What are your Xmas must-cook things?

[Tinkjon]

I love Xmas baking and have a set of things I make each year. What things do you cook each year that means Christmas to you?

erm.....nothing - I buy nice stuff though

can I steal some recipes/ideas from you then ?

mince pies, peppermint creams (not really cooking though) chocolate flapjacks

Christmas cake, christmas pudding, mince pies, truffles, chutney, ginger bread house, "stained glass" cookies for the playroom christmas tree.

Oh yes haven't made peppermint creams for ages, will do some of them too.

mum's mince pies. she's on her way over now and I've got everything in so will be hinting for a batch today

twinklytoes, it was "must-cook things", not "must-ask-others-to-cook things"

Laurie, I only make stuff because I enjoy doing it - otherwise buying stuff would definitely be the way to go! My 2 fave things are cranberry and red onion marmalade (a million times better than cranberry sauce and delicious on letover turkey sarnies) and Venetian Ribbon Cookies (little bite-sized almondy cakes in the colours of the Italian flag).

Oooh, peppermint creams, YUM!

And [bows down to] ComeOVeneer at having the patience to make gingerbread house I always think about doing that with DD but then realise that it would be a complete nightmare and my stress levels would be totally counter-productive to the quality time spent baking with her

Mincemeat, with a carol singing CD on very loudly in the kitchen.

Once that's sitting in its jars, then it's Christmas.

Devils on horseback
Apple Snow
Mince pies

Jux, what is apple snow?

Core lots of apples (peel as well if you want - the only thing it will change is the colour) and chop them up. Chuck them in a pan with some sugar and lemon juice and grated rind. Cook them down to a pulp like you might for a baby puree, taste and adjust sugar/lemon content. I put them through the liquidiser as well, esp if I use the apple peel as well.

While it's cooling, whip cream in one bowl and whip egg whites in another - fold in a little sugar to the whites, if you want. Both need to be fairly stiff.

Finally fold cream and whites into the apple. Chill.

I haven't actually got quantities, but I would guess about 2lbs of apples, 2 whites, small pot of cream.

It is utterly yum.

Sausage rolls, camembert puffs, truffles, tiramisu, trifle and bubble and squeak.

I want to make chocolate flapjack, anyone got a recipe?