Helen from Fuss Free Flavours rounds up her favourite Christmas recipes that aren’t necessarily the traditional turkey and roast potato…
Although I am a traditionalist, and creature of habit at Christmas time – we usually have a turkey (or large capon), with all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pudding with brandy (not rum) butter, then port and Stilton, I do wonder if it would be nice to ring the changes and try something different for once?
- I usually just have some fruit for breakfast on Christmas Day, to leave room for all the food later, but I love the look of Camilla’s Christmas soda bread, all the flavours of stollen and panettone for breakfast.
- Champagne and smoked salmon canapés are a classic pairing to have mid-morning whist opening presents, although I’d love to try Jeanne’s clementine, cranberry vodka cocktails which are such a pretty shade of pink.
- Some of Ren’s delicious looking cod, chorizo and pea puree canapés would make a refreshing and delicious change from smoked salmon.
- To accompany the Christmas turkey, most people bake a ham too. In a twist, Sarah from Taming Twins has baked hers with cider and apple juice seasoned with packet mulled cider spices.
- If you were thinking of ditching the Christmas pudding altogether in favour of something completely different I would have a look at Kevin’s mint aero cheesecake. It is sure to impress either on Christmas day, or for a party afterwards.
- This Christmas pudding alternative, still looks like a Christmas pudding, but is actually a cross between a traditional pudding and a black forest gateau. An amazing idea from Sarah-James.
- You either love or hate mince pies. I do like a good mincemeat to pastry ratio. I love Laura’s twist on the traditional pie, roasted pear and crumble mince-meat tarts – surely the addition of the pear means it counts towards your five a day?
- Kerry’s Christmas tree cookies are amazingly effective and impressive and can be made with far less effort than you might think. Bake a batch for Christmas guests – they would also make an excellent last minute edible gift too.
- I greatly enjoy reading Bintu’s Sierra Leonean recipes, and would very much like to try her roast sweet potato and okra salad with refreshing chilli lime and mustard as a light supper on Boxing Day.
- Many people love to hate sprouts and I agree that overcooked mushy sprouts are horrible. However raw sprouts are amazing chopped and used in a salad. This seasonal sprout salad with bacon and pomegranate from Ciara looks lovely.
Helen Best-Shaw blogs at Fuss Free Flavours, and you can follow her on Twitter – https://twitter.com/fussfreehelen, Instagram – http://instagram.com/fussfreeflavours and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/fussfreeflavours.
Discussion10 Comments
Thanks so much for including me Helen!
I am chuffed to be included in these with a twist recipes round up. The cod, chorizo and pea puree canapés sound rather fab.
Loving all these recipes especially the Mint Aero Cheesecake:-) Thanks for including my Christmas Soda Bread:-)
Thank you Helen and yes of course the pear counts as part of your five a day! Pleased to be featured here 🙂
Thanks for the feature! Loving these recipes – especially Ren’s gorgeous canapés 🙂
They all sound great but I’m especially keen on the sound of Laura’s pear and mincemeat tarts!
This is a brilliant collection of recipes. Thanks so much for sharing these in a single, easily-accessible place (rather than what I usually do of opening 10 tabs from a Google search then crash the PC and lose everything!)
Mmm, what a lovely collection of recipes! Bintu’s okra and sweet potato salad looks and sounds delicious.
What a fab collection of Christmas recipes with a twist, I really must try the Christmas Soda Bread. Thanks for including my Black Forest Chocolate Pudding.