Christmas is just around the corner with less than a month to go. Some of you may have no idea regarding some special delicacies to cook on that day. If that includes you, make below are some fantastic dishes you can opt for to make your Christmas memorable despite Covid-19.
1. Breakfast
Now is not the time to have a smoothie, cereal, or any other regular breakfast offering. Most breakfast options including smoothies and cereals are highly filling. Yet you don't want to get your stomach full because you are just getting started. You want to eat something a little out of the ordinary, more delicious but less filling instead. To that effect, some Swedish tea ring, Christmas breakfast casserole, or Frittata with pepper, shallot, and mushroom wouldn't be a bad idea.
i. Swedish Tea Ring
Resembling a giant cinnamon roll, stuffed with dried fruit as well as nuts in a beautiful way, this delicacy can be a perfect breakfast option for Christmas. You can prepare your ingredients a day or two in advance and bake them on the morning of the D-day. Then serve it with steaming coffee as you prepare to start the day's cooking.
ii. Christmas Breakfast Casserole
This is stuffed with bacon, ham, eggs, cheese, and potato puffs. Just as the name implies, it's another fantastic Christmas breakfast option. Just mix up everything the night before and then cover and store in the refrigerator. The following morning, bake the mixture in the oven until ready to serve. For an extra palatable, and filling meal, you can serve this with one of these delicious and healthy biscuit brands.
iii. Pepper, Shallot, and Mushroom Frittata
This is similar to a baked omelet or crustless quiche. Enriched with additional ingredients like meat, vegetable, and cheese(many types of meats, vegetables or cheeses can be used), this Italian delicacy can make an excellent Christmas breakfast. If you want extra protein, be sure to add some crumbled and cooked bacon or sausage. For a more delectable dish, top with Parmesan cheese or cheddar.
Source: cookpad.com
2. Lunch
Lunch should be the highlight of the day. As such, you want to eat the ultimate delicacy, which should consist of either meat or seafood. There are different types of meats from which you can choose including; lamb, turkey, goose, ham, duck, brisket, cornish, capon, or beef tenderloin. Here are some fresh ideas to inspire your dishes:
i. Roasted Lamb Leg
Incredibly delicious with a crisp, caramelized exterior and tender, flavorful interior, a roasted lamb leg can be an excellent lunch offering at Christmas. Just make sure to buy the meat of an organically-reared lamb. It just tastes fantastic! You can choose either bone-in meat or that which has had the bones removed. I'd prefer the former though as bones add a lot of flavor to meat.
Before you start roasting, let the meat sit for an hour or two to achieve room temperature. Otherwise, cold meat will take longer to cook plus it may end up cooking unevenly. Remember to give your meat more flavor with spices like thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, fresh oregano, etc. Plus, you can even customize the flavor with your favorite herbs.
ii. Golden Stuffed Goose
In Western culture, the golden stuffed goose is a traditional Christmas lunch delicacy. This roasted meat which is stuffed with some ingredients offers a luscious, juicy taste with intense flavor like no other.
When shopping for a goose, look for meat with no signs of bruising. When cooking the meat, use a sharply pointed knife to prick the meat all over so that it loses the extra fat. You can find a way to collect the fat and keep it for use throughout the coming days.
3. Dinner
For dinner, it would be best to do something that is not too heavy yet still sumptuous and nutritious. That would leave no better options than soups or vegetable salads.
i. Brussels Sprout Carbonara with Fusilli and Roasted Hazelnuts
Brussels sprout carbonara with fusilli and roasted hazelnuts can be an incredible Christmas dinner option. And if you don't have the recipe plus the necessary ingredients, Sun Basket has got you covered. For starters, Sun Basket is an excellent alternative to Hello Fresh and Home Chef. Actually, these are some of the best options in the industry. How about reading this independent and in-depth review to learn more about the company and its operations? Doing so will enlighten you on how the company works, what's in its meal boxes, the menu and meal options it offers, what we like about it, and many other things.
ii. Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Salad
Alternatively, you could make Parmesan Brussels sprouts salad. Trust me, your loved ones will totally love this simple, delicious, green salad. Plus, it takes just a few minutes to put together and does not require any special ingredients! Feel free to pair it with a citrus dressing for a more scrumptious indulgence.
iii. Tuscan Tortellini Soup
Consisting of pasta(rich in carbs and a great source for fiber) plus a comforting and refreshing soup, this one-pot delicacy is bursting with mouthwatering Tuscan flavors. It can serve as a light but yummy and comforting dinner for those who celebrate Christmas in wintry weather. Plus, it's incredibly easy to make as all you'll have to do is to fry and cook all the ingredients in one pot.
You don't have to invite many guests or receive many gifts to have a memorable Christmas. How unforgettable your 25 December will be depends on what you choose to cook on that day. If you don't select your dishes carefully, you may end up not having a very fantastic celebration. Having said that, if you have no ideas as to a few special delicacies worth making, you'll not regret trying the fantastic ideas above. Good luck with it.
