it’s Christmas! Its that time of the year when your house is decorated with colors of green, red and white. The conifers are cut, shaved and decorated. The mysterious Frosty comes to life and stands guard in your backyard. ‘Tis the season to double-check your wish-list and wait for Santa to fulfill all your wishes. Chestnuts roasted over the bonfire, mincemeat pies, turkey and fruit cakes decorate your dinner table.
Christmas marks the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, whose teachings are the foundation of religion. And do you know why Christmas candy is always shaped like a cane? Well, try turning the candy upside down and you’ll get your answer! Hint: It is essentially a ‘J’ which represents the name of ……. Over the years, Christmas has ceased to be a strict Catholic practice and has been adopted by people of different cultures and religions. What makes Christmas a unique affair is its ability to be religious and secular at the same time. It varies with changes in geography. Each culture produces a different custom and a different story.
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All about Christmas dinner
Christmas dinner is a festive feast that commemorates Christmas Eve. The traditional Christmas table is a feast like no other. For starters, there’s bread and cinnamon cookies. In Germany they eat stollen, a type of bread that is believed to resemble the wrappings of Jesus Christ. In Belgium, cougnol is baked in the shape of Baby Jesus. Next comes the roast turkey or chicken which becomes the centerpiece of the table. In some parts of France, you will most likely find roasted goose stuffed with chestnuts. Recently, roast meats such as lamb and beef have also gained popularity and are served as alternatives to turkey. Another Catholic tradition is the Feast of the Seven Fishes, which is basically a fish pie. I really like Christmas sweets. From fluffy Christmas puddings to classic Yule Log Cakes, you’re in for a treat. Wash them down with some traditional tipples such as mulled wine or eggnog, while rum and brandy remain an all-time favourite. It is believed that the milk is the fuel for Santa to continue his journey. This ritual can also be linked to the history of the Christmas tree. In Germany, people would decorate their trees, or what they called ‘paradise trees’, with apple wafers and cookies. It was believed that Santa would gobble up these snacks. This later turned into a tradition of having cookies and milk for Santa. Side note: The practice of making houses out of ginger biscuits and cookies really became popular when ‘The Grimm Brothers’ included this concept in their story, Hansel and Gretel.
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Here is the final menu for your Christmas dinner with 17 dishes from our best chefs.
1. Mince Pie
The original mince pies included rabbit, partridge, rabbit and pheasant with dried fruits and spices. It was known as the Christmas pyre and was said to resemble the cradle of Jesus. Mince pies are baked each day of the 12-day Christmas period as a sign of luck. Another custom is to accept a mince pie from every house you visit at Christmas!
Mince pie is a popular Christmas dessert
2. Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates
Popularly known as the ‘devil riding a horse’ it is a traditional Christmas snack. It consists of glazed dates filled with chives and cream and wrapped in bacon. There, we saw you spitting.
(Also Read: 11 Best Bacon Recipes | Popular Bacon Recipes)
This dish is popularly known as ‘devil on horseback’
3. glazed ham
This dish offers a perfect balance of flavours. It consists of a whole ham stuffed with fruit mixture and drizzled with golden syrup and molasses. Tender and juicy, this nutritious dish is a winner.
(Also Read: How To Make Mutton Soft And Tender: 4 Simple Ways To Cook Delicious Mutton)
Glazed ham offers a perfect balance of flavors
4. meat loaf
It is a traditional recipe made of minced or ground meat cooked in the form of a loaf of bread. A gift for meat lovers, this recipe is made with a blend of select spices that is sure to delight the soul.
This dish is a gift for meat lovers
5. Ginger pieces
Fresh out of the oven, cookies made with flour, butter, honey, ginger, rum and all things Christmassy. The crunchy goodness with a spicy kick will definitely take the festive fever up a notch.
6. Roasted Chicken with Mushrooms and Wine Sauce
You will get real pleasure from this recipe. Roast chicken marinated in white wine and served with herby mushrooms.
Roast Chicken with Wine and Mushroom Sauce
7. Ripe Pumpkin
Great as a side, pumpkin chunks are mixed with fresh thyme, coriander seeds, red wine vinegar and red pepper and then cooked right through.
This dish is great with your main meal
8. Shepherd’s pie
Shepherd’s pie is a classic British dish made with meat and sealed with a delicious layer of mashed potatoes. This delicious recipe will show you how to give it a vegetarian twist.
9. Potato Chutney with Garlic Cream
A simple dish that tastes great. Layers of potatoes, cheese and cream, finished with a golden crust. This dish is very good.
10. Mushroom Caps Stuffed with Cheese
A breakfast that will easily attract anyone. The mushroom caps are topped with a delicious mixture of chopped onions, capsicum, dates and cheese and baked.
11. mulled wine
A blend of red wine, fruit, cloves and cinnamon, served hot. This winter warmer complements the delicious food.
12. Chocolate Cake in Pressure Cooker
No oven? No problem! Here’s a wonderfully simple way to cook cake in a pressure cooker. It is absolutely scrumptious and tastes nothing short of divine!
13. Plum Cake
Top this delicious plum cake with dried cherries, almonds, raisins and lots of flavor with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and head straight to foodie heaven! It also pairs perfectly with your afternoon tea.
14. Eggless Vanilla Cake in Pressure Cooker
An easy and hassle-free way to make delicious vanilla cake in a pressure cooker! Garnish it with some buttercream frosting and enjoy this holiday season. Trust us, it doesn’t get more classic (and sinful) than this!
15. Christmas Pudding
A hearty Christmas pudding made with sultanas, raisins, plums and lots of brandy and rum. Their Dried Fruit, Liqueur and Fruit Special Christmas Pudding is a slightly lighter version than the original, yet tastes exactly the same.
16. Rum Balls
Rum balls are a popular dessert that combines the flavor of chocolate with a hint of rum. This dose of goodness is a popular dish during winter and Christmas festivities.
Merry Christmas: Rum Ball is a popular dessert especially during winter
17. Christmas Brownies
Enriched with the goodness of chocolate, softened butter, coffee and vanilla essence, this Christmas special chocolate brownie will definitely bring joy to the entire household. So what are you waiting for? Cook!
This Christmas Special Chocolate Brownie will definitely bring joy to the whole house
