These pies just say Christmas! Big enough to be generous, but small enough for a party snack, if I saw a plate of these beauties any time over the festive period, I would instantly know I was welcome. If homemade shortcrust pastry isn’t your thing, you can buy pre-made shortcrust pastry in most grocery stores.Continue reading “Mini Chicken, Bacon, Leek & Chestnut Pies”
Author Archives: carolinefeeds
In Praise of Make-Ahead Gravy
Jamie Oliver has brought many food-related joys into my life, and with the exception of that time I made his chicken liver pâté, he hasn’t let me down yet. Chief among his festive brain waves is his notion that we should all be making our Christmas gravy well ahead of time, freezing it, and simplyContinue reading “In Praise of Make-Ahead Gravy”
Warm Salad of Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Pecans, Feta and Dried Cranberries
A Christmassy salad if ever there was one. Feeds 2 as a light lunch Ingredients 500g Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved through the stem Olive oil Salt and pepper Handful of pecans Handful dried cranberries 50g feta cheese Method: Roast the Brussels sprouts. Meanwhile, toast the pecans by adding them to a dry frying panContinue reading “Warm Salad of Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Pecans, Feta and Dried Cranberries”
Sugar & Spiced Nuts
These nuts are the perfect standby nibble. Pile onto a cheese board and pair with a salty cheese such as stilton or chèvre, or pop a bowl of these on the counter when hungry people begin to hover. Better still, these make a fabulous edible gift. I have provided instructions for making your own ChristmasContinue reading “Sugar & Spiced Nuts”
We Should All Be Eating Mussels
Mussels are one of my absolute favourite things to eat. They were actually the first thing I ever cooked for my (now) husband. He was dead impressed – and you will be, too. In addition to being really delicious, mussels have so much going for them. They’re cheap, elegant, easy and quick to cook, lowContinue reading “We Should All Be Eating Mussels”
Brandy Snaps
We’re all looking for ways to scale down our Christmas this year. So rather than baking three dozen cookies, how about a batch of brandy snaps instead? The recipe produces as few as eight of these elegant sweet cigars, though easily doubles or triples as well. Serve with your favourite digestif after a meal withContinue reading “Brandy Snaps”
Antipasti Salad
A lightly pickled vegetable salad that goes with everything. Eat alongside cold ham, cooked chicken or white fish, or with a big dollop of hummus, some cured meats and a lovely hard Italian cheese. If you can find romanesco cauliflower, it looks beautiful in this salad. But regular cauliflower is just as delicious. The boilingContinue reading “Antipasti Salad”
Chicken Tikka Marsala Triangles
Not to be confused with Chicken Tikka Masala. Chicken Tikka Masala given a festive – and inauthentic – twist with Christmassy flavours: booze, dried fruit and nuts. Very festive, indeed. Folded into a crisp phyllo shell, it’s the perfect party appetizer. Makes about 40 pieces Ingredients 2 tbsp butter 1 tbsp olive oil 1.5 cupsContinue reading “Chicken Tikka Marsala Triangles”
Fig, Goat’s Cheese and Prosciutto Bundles with a Rosemary, Honey & Brandy Glaze
Accurately described as a TASTE EXPLOSION. Make these and pretend you’re the guy from Love Actually who hopelessly uses “Taste Explosion?” as a pick-up line. If you’re unsuccessful, at least you’ll have more of these for yourself. Makes 18 pieces Ingredients 9 Dried figs Goat’s cheese 6 Slices prosciutto Rosemary Honey Brandy (port or sherryContinue reading “Fig, Goat’s Cheese and Prosciutto Bundles with a Rosemary, Honey & Brandy Glaze”
What I learned last Christmas
My husband and I hosted Christmas for the first time last year. In previous years I had always helped the hosts – obviously preparing food, and helping with lots of wrapping and decorating – but putting on the whole show unsupervised, as it were, was a different experience. And here’s what I learned. Do notContinue reading “What I learned last Christmas”
Caroline Feeds 