Merry & Bright THE STRESS-FREE FESTIVE FOOD GUIDE FROM THE FAMILY FOODIE
QUICK, SIMPLE & DELICIOUS | OVER 20 RECIPES TO MIX & MATCH | TIPS & TRICKS
DECEMBER
2020
|Â ISSUE
NO.
1
Welcome Thank
you
so
much
for
purchasing
Merry & Bright my
first
The
e-magazine
following
pages
style are
recipe
filled
collection.
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Contents NIBBLES
SALADS
SIDES
03
09
14
Oysters 3 ways (GF/DFO/P)
Jewelled Cous Cous Salad
04
Smoked Salmon Bites (GF/P)
05
(GFO)
Lobster with Lemon & Herb Butter
Waldorf Salad
(GF/DF/V)
(GF/P)
11
Salad
12
Avocado & Pistachio Dip Platter
08
15
(GF/DF)
Cranberry, Pancetta &
(GF/V)
(GF/DFO/V)
Baked Zucchini with Pangrattato
(GFO/DFO/V)
17
Potato, Pancetta & Parmesan Bake
(GF)
Watermelon & Feta Salad
Ceviche Kingfish
16
Nectarine, Prosciutto &
(GF/DFO)
13
(GFO)
Snow Pea, Mint & feta
Bocconcini Salad
07
Potatoes
(DF/VEGAN/MF)
Pistachio Stuffing Cups Prosciutto & Burrata Grazing Platter
06
10
Roasted Duck Fat
(GF/V/DFO)
(GFO/DF/P)
MAINS
SWEETS
BONUSES
20
26
21
Roast Turkey or Chicken with Lemon & Thyme (GF)
22
Cheats Pavolva Nests
Roast Turkey or Chicken
(GF/DFO)
27
Choc Dipped Florentines
Baked Salmon with
(GF)
Fennel & Asparagus (GF/P)
23
Glazed Ham
25
Slow Cooker Lamb
(GF/DF)
28
Christmas Rocky Road (GF)
Shoulder
(GF/DF)
How to prepare your
23
How to Glaze a Ham
02
Planning Guide
29
The 2 Hour 4 hour Food Safety Rule
GF (Gluten Free) GFO (Gluten Free Option) DF (Dairy Free) DFO (Dairy Free Option) V (Vegetarian) P (Pescatarian)
Planning Guide 1. DECIDE YOUR MENU
5. PLAN THE COOKING TIMES
Make a list of your favourite recipes, taking
Make a list of how long things are
into account any dietary needs.
going to take to cook and if they need to be cooked in the oven, slow cooker,
2. MAKE 2 SHOPPING LISTS
bbq etc. Have a look at how many dishes you can actually fit In your oven
I like to create 2 shopping lists, one for dry
at once and plan accordingly. I often
goods which you can purchase the week
do a little timetable/running guide!
before the event and one for fresh ingredients to buy a day or two before
6. USING THE BBQ Using the BBQ is a great way to gain
3. JOBS YOU CAN DO IN ADVANCE
more oven space but you do need to be careful. Unlike an oven the heat
Make a list of the jobs you can do in
from the BBQ comes from the bottom
advance. Things like toasting and chopping
so anything you place on the grill or
nuts, baking sweets, making dressings and
plate will burn on the bottom. You must
sauces. Plan a day to get these done.
elevate anything you are cooking on a rack or something and make sure you
4. PLAN THE LAST MINUTE JOBS
keep an eye on it.
There are always some jobs that need to be done the morning of, make a list of these and the time each one will likely take and delegate any tasks you can.
6. DELEGATE Have a look at your recipes and see if you can delegate any dishes. Most people offer because they actually want to help so don’t be afraid to ask.
3
|
THE
FAMILY
FOODIE
•
DECEMBER
2020
Oysters Three Ways GLUTEN
FREE
|
PREP
TIME:
10
MINS
|
COOK
TIME:
NIL
Oysters are a lovely thing to serve at Christmas time as they are always a special treat and a little fancy. Here are a few very easy ways to serve them which can be prepared days in advance.
Oysters 3 Ways Natural (Most peoples favourite) Horseradish Creme Fraiche Japanese
INGREDIENTS Natural, freshly shucked Oysters (see notes for quantities) 100gm Creme Fraiche 2 tsps horseradish cream Juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon Salt and pepper to taste Handful of chives, finely chopped 2 tbsp rice vinegar 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 long red chilli, finely sliced 1 cm knob of ginger, finely grated 1 kg course Himalayan Pink Salt Extra lemons or limes
METHOD Scatter the pink salt on a large platter.
In a small bowl mix the creme fraiche, horseradish, zest & juice of 1/2 a lemon and some salt and pepper. Taste and
Notes
adjust as required.
People either love or hate Oysters and one thing I have learnt from my catering days is that a little goes a long way. In another small bowl make the Japanese dressing by
Put some thought into how many of your guests actually like adding the rice vinegar, soy sauce, chilli and ginger and
oysters (it may be 50% or less) and allow 2-3 oysters per person stir to combine.
especially if you have other seafood dishes on offer because there is nothing worse than throwing out expensive oysters that
Place the oysters on top of the salt, leave a third natural, on another third add a spoonful of the horseradish creme fraiche and garnish with some chopped chives. On the final third add a spoonful of the Japanese dressing.
have been sitting around for hours. Himalayan Pink Salt can be found in most supermarkets these days and looks so pretty as a bed for your oysters. You can prepare the horseradish creme and the Japanese dressing up to 3 days in advance but make sure you get your
Garnish with wedges of lemons or limes.
4
|
THE
FAMILY
FOODIE
•
DECEMBER
2020
oysters fresh, ideally on Christmas Eve.
Hot Smoked Salmon Bites GLUTEN PREP
These have
FREE
little with
Seeded
|
MEAT
TIME:20
Bites your
are
first
crackers
cream
FREE
MINS
|
|
MAKES
COOK
the
perfect
glass
of
topped
cheese,
30
flaky
BITES
TIME:NIL
nibble
to
Champagne!
with
a
salmon
herbed and
caperberries. INGREDIENTS 100gm cream cheese, softened 1/4 bunch dill, finely chopped 2 tsp baby capers, drained and finely chopped 2 tsp horseradish cream Salt and pepper to taste Juice and zest of 1 lemon 150gm packet of hot smoked salmon 3 baby cucumbers, thinly sliced 10 x Caperberries, sliced 1 packet gluten free seeded crackers or crackers of your choice
METHOD In a small bowl place the cream cheese, dill, baby capers, horseradish cream, juice and zest of a lemon and some salt and pepper to taste. Mix till smooth and well combined. You can also just place all ingredients in a small blender and blitz.
Spread a little of the herbed cream cheese onto each cracker, top with a slice of cucumber, some flaked salmon, a slice of caperberry and a garnish of dill.
Notes
You can make the herbed cream cheese up to 3 days in advance, just make sure you bring it out of the fridge to soften prior to arranging otherwise zap in the microwave for 10 seconds to soften. Do not melt it!! Hot smoked salmon is found in the section where you get sliced smoked salmon, it come as a chunk of fillet and flakes away. It is called hot smoked because it is smoked using heat. The assembly of these little crackers can almost be done by one of the kids just give them the picture as a guide. I use Mary’s Gone crackers gluten free cracker, but any cracker of your choice will do. Don’t assemble these too far in advance as they can go soggy.
Prosciutto & Burrata Grazing Platter GLUTEN
FREE
PREP
OPTION
TIME:
5
|
MINS
SERVES
8
|
TIME:
COOK
AS
A
NIBBLE
INGREDIENTS
NIL
150gms very thinly sliced prosciutto 1 ball fresh burrata 1 punnet heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
What
is
not
to
like
creamy
This
dish
looks
takes
very
about
burrata
minutes
festive
and
salty
and
to
is
prosciutto,
basil.
throw
mouth
together,
wateringly
1/2 bunch of basil, torn Good quality olive oil Salt and pepper Crackers/crusty bread or toasted sourdough to serve
delicious.
METHOD On a large platter, place the ball of fresh burrata in the middle. Tear the prosciutto into smaller pieces and place around the burrata.
Scatter the halved cherry tomatoes and torn basil leaves on top of the prosciutto.
Drizzle with a good quality olive oil, some salt and pepper and serve with crackers or sliced crusty baguette.
Notes
6
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THE
FAMILY
FOODIE
•
DECEMBER
2020