Favourite Christmas Cookbooks

There is a holy trinity of UK celebrity chefs in our house! Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver and Nigel Slater on TV just sums up Christmas!

When it comes to Irish chefs we’re fond of local chef Edward Hayden, Clodagh Mc Kenna and we just love the ICA Christmas Cookbook.

Favourite Tips

I could be here all day – but here are a few!

• Stock those pantries early.  Don’t leave the shopping until last thing or you’ll be standing in long queues.
• Visit the local farmers market for your fresh produce. The quality and flavours are wonderful.
• Decorate your kitchen – with pretty jars of herbs, decorations and a festive candle or diffuser.
• Make sure you have some nice non-alcoholic drinks in the house.  Juices, sparkling water, schloer champagne and non-alcoholic punch all help the designated driver feel at home.
• Check before you cook if you have a guest with a special dietary requirement, intolerance or allergy.
• Wear an apron – your clothes will thank you!
• Tie away hair and be hygienic in your kitchen.
• Wear flat shoes whilst you’re prepping and getting ready – you can glam up with minutes to spare before your guests arrive

Favourite Recipes

Most of us will be doing the seasonal Turkey and Ham – but here are a few recipes to consider for this traditional festive season.

Starter: French Onion Soup

Our recipe serves 8:

• 1.1 kg White Onions – peeled and sliced
• 1 bunch of fresh thyme leaves
• 4 Garlic Cloves – peeled and sliced
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 50g Butter
• Olive oil
• 40ml Brandy
• 1.3 Litres of Beef Stock
• Sea Salt & Pepper

In a heavy based saucepan slowly fry off all the finely sliced onions, garlic, bay leaf and thyme with the butter and a drizzle of olive oil.  Place a lid on and slowly cook for about 15 minutes over a low heat – the slower the better.

Remove the lid and turn up the heat and start to colour the onions until they are brown.  Don’t let them burn though!  Stir all the time and then add the brandy.  Cook for another minute.

Add the stock and simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.

Serve with crusty bread!

Braised Red Cabbage

Our recipe serves 6.

• 150g butter
• 1/2 head of red cabbage – cut finely
• 2 onions – sliced thinly
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 300ml red wine
• 100ml red wine vinegar
• 100g caster sugar
• 3 apples, peeled, cored and diced
• 2 tablespoons of redcurrant jelly
• handful of sultanas

Place butter in a preheated pot, add shredded cabbage and onion, stir well and cook for a few minutes to soften.

Season with salt, pepper and add the cinnamon sticks.

Add the red wine, red wine vinegar and sugar.  Cover with a tight fitting lid and place on a low heat for about 55 minutes.  Halfway after 25 minutes add in the apples, sultanas and take out the cinnamon sticks.

When cooked add the redcurrant jelly and season.

Dads Favourite Trifle

Our recipe serves 6

• 10 Trifle sponge fingers
• 200g BlackberryJam
• 400g Blackberries
• 400g Raspberries
• 1 carton of readymade custard (the richer and more delicious the better!)
• 800g Marcarpone Cheese
• 50g flaked almonds toasted
• 50g Amaretti Biscuits, crushed
• a little brandy! (to taste)

Clean and prepare your berries and set aside.  Toast almonds and split sponge in half and spread with a little of the jam and sandwich together.

Warm jam slightly – adding the berries.  Stir and keep quarter of the berries to line the base of your bowl.

Scatter berries in the bottom of your bowl.  Arrange sponge fingers on top.  Pour your alcohol on top.  Add the berry and jam mixture.  Add the custard to the cheese and blend until smooth.  Put custard and cheese mix on top of the jam/berry mix.  Leave overnight and decorate with flaked almonds and crushed biscuits.

ENJOY!

On behalf of the team at Newhaven Kitchens we would like to wish you and your families a healthy and happy Christmas. Enjoy this wonderful time with your loved ones.

If you want to talk to us about your 2023 Newhaven Kitchen then please call us on 059 9176873 or email [email protected]