Perfect for menu planning, especially alongside the newChristmas recipe index!
If you arent already glazing your ham the day before, you oughta start doing it immediately.
It will change your life!
Parmesan crusted salmon
I thrive on holiday menu planning.
Its like the Olympics of cooking except less athleticism and more butter!
I hope you find it useful to help you plan your Christmas menu!
Nagi x
How I Christmas menu-plan
A very straight forward process !
First up, mains!
Here are my signatures, classics and reader favourites, organised by make-ahead ability.
Here are my gems regulars when I entertain!
(Note 1) Make-ahead any standard glazed ham, including my signatureMapleandBrown Sugar Glazed Ham.Totalgame changer!
Try my classic3 hour slow roasted shoulderor the deluxe12 hour shoulder.
For something more exotic, try theMasaamanor Middle Eastern Lamb Shoulder on p251 ofTonight!
In the event of an emergency, microwave (nobody will know).
But here are some of my personal favourites that would be ideal for smaller group Christmas dinners parties!
Thats because chicken is a leaner cut which means it just doesnt reheat as well as the above listed.
So here are my best Christmas-worthy chicken recipes that reheat best.
No breast too lean!
Sticky Christmas Glazed Chicken best for reheating
Think warm spiced sweet ham glaze, on chicken.
Its a winner and check out that shiny glaze!
Reheats best because the surface is sticky, not crispy.
Herb & garlic buttered chicken marylands
Marylands are underrated!
Juicy, flavorful, economical, and reheats very well.
Roasted with herb and garlic butter, definitely company-worthy!
Note:I prefer not to reheat a whole roast chicken because the breast tends to be quite dry.
Then on the day-of, the cook and assembly is low-effort.
Christmas baked salmon
Still holds the title of my best accidental-creation!
Summer, festive, sweet-bit-spicy hot honey drizzled over a smoky spice rubbed salmon topped with mango avocado salsa.
The flavour combination isstellar and its easy to make.
This recipe is on page 262 of my new cookbookTonight.
Get the garlic chopped and butter measured out the day before.
Cooking on the day is fast!
We love the commanding presence it has and how its trussed up and sliced like a roast!
The flesh is juicier, you might use any fish, and it presents so beautifully!
All toppings mixed and in separate containers (including parsley), ready to spread and use.
We do seafood every year for Christmas.
Its really worth making your dipping sauce.
Its easy, and the flavour is nothing like what you get in jars.
Good seafood is exxy!
Prep ahead:98% (sauces)Effort on day:Minuscule
5.
Magnificent prime rib (standing rib roast)
The creme de la creme of all beef roasts!
It really should be served freshly cooked to make the most of this pricey cut.
Its just not the same reheated.
Its faster to cook than prime rib though!
Fact: turkey is lean.
So if youre committed to turkey, I recommend committing to cooking on the day!
But if you want a larger format roast, use my pork roast crackling recipe.
However, its best made on the day because the meat does lose juiciness.
We Aussies love lamb, and it has a commanding presence on the table.
However, fact is that lamb leg is lean which means it is not as juicy the next day.
(See section at top).
All roast chickens are best made fresh as the meat loses juice overnight and the skin gets compromised.
So make it fresh its worth it!
Pictured signature crumbed lamb rack (that crumb!).
Easier Rosemary Garlic Marinated Rack of Lamb.
Prep ahead:LowEffort on day:HighCook time on day:2 hours
7.
Are you game enough to tackle these whales?
Your epic Christmas main will be talked about in your circles for months!
1.The great Beef Wellington
Find the recipe on page 252 ofDinnerand watch the recipe tutorial videohere.
2.the french onion brie pie in tonight
This is the signature vegetarian main from my new cookbookTonight.
Oh, did I mention its enclosed in an incredible buttery brioche pastry?
Find the recipe on page 270 of my new cookbookTonight.
Mains set, lets talk dessert!
Parmesan crusted salmon
Cook time:3 1/2 hoursAlso see:Mini Christmas Cakes (great gift!)
Christmas Trifle looks smashing!
Trifle needs refrigeration time to set and can be assembled up to 2 days prior to serving.
Celebration salmon salad
So keep them in a cool dry place!
Its airtight and dry perfect!)
Last weekend I made a 2.5 meter one new PB!
Miso glazed salmon
Make-ahead starters
Festive Italian Cheese log
Make it now and it keeps for days and days!
PS the secret ingredient is minced salami.
Make ahead:95%Effort on day:Minimal
Oysters!
As simple as lemon wedges.
Or make a bright greencucumber lime jalapeno granita fanceee!
Yet easy, and 100% perfect for hot Aussie Christmases.
Choose from 5 difference sauces including classic Marie Rose and Cocktail Sauce.
Make it today, serve it tomorrow.
Why did we stop making prawn cocktails??
Peel the prawns the day before, make sauce, slice the lettuce.
Easy assembling on the day.
Assemble today, bake tomorrow.
Watch as everyone annihilates it!
PS Cold dips are awesome too and I have plenty of those.
You havent lived until youve had a homemadeFrench Onion Dip!
Its made an appearance at multiple family Christmases!
This requires 2 days for curing, plus preferably an extra 12 24 hours to rest.
Ill admit, assembling bite-sized snacks isnt my favourite task…but I love eating them so much!
Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice
Shameless Nobu copycat.
So I created my own!
I love smoked salmon blini!
Because theyre so small, they lose freshness really quickly.
Excellent starter for sharing scoop with corn chips.
Effort on day:Medium-low (its quick)Good to know:Recipe includes a canape version too.
I know it seems like I treat sides as an afterthought.
Make-ahead Mashed Potato Casserole
Game changer!
Who wants to be man handling a giant pot of steaming boiled potatoes on Christmas Day??
Assemble today, bake tomorrow.
Be still my beating heart.
And I get one ALL to myself!
Assemble today, bake tomorrow.
Good to know:I have a bigcasserole version too.
Say hello to the Stuffing recipe of your dreams!
You should know:I have a cutemuffin tin versiontoo (my friends are obsessed with them!)
See theWarm Christmas Sidesrecipe collection for more options so many possibilities!
Im talking minutes in the microwave.
For Christmas Day, we can do better than plain rice.
Here are some of my favourites!
All these are mostly prepare-ahead.
Shake the dressing, prep all the salads things, nuts and other toppings in separate containers.
Only leave the things that really are best done fresh, like slicing apples.
Here are my picks that have a high level of make-ahead elements:
See theShow-off Salads collectionandFresh Christmas Sides.
PS If youve never tried the Potato Salad before, thats worth adding to your summer list.
Theres a special trick, you see, that makes it the best Ive ever had!
See allLight and Fresh Christmas Sides.
Fall back:Everyday salad dressingtossed with a big bowl of leafy greens.
I use this a lot for spreads (sometimes I upgrade toFrenchorItalian Dressing!).
Heads up: Theres a lot of potato.
I threw in one green thing as a token (just being truthful).
Duck fat potatoes
The crispiest potatoes of your life!
Cook time:50 minutes
Fondant potatoes
Melt-in-your-mouth buttery incredibleness (is that a word??)
Serve these withprime ribor steak withcreamy mushroom saucefor a luxurious fine-dining meal at home.
Brussels sprouts in carbonara sauce
Yes, you heard me right.Carbonara sauce!
Cook time:1 hour
Fondant sweet potatoes
The maple pecan butter sauce is everything!
Cook time:25 minutes
Woah!
This post is a LOT longer than I expected it to be!
I do it for myself.
So really, all this effort I go to is entirely selfish.
Though its a bonus if you find it useful too!
I hope you found todays post useful to help you plan your Christmas menu!
So as one might expect, Dozer was in fine form.
Though confusingly (for him), nobody gave him any samples from their plate!!
They dont play tennis, not on Saturday afternoons or any other day.
The perfect Beef Wellington…..
They did, once upon a time, when they were more nimble.
These days they play golf (9 holes only), follow by wine and cheese (always).
It is not unusual for people to skip the golf and just join for the latter.
In case you are wondering, heres the menu.
Most of the dishes will look familiar!
Classic Pavlova
The iconicPavlova Christmas Tree
Mini Pavs!
Never Ending Meringue Tart– base recipe is 1.6m long but you can make it as long as you want!
Apple saladwith candied walnuts
Pomegranate spinach salad
Roast Pumpkin, Spinach and Feta Salad
Prawn Mango Avocado Summer Salad
