Try saying that after a glass or two of Christmas sherry! Inspired by the Ottolenghi Brussels Sprouts Nests that my sister made as a Christmas Day starter a few years, this is my way to stay festive while feeling like I’m not full to the brim with food. I make enough of the salad for… Continue reading Brussels sprouts salad
Author: jo_tofts
Börek
If memory serves, then every single family celebration we’ve ever had at my parent’s home has featured börek, and consequently I do the same. They’re simply the best way to get a party started – crunchy cheesy pastries, perfect for nibbling with a glass of something lovely. Börek can be made in a variety of… Continue reading Börek
Christmas cake
I absolutely love making our Christmas cake each year and have always used the same recipe, although this year I didn’t have any brandy so it’s flavoured with rum. And not just any rum mind you, it’s Don Papa rum so the cake has all kinds of vanilla, honey, and cinnamon flavours wafting around it.… Continue reading Christmas cake
Mango with coconut rice
When I was a 22 year old pipsqueak I got on a plane and headed off to Thailand to teach English. While there I ate my first ever mango, and discovered one of my favourite ways to eat said mango, being with coconut rice. For all of 20 baht (50p) you were handed a polystyrene… Continue reading Mango with coconut rice
Hoisin pork with sesame greens
This tastes as good as it looks, takes all of half an hour to make from start to finish, and the teen loves it. Basically it ticks all of the boxes! Recipe from the always reliable BBC Good Food Magazine. Serves 4. Ingredients 400-500g Pork fillet/tenderlion 4 tbsp hoisin sauce 4 egg noodle bundles 3… Continue reading Hoisin pork with sesame greens
Toffee Vodka
I’ve made this every December for as long as I can remember, and if you’ve ever been to our house over Christmas then you’re very likely to have had a snifter (or two). It’s utterly delicious, and December just wouldn’t be December without it. Here’s some in a pretty bottle, ready to be gifted to… Continue reading Toffee Vodka
Christmas Negroni
Or, as I like to call it, Christ-mas-y Ne-gro-ni. As the name suggests, this is a twist on a standard Negroni and therefore it’s not for everyone (hello my Campari hating husband!), but I think its excellent. What could be more Christmassy than clementine and nutmeg? Ingredients Per glass: 60ml gin 15ml Campari 15ml lemon… Continue reading Christmas Negroni
Leftovers pie
We do indeed love pie in our house, and I make this one often to use up for whatever is leftover in the fridge (hello there Christmas Turkey), or a pack of bacon comes in handy if leftovers are not forthcoming. The veg included is subject to change, it’s literally what’s in the fridge. Over… Continue reading Leftovers pie
Chocolate cake
There’s chocolate cakes, and then there’s chocolate cakes, and then there’s THIS chocolate cake. It’s really chocolatey, and that makes it a winner in my book. My daughter requested a chocolate cake for her 14th birthday, so this is what I made and she was very happy indeed. Oh and I’ve just had a piece… Continue reading Chocolate cake
Beef stew
This is the perfect stew to make on the seemingly never ending wet rainy days of a UK winter. Tastes wonderful, but alas it doesn’t help with my curly hair that I’m sure must be visible from space due to said rain. Maybe I need to move to a drier climate? In the mean time,… Continue reading Beef stew
From My Kitchen 