Everyone catches the Christmas bug when they are a child. I caught it hard. Then I nurtured it, kept it nice and warm and haven’t let go of it since. Oh, I wish it could be Christmas every day. But not Christmas Day every day, because that would be tiring, not to mention the stress!…
Pear Jelly
SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOUR CHEESEBOARD This is my new favourite thing! I wanted something a bit different for the cheeseboard this year aside from the usual chutneys. I had some pears left over, so made a small batch of this Pear Jelly, and it was a hit! Once it sets, it is a firm jelly…
Pear, Blueberry & Chocolate Strudel
THE PEREFCT PUDDING FOR WINTER NIGHTS! If you can find Strudel pastry in the supermarket (I used Betty Bossi’s strudel dough, which is in the chilled section with pizza dough) then buy some and keep it in the freezer for a rainy day. You’ll need to defrost before using, but it thaws out super quick….
Tiramisu Cheesecake (No-Bake)
IMPRESSIVE NO-BAKE DESSERT FOR COFFEE-LOVERS! This is a super-tasty dessert great for easy entertaining. It’s perfect for Christmas when ovens tend to be at their busiest, as it’s one less thing to have to make oven-time for. As this doesn’t require any baking, it really shines if you invest in good quality ingredients. If you…
Spiced Pear Chutney
CHAMPIONING THE PEAR! This is a perfect chutney for the Christmas cheeseboard. It’s sweet with warm spices and goes beautifully with sharp cheddar or mature goat cheese. I used Craigies Ballyhook Flyer Irish cider in mine, which is a medium-bodied dry cider, so I’d definitely recommend splashing out a bit on something special. RECIPE: SPICED…
Chai Tea and Chocolate Chip Muffins
LIGHT. FLUFFY. DELICIOUS. These muffins have got breakfast written all over them. For me, the chai tea gives it the edge. If you’re not a chai fan, you could substitute with rooibos; I reckon that would sing with dark chocolate, and maybe omit the spices and up the vanilla? Or, you could use Earl Grey…
Leftover Panettone Pudding
BREAD PUDDING: REMASTERED! This recipe is very similar to a Bread Pudding, but I’ve just turned it up a little because it’s Christmas. I had a load of leftover panettone and decided to use it in place of the bread, and it did a wonderful job of soaking up all those lovely flavours. I also…
Dark Chocolate & Cranberry Gingerbread Cookies
CHRISTMAS IN A COOKIE! Gingerbread cookies are the ultimate Christmas cookie, but I find making the version that involves rolling, stamping and decorating a bit time-consuming. Here is a version that has all the flavours, but less of the faff. These gorgeous cookies have cayenne pepper in them, which adds a fabulous kick and pairs…
Cranberry Sauce
IT’S NOT CHRISTMAS DINNER WITHOUT CRANBERRY SAUCE! This is a really easy recipe that produces a gorgeous, flavoursome sauce worthy of the Big-Day-Dinner-Table. I’ve tried using different spices in the past, but in the end, less is more. Make sure you taste it before you jar it. Some cranberries can be a little on the…
Turkey, Brie & Cranberry Wellington
FAB CHRISTMAS CENTERPIECE FOR 2-4 PEOPLE This a great Christmas centrepiece if you don’t fancy cooking a whole bird and don’t want to deal with all that leftover meat the following day. It looks challenging, but it’s actually fairly straightforward once you get your head around the elements. The great thing about it is you…
Viennese Whirl Mince Pies
A NEW TWIST ON THE MINCE PIE! I found this recipe on Tesco’s website: Tesco Viennese Whirl mince pies, and had to try it out. I don’t know which genius decided to combine mince pies with Viennese whirls, but hats off my friend. They were amazing! Try my Fig, Ginger & Chocolate Mincemeat or Pear, Caramel,…
Gen's Christmas Kitchen 