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DAY ONE

Last-minute Hacks

Getting down to the end of your preparations? Here's a couple of final suggestions.

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Fast and fabulous eccles cakes

In the antipodes Christmas seems to come at the wrong time of year. Even though I've grown up in Australia, the hot summer just doesn't suit heavy Christmas puddings, Christmas cakes, mince pies and the many dishes people believe we need for Christmas lunch. 

Yet my palate craves the taste of Christmas. You know, all those rich spices and dried fruit, the scents that make the house smell wonderful and set the tone for the festive season. 

Well this year, I think I've reached a happy medium - currants, pastry, spices - easier than making my own fiddly mince pies and infinitely better than store-bought ones. Add grated orange rind or mixed peel to the mix too, if you like the flavour. 

Check out the recipe here..... and read to the end for the cheat's version.

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Fruit fondue

This is the ideal casual help-yourself dessert. Just as good for lunch on The Big Day as it is for drop-in guests.

Check out the recipe and add your own variations....

 See many more ideas here....

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Xmas sauce

Do this well before the Christmas. Bottle it and leave in the fridge, then dig into it for a super-quick and luscious topping for almost anything: shortbread, ice cream, meringues, French toast, waffles...oh, anything you like, really...to make a sensational dessert or something special for afternoon tea.

There is no set recipe. Put dried fruits, flaked almonds, dried cranberries, some chopped crystallised ginger if you like, and mixed spice and cinnamon in a large bowl. Soak it with a little water so the fruit can absorb it and the tastiest liquors you have (sherry, brandy, rum, port etc) or use orange, pomegranate, blackcurrant juice for a non-alcoholic mix. 

Serve with a (shop-bought, if necessary) meringue and some whipped cream. It's the welcome that counts!

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Instant crumble

Have you ever heard of crumble topping that you don't have to bake? We're joking...right? No, it's easily done in your sandwich press.

Make your favourite crumble mix (or mix 1 cup self-raising flour, 1/2 cup castor sugar, 60g melted butter, 1/8 teaspoon allspice, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon). Use a length of kitchen paper that will cover both plates of your sandwich press, and sprinkle the crumble topping evenly on the bottom plate. Shut the lid and cook for about two minutes or until fragrant and golden. Store in an airtight jar or freeze in a ziploc bag until needed.

Sprinkle the crumble over any stewed or fresh chopped fruit and serve with ice cream or cream - or both - AND try not to snack on it!

DAY TWO

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Give yourself a very easy Christmas....

The tricky thing about Christmas (aka Stressmas) is that it takes up more than just one day. Apart from the BIG EVENT on December 25, there are all the other occasions: parties, drop-in guests, food gifts, a brunch or two... and so it goes. 

Here are some ideas to take some of the stress out of those little drinks parties that seem to happen all the time in the lead-up to Christmas.

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Parmesan Crisps

All you need for these is a Cafe (Sandwich) Press and some grated parmesan cheese. Use a sheet of baking paper to cover the top and bottom plate of the Cafe Press and put spoonfuls of grated parmesan well apart. Close the press and cook until the light goes on and they are crisp are golden. The crisps are fragile, but a lovely garnish to a salad or fruit platter.

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Give it a try.....        

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Celebrate with an Aussie special

I wish I could say that I am clever enough to have thought of this. Nor did I make it. ALL the credit goes to my lovely friend, Lorraine Elliot, who is the genius behind my favourite cookery blog Not Quite Nigella. She blends top kitchen skills with the most inventive brain I know.

Just look at this lovely way to celebrate Australia's special day and go to her site HERE for the recipe and instructions.

Go on - amaze your friends with an all-Australian special!

(Psst! Here's a shortcut. BUY a dozen or so meringues, and arrange them roughly in the shape of Australia!! Top with cream and fruit.)

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Jalapeno Balls

A tasty nibble to go with drinks or as a starter. Make them beforehand if you like, and freeze, then reheat briefly in the oven or a frypan. 

Here's the recipe...

DAY THREE

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Chill out

With Christmas  a few days away, it's too early to start to prepare for the main meal. Some cooks may have already baked the Christmas cake and mince pies, even though many younger members of families seem not so keen on these super-sweet foods.

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So you think you know your cheeses?

Leftovers party-time (after Xmas is all over)

While we're talking about cheeses, let's think about ways to use up leftover chunks from the cheese platter...

...and many other little bits that are far too good and tasty to throw out, but which are not large enough to serve on their own.

Ham bits, slices of sausage, breads and crackers, fruits and salad ingredients - it's amazing what can be repurposed to make other tasty dishes.

See even more ideas....

Cherry berry-misu

Tiramisu is a lovely Italian dessert, now served all over the world. Despite this, it is a quite recent addition to the menu, possibly created by a chef at Le Beccherie, in Treviso, in the Veneto region of Italy, around the 1960s.

So creating a spin-off is not seriously endangering traditional Italian cuisine. 

Using just a few ingredients, it is hard to believe that this stunning dessert is so quick ansd easy to make.

See for yourself - here is the full recipe...

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For more holiday season goodies....

DAY FOUR

Make your own ice cream for the holidays

There is hardly an easier ice cream recipe than this. Based on a recipe by Nigella Lawson, you can change around the flavours to suit your own tastes.

Here's the recipe....

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Make ahead treats

Grappole

This has to be one of the easiest chocolate delights you can make. Get creative and add anything you like: chopped crystallised ginger, glace cherries, sultanas, dried cranberries.....

Make these as decadent nibbles for a party, or wrap them as gifts for friends.  

Here's the recipe....

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Getting closer to Christmas Day ~ how the world celebrates

Not every country celebrates Christmas, and even those that do, don’t always agree on the date. Some, like Holland, have it on December 5, St Nicholas Day, and many Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany on January 6th or 7th.

Find out how our world's neighbours celebrate Xmas....

Read on for more holiday season goodies....

DAY FIVE

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Not wrapped in Christmas?

This is for those whose fingers tie in knots when it comes to wrapping presents. Here is a basket of gift ideas you don't need to wrap.

Here's how to put the back into Xmas gift-giving!

I don't know about you, but I am all thumbs when faced with rolls of wrapping paper and ribbon and sticky tape? I hate all that business with labels and cards and bows and ribbons and - fuss. Mainly because I am just so awful at doing it.

So I came up with a solution which won't make the wrapping paper people happy – but they don't have my schedule and commitments to deal with, either.

Read all about the options....

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Serve some 'crack'

It's not what you might think. This crack is legal - although it is quite addictive!

Have it ready when the house smells like Christmas Day, but you don't want little (or big) fingers getting into the goodies too early.

Chocolate crack is fast to make, yet delicious enough for any festive table. It makes a good 'neighbour-gift' too.

See the step-by-step directions, HERE....

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On the Hanukkah table

Hanukkah, an important Jewish festival celebrated with lights, family, presents and food, this year it occurs between December 22 and 30.

(Photo by Tara Donne, Food and Prop Styling by Diana Yen)

If latkes (above) those crunchy potato cakes everybody loves, come to mind for Hanukkah, that's because they are a top favourite during this festival. However Hanukkah has many more specialties to offer and cooking website  Epicurious has come up with many more dishes (86, in fact) to make that Hanukkah table groan with goodies.

Read all about them here.......

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For Sydney-siders during December

This Hanukkah (Chanukah), inspire your taste buds with Shuk Bakery's wildly imaginative donut (sufganiya) with flavours inspired by the famous and colourful Israeli scene.​

The classic Chanukah sufganiya — a light and puffy fried donut made with enriched dough, filled with jam and topped with a generous dusting of powdered sugar has been taken a step or two further at the four Shuk Bakery outlets around Sydney.​

Keep up-to-date....

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Christmassy chocolate roulade

No one will believe how easy this stunning Christmas buche is to make.

Its most endearing angle is that there is no need to fill and roll it in the usual rather tricky timeframe that most sponge roll recipes require - just after it leaves the oven. This classy little friend is happy to rest overnight or all day (chilled, if the weather is hot) until you are ready to finish it.

Expect applause!

See for yourself how simple it is......

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Weird & wacky Xmas traditions

AND if you want to know some truly unusual worldwide Christmas traditions...read on.

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Hope you have enjoyed this tasty run-up to Christmas!

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