Christmas cookery bookclub

[glorious]

Normally we pick a couple of specific books or blogs, each cook whatever we like the sound of and compare notes.

For November and December we're going free range and sharing any festive cooking we do, whether from new books, old favourites, or even family recipes (we'll have to promise to be nice about those!)

Everyone is welcome so do join in and share your favourites or warn us all off the ones you wished you hadn't tried.

Intriguing, cream cheese in the pastry. I made the frangipane ones because DH isnt a fan of mincemeat. He says it's the citrus peel. But if I make my own then I can skip the citrus peel and hopefully make the more normal ones as well? I always fancy the star topped ones as they are so pretty.

oh yes, you could definitely skip the candied peel (though I found that the stuff I made last year had matured well, and gone soft, so you didn't get that "bite" you sometimes get with peel. Orange zest would add good flavour without the texture?

The cream cheese works really well, the pastry is buttery and rich, but also a little soft, which I love, rather than a crispy pastry.

How long can I keep the mincemeats? I looked at the recipes in the domestic goddess and they make 2 litres!

Looking at delia's one online
www.deliaonline.com/recipes/main-ingredient/mincemeat/home-made-christmas-mincemeat.html

I noticed she uses waxed discs. So she must mean for us to keep it for a while. I'm sure nigella didn't mention this. Will have to look again in the book.

glorious its a bit limited really, most people seem to eat salt cod, although I did see some frozen turkey's in the supermarket. There are no Christmas markets or anything and its 35 degrees outside so I have to really use my imagination to get into the Christmas spirit

Twolittle it keeps for ages if you sterilise yours jars correctly. I don't bother with the wax disks as I haven't got any but I do seal with a screw top lid.

Mincemeat day for me tomorrow

I made mincemeat last year (Delia's traditional recipe, used veggie suet); what I didn't use last year I used a couple of weeks ago and it was fine :)

All used up, so I made some more last week. I will use it for pies, but it would probably benefit from a little more maturing.

I like salt cod treacle but the warmth might be difficult to get used to! Will you have a turkey? Let me know if you need me to post you some Christmas culinary supplies!

Mincemeat keeps for ages, it's actually better after a year imo provided there was plenty of liquid and particularly booze. I'm not making any this year as we have lots from last year.

I'm nearly done with the giant jaffa cake. Sponge is baked and tasting good based on off cuts. Jelly is set. Tonight I just need to make the ganache and assemble.

Thanks glorious that's very kind but I doubt a package of that kind would make it through the completely unreliable Brazilian postal system!

I had enough mixed spice left to make my mincemeat this week (made a last minute switch to Delia's recipe) which has now been in the fridge for 48 hours instead of overnight . Will cook it tomorrow, favours should be thoroughly combined by now!

I'm imagining bemused Brazilian postmen trying their first mince pies now

The giant jaffa cake went down a storm. Very rich but nice acidity from the jelly (yes, really). I had to make it in two sandwich tins rather than one big one, but it came out ok

That looks rather yummy glorious. I shall add that recipe to my mental list next to crack pie which I fear has now been relegated to February baking!

We are having a seafood BBQ this year with some Aussies.

No traditional Christmas dinner for me for the last 2 years but I will be back in the UK in January so will hopefully snaffle up some Christmas foods in the sale when everyone else is sick of them

Yum, that sounds a good alternative tbh!

I made mince pies yesterday using Nigella almond pastry (from the frangipane pies in domestic goddess) and suet free mincemeat. Mmmm. And I had a half used carton of cranberry juice so I used that in a made up mulled cranberry with spices, honey and orange. It was surprisingly good.

My mincemeat was suet free too, mostly because that purchase was a bit beyond my level of Portuguese! A glug of canola oil seemed to do the trick.

I might try the almond pastry, DH loves anything frangipane.

I don't imagine suet comes up that often in conversion

The pastry rolls out like play dough and is nice and crisp and crumbly. The almond taste isn't strong; the frangipane bit is the topping really but I don't do that bit. I really like the combination though.

You're all making me want mince pies.

I made nigellas Christmas morning muffins yesterday. They're always lovely and ridiculously easy- but the real reason for making them is the smell - pure christmas

Mmm I like those muffins, must do some. And I remembered the white chocolate and cranberry cookies the other day...

Thinking about the red soup from Feast, has anyone made it? Got loads of fresh cranberries from aldi to use up.

I make the nigella Christmas morning muffins too. White chocolate and cranberry cookies sound great. Which book is it in?

I haven't made the red soup. I suspect I would be the only one drinking it.

Glorious I elect you to be red soup guinea pig- I haven't tried it but am too cowardly to dive in without prior recommendation

Ok pregnant, I'll see what I can do!

The cookies are in Feast I think or here: thegoddesskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2009/02/cranberry-and-white-chocolate-cookies.html?m=1

glorious thanks. I got onto my computer now, and did a search on eatyourbooks. It's in feast, and it seems ottolenghi has a cookie with the exact combo. I'll pull out both books and see how they differ. (DD1 is in nursery tomorrow so I will have time to sit on the sofa, have a cup of coffee and read cookbooks).

I made the pistachio fudge in nigella's express today. I'm fairly sure it's in the holiday/Christmas chapter so it belongs to this thread! With my baby brain I forgot to smooth out the top with a spatula. Now I have fudge that looks like the moons surface on one side . They are gifts so it's a bit of a bumper. I'm off to Asda tomorrow to get some packaging for them. Have left it too late now to buy off eBay I think. Hopefully they will have some cellophane bags, boxes or jars.

Grr, wrote a big post the other day and it got lost.

Did you find packaging two? That fudge looks delicious, I bet it goes down well even if it is a bit bumpy.

I've made the red soup with the addition of red cabbage as we had some to use. It was incredibly easy and looks good. Will try some for lunch and update later.

Also made Nigella bread sauce as MIL doesn't do it so am taking my own It's bread sauce, not sure how much variation there is really.

Need to ice the cake today, though have unexpectedly got charge of toddler DD so it may be a bit slapdash!

I shouldn't have underestimated DD ( who's nearly 2). She's put all the apricot glaze on

I make my own marzipan as it's much nicer than bought and so easy. I use Leith's cookery bible for that and the glaze. Normally make the fondant too but a sugar craft shop has just opened a 2 minute walk from my house so I went to get it there and also picked up some decorating stuff.

Sorry for the triple post!

Red soup is really good actually, possibly a bit tart but I enjoyed it.

My yule log is in the oven. I've never made one before. Eek! Did do a swiss roll at school when I was 11. Only 20 years ago, what can possibly go wrong?!