New Twists on Classical Christmas Foods and Drinks

Christmas is a time steeped in tradition, especially when it comes to food and drink. From succulent roasted turkey to steaming cups of mulled wine, the festive season brings with it a host of culinary delights that have stood the test of time. 

However, there's no harm in shaking things up a bit. Here are some innovative twists on classical Christmas foods and drinks that will add a touch of excitement to your holiday table.

1. Roasted Turkey with a Citrus Glaze

The centrepiece of many Christmas dinners is the turkey, typically served with cranberry sauce and stuffing. This year, why not give the traditional roast turkey a zesty update? A citrus glaze can add a fresh and vibrant flavour to the bird, cutting through the richness of the meat and bringing a welcome brightness to your plate.

Recipe Idea: Prepare a glaze using a blend of orange, lemon, and lime juice, combined with honey, garlic, and a dash of chilli flakes. Baste the turkey with this mixture during the last hour of roasting for a beautifully caramelised skin and a succulent, flavour-infused meat.

2. Parsnip and Maple Syrup Mash

Mashed potatoes are a staple at Christmas dinner, but this year, try swapping them out for a parsnip and maple syrup mash. Parsnips provide a slightly sweet and earthy flavour, which pairs perfectly with the subtle sweetness of maple syrup.

Recipe Idea: Boil parsnips until tender, then mash with a generous knob of butter, a splash of milk, and a drizzle of maple syrup. Season with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of nutmeg for a warming, comforting side dish that complements the richness of your main course.

3. Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Pomegranate

Brussels sprouts are often met with mixed feelings, but this recipe is sure to win over even the most reluctant diner. By adding crispy pancetta and sweet, tangy pomegranate seeds, you can transform these humble greens into a festive treat.

Recipe Idea: Sauté halved Brussels sprouts in olive oil until they start to brown. Add diced pancetta and cook until crisp. Toss in a handful of pomegranate seeds just before serving. The result is a delightful combination of flavours and textures that will add a pop of colour to your Christmas spread.

4. Gingerbread Espresso Martini

For a festive twist on a classic cocktail, try a Gingerbread Espresso Martini. This drink captures the essence of Christmas with its rich, spicy notes and warming kick.

Recipe Idea: Combine espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, and a homemade gingerbread syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a small gingerbread biscuit on the rim for an extra touch of Christmas cheer.

5. Spiced Apple and Cranberry Mulled Wine

Mulled wine is a Christmas classic, but this year, consider adding some apple and cranberry to the mix for a fruity, aromatic twist.

Recipe Idea: In a large saucepan, gently heat red wine with apple juice, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and a slice of orange. Sweeten to taste with brown sugar or honey. Let the mixture simmer gently, allowing the flavours to meld together, then ladle into mugs and serve warm.

6. Chocolate and Cherry Trifle

Trifle is a beloved British dessert that graces many a Christmas table. This year, switch up the traditional recipe by incorporating chocolate and cherries for a decadent, festive treat.

Recipe Idea: Layer chocolate sponge cake, cherry compote, chocolate custard, and whipped cream in a large trifle bowl. Top with chocolate shavings and fresh cherries for a stunning centrepiece that tastes as good as it looks.

These new twists on classical Christmas foods and drinks are sure to impress your guests and bring a fresh flavour to your holiday celebrations. Whether you're a traditionalist at heart or a culinary adventurer, these ideas offer a delicious way to spice up your Christmas menu.

Thinking of Christmas gifts? Better get your skates on!

Over at skates.co.uk, they specialise in finding the right type of stunt scooter for you. They are justifiably proud of their expertise gathered over years of selling a wide range from beginners level right up to high end models. 

Our extensive scooter range goes from standard threaded models, right through IHC, SCS up to HIC scooter models. 

They have some incredible stunt scooters featuring 110mm, 110mm, all the way up to 125mm wheels.

All the stunt scooters they offer can spin 360° and are perfect for testing your mettle down at the local skatepark. 

Stunt scooters are also known as trick scooters; therefore they are carefully designed and constructed only with reinforced parts to withstand the force exerted on them while being used for tricks and stunts.

Skates.co.uk offer an extensive selection of the world’s top stunt scooters all on the one website with fantastic technical advice and expertise from their team to help you make the right selection. 

With free next day delivery and a full catalogue of scooter accessories like Apex Pro Scooters aftermarket handlebars, SCS, wheels and the fantastic Root Wheels, what more could you possibly need?

But there's more! Nearly all of their stunt scooters come with a special free gift, maybe a Bonus Pack which includes Grip tape, Stickers, Wax, a Drawstring Bag and Bearings.

They've got some of the most sought after brands, all under the one roof! These include the industry leading MGP Scooters with their huge range of integrated stunt scooters as well as the freestyle scootering champions all the way from Australia, Sacrifice Scooters.

Foldable scooters are also available, too. 

Skates.co.uk always aims to release the newest and most up to date brands, models and colours to provide you with the best possible shopping experience. If you can’t find the perfect scooter for you, feel free to head over to our Custom Scooter Builder and design that scooter of your dreams!

But as the name will tell you, there are much more than scooters from Skates.co.uk! You can also check out their amazing range of Quad roller skates all from world leading brands.

Also you can benefit from a cool 5% discount on your first order.

Opies Offer Inspiring Christmas food gifts: for avid home cooks, secret Santa surprises or superb stocking fillers

Opies Fruits with Alcohol are absolutely vital kitchen cupboard ingredients, which pack a punch in home styled puddings. Presented in NEW Kilner jars.

Add next-level flavours to meringues, roulades, sparkling cocktails and more.

Inspirational on-pack recipes for flavour-filled puddings and desserts to make at home.

They are the ideal Christmas gift solution: an attractive, classy yet affordable stocking filler gift, addition to a home-made food hamper or a festive treat for hard-to-buy for family and friends who love food and who love to cook.

Giving a foodie gift at Christmas is guaranteed to be well received. It’s a sure-fire success and a guaranteed top choice. 

With Opies' help, you just can’t go wrong! This year, family flavour-maker Opies has four new fruity creations that will reign supreme whether you’re buying for budding chefs who are seeking out luxurious ingredients, shopping for that hard-to-buy-for relative or friend or selecting a secret Santa surprise for a co-worker you don’t know that well. 

Or, perhaps for a co-worker you know very well and are certain Opies will be a very welcome gift for them.

And if you want to be a little more opulent, then they will also make a welcome addition to your own, personally selected, self-styled hamper. Or a great luxury Christmas hamper for your spouse, parent or grandparent. 

Opies new range of four popular fruits which are generously preserved in exceptional quality Luxardo® liqueur are presented in sleek and stylish Kilner jars. 

Choose from succulent, delicious peaches lovingly steeped in a 12-year old Luxardo® brandy, indulgent and luxurious black cherries soaked in Luxardo® Kirsch, rich and opulent baby pears drenched in Luxardo® Amaretto and sharp and intense Forest Fruits covered in a Luxardo® mulled gin.

My personal favourite is the baby peaches in Kirsch,but my wife and I love all of them very much indeed.

This affordable Christmas food gift is just £14.95 and is great to keep in reserve for that last-minute forgotten gift and will be deemed much more thoughtful than a 'recycled’ bottle of wine!

Besides making an attractive, popular and thoughtful gift, these boozy fruits can single-handedly revolutionise your festive menus. 

Not only making an ideal, convenient, standby dessert served with a dollop of double cream or clotted cream, or perhaps generous scoop of luxury ice cream, they can replace fresh or canned fruits to significantly increase the flavour intensity of a dessert. 

You can use them to boost up an otherwise humble crumbles captivating, titivate trifles or more besides. 

There is an on-pack recipe plus a veritable of interesting and inspirational ideas at www.bennettopie.com 

And as these are from Opies, you can be certain all the fruits are packed by hand and specially paired with exceptional Luxardo® spirits, which is internationally respected and loved and whose legacy has been appreciated by royalty and the world’s top bartenders alike.

To make the absolute most of the jar and to avoid any waste, once you have used the first-rate fruits there are lots of ways to use the leftover precious Luxardo® syrup too. For carefully curated cocktails, mix the syrup with a little water to make boozy ice cubes, or for parties warm and combine with gelatine and champagne to create grown-up jellies. 

For a savoury twist, mix with a little cornflour to thicken then drizzle over meats like roast duck or pork to make an extraordinary glaze. (To be perfectly honest, I'm always tempted to just glug them down, so I'll take this advice to make the most of them in our Christmas time cooking and drinking!)

The stylish Kilner jars are reusable and have a whole multiplicity of onward uses. Once cleaned and dried out they are perfect for safely storing herbs, spices, nuts and dried fruits as well as making a wonderful able decoration filled with tea lights or fairy lights.

Buy from speciality food shops or online at www.bennettopie.com

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Leftover Turkey Ruby Murray. A real Christmas treat

Serves 4

2 tbsp whole coriander seeds

1 tbsp whole cumin seeds

3 tbsp coconut or vegetable oil

6 green cardamom pods, crushed

3 bay leaves

4 cloves

1 cinnamon stick

2 tsp dried chilli flakes

2 large onions, peeled and chopped

1 tbsp ginger, grated

4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

1 tbsp mild curry paste

2 tins of chopped tomatoes

2 tbsps. tomato purée

500g cooked Golden Turkey leg meat, cubed

Sea salt and black pepper

Fresh coriander, chopped (to garnish)

Method:

Toast the coriander and cumin seeds in a dry pan until lightly toasted and extremely  fragrant.  Then grind with a pestle and mortar and set to one side.

Heat the oil in a heavy based pan over a medium heat and add the cardamom pods, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon stick, and chilli flakes until they start to crackle and release their flavours.  

Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, then add the ginger, garlic and the freshly ground coriander and cumin seeds.

Add the curry paste, the chopped tomatoes, and the tomato purée.  Turn the heat up to high and allow the curry to simmer for about 15 minutes, adding a little water if necessary.  

Add the turkey and cook through until the turkey is hot, season with the sea salt and black pepper.

Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with steamed basmati rice, or chapatis minted yoghurt and mango chutney and a nice, fresh, fluffy naan!

There Are Only 161 Days to Christmas. So Perhaps Today is the Day to Start Planning Ahead?

Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, is now just 161 days away. While it may seem like an eternity for some, in reality, the festive season will be upon us before we know it. 

With the hustle and bustle that comes with Christmas preparations, starting early can save you from the last-minute scramble and allow you to fully enjoy the holiday spirit. 

Here are some reasons why today might just be the perfect day to start planning ahead.

1. Spread the Cost

One of the most stressful aspects of Christmas can be the financial burden it brings. By starting to shop early, you can spread the cost over several months rather than facing a hefty bill in December. Look out for sales and discounts throughout the year; Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great opportunities to snag some bargains.

2. Avoid the Last-Minute Rush

The festive season is notorious for crowded shops, long queues, and out-of-stock items. By planning and shopping early, you can avoid the chaos and ensure that you get everything on your list without the stress. Plus, early shopping means you can take your time to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones.

3. Personalised Gifts

If you love giving personalised gifts, starting early is essential. Customised items can take longer to produce and ship, especially during the busy holiday season. By ordering now, you can ensure that your unique gifts arrive on time and make a lasting impression.

4. Plan Your Festive Activities

Christmas is not just about gifts; it’s also about creating memories. Whether it’s hosting a Christmas party, attending a festive concert, or going ice skating, planning ahead allows you to schedule and book your favourite activities in advance. This way, you won’t miss out on the experiences that make Christmas special.

5. Reduce Stress

The holiday season can be incredibly stressful, but early planning can help alleviate some of that pressure. By getting organised now, you can avoid the last-minute rush and enjoy a more relaxed and joyful Christmas. Make a list of everything you need to do, from decorating the house to planning the Christmas dinner menu, and tackle it bit by bit.

6. Travel Arrangements

If you’re planning to travel over the holidays, now is the time to book your tickets and accommodation. Travel prices often skyrocket closer to Christmas, and availability can become limited. Booking early can save you money and ensure you have a stress-free journey to your holiday destination.

7. Sustainable Choices

Starting early also gives you the opportunity to make more sustainable choices. You can take your time to find eco-friendly gifts, wrapping paper, and decorations. Additionally, spreading out your purchases reduces the environmental impact of shipping multiple items at once.

8. Create a Christmas Countdown

Building anticipation for Christmas can be just as exciting as the day itself. Create a countdown calendar and start planning little activities and treats for each day leading up to Christmas. This can be a fun way to get the whole family involved and build excitement.

9. That's Christmas

Remember, That's Christmas will be with you every step of the way to Christmas Day itself, with recipes, and Christmas season foods and drinks to try. Plus there will  news of some fantastic Christmas gifts that will fill Christmas stockings all over the world!

Also, please check out are sister site, That's Food and Drink https://thatsfoodanddrink.blogspot.com.

Conclusion

While it might seem premature to start thinking about Christmas in July, planning ahead can make a significant difference in your holiday experience. By spreading out the cost, avoiding the last-minute rush, and creating a more organised and stress-free environment, you’ll be able to enjoy the festive season to its fullest. So, why not start today? After all, there are only 161 days to Christmas!