The twinkle of lights fill the early night sky. The chilly mornings and frost blanketing the ground. Snow covers the mountain tops and slowly makes its way down to our roofs. The smell of wood wafts through the air. Christmas songs seep into the radio stations song mix and echo through grocery stores and malls. We find ourselves singing along as we shop. Reminding us of Christmas and holidays of past?
Inevitably we link our festive occasions to food. The smells, taste and plethora of treats and foods that we save for just this special celebration. The pressure to make everything perfect can lead to too much stress during the holiday season. What to cook? Who has what eating restriction? How many people are coming? And the kids need cookies for school – how do the other parents do it?
If you don’t have a village to help you, start with a plan. It might sound simplistic but the most successful celebrations always have a plan.
Gather your information. How many people? What day? What time will you start eating? Is this a sit down dinner or stand up cocktail event? Weekday dinner with friends? Will it be casual or elegant? Eating restrictions? Who are you inviting? Gather all your relevant details together.
Then the fun, deciding on the menu. So many delicious choices that all look great in the recipe pictures. But do they taste great? Mini trials of the recipes you want to cook is the only way to truly find out.
Planning for a plant centred celebration? Appetizers for the veggie based evening: Tajin spiced crudités add some spice and some crunch. Creamy avocado dip served with escarole or frisée. Along with warm, spiced olives with orange zest. (In a small pot combine fennel seeds, bay leaves, orange, olive oil and olives over low heat. Let flavours warm together for 15 minutes or so. Serve warm.)
Further warming the hearts and bellies could be a silky, pumpkin soup. The main course would showcase a lentil Shepherd’s pie with a side of roasted fennel with lemon and a crispy mixed greens salad with walnuts, persimmons and lemon and tahini dressing. Ending with a pear frangipani tart topped with whipped coconut cream.
An elegant dinner gathering that will ensure your guests leave enamoured and satiated could include appetizers such as: smoked salmon rillettes with rye toasts, marinated goat cheese with herbs and spices, sugared cranberries on brie cheese atop sliced, toasted baguette. An easy way to add something crunchy yet still fancy while only using 3 ingredients is to make the following appetizer using: a bag of plain kettle chips, a great hard cheese and cracked black pepper. (Arrange chips in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Finely grate about 1/2 cup of cheese on chips. Place in a 425 degree F oven for approximately 3 or 4 minutes or until cheese melts and chips start to brown around the edges. Remove from oven and immediately add another 1/2 cup of finely grated cheese and a few turns from your black pepper mill.) Next, you could serve a rich salad with blue cheese, roasted pears and walnuts on a bed of mixed greens with a pomegranate dressing. Followed by a small serving of lobster bisque. For your main, a leg of lamb with mint gremolatta served along side scalloped potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts with balsamic vinegar and honey. For dessert, a creamy eggnog creme brûlée.
Or if you appreciate a homey, rustic celebration that will leave everyone happy and full savour this delicious meal plan. Appetizers of sausage rolls, plus honey and apple baked brie with crackers, stuffed mushrooms and deviled eggs. (Boil 4 eggs, shell, cool, cut in half and remove the yolk. In a small bowl, add yolks, mayo, mustard, capers, paprika and a pinch of sea salt and mash together. Spoon back into whites and serve.) For your main dishes: roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes with sage, browned butter, roast beef accompanied by mixed mushroom gravy and a pecan pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Planning may seem like one more thing adding on to an already precariously full to do list but it will get you closer to success than not having a plan. So pick an evening (a great way to get kids and other family members involved) and start to plan what you are going to make and bake for your family holiday celebrations.
As you share your meals with your co-workers, friends and family, remember that whether or not you put on a fabulous spread it is truly the time that we spend together that makes our meals extra special. May your holiday season be filled with the luxury of sharing time with those you love most. And maybe some extra holiday cookies too.
