Between shopping, parties, wrapping and other festive
activities, somehow we all manage to bake delicious treats and plan
totally knock-out meals for the holidays. For those who are new to
baking and cooking or would like some ideas to shake things up,
I’ve compiled a list of holiday favorites. It’s December 12th,
every year I promise I will start holiday baking earlier – well the
clock is ticking and if I don’t start soon – I’ll be cursing
cookies and throwing fudge at anyone who enters my work area two
days before the big day – so I’m off to practice what I preach – or
maybe I’ll start tomorrow.
Nigella Christmas: Food, Family,
Friends, Festivities by Nigella Lawson is one of the first
titles I think of at this time of year. Nigella’s no-nonsense
approach coupled with her inspirational ideas can help us plan
ahead. Her recipes are still approachable during this joyous, but
fully packed and fast paced season and with her help our urges to
dive face first into the eggnog vat and be abated. Nigella makes
everything look easy and effortless, our zen mother (well more like
gorgeous sister) guiding us along the way. Over the years, I’ve
copied her style in my own home from white twinkling lights
throughout the house (even during non-holiday periods) to popping
little green evergreens from the craft store on my plate of holiday
cookies and occasionally sneaking a bite of the leftovers by the
light of the fridge.
Delia’s Happy Christmas by Delia
Smith shares the author’s 40 years of experience in
this definitive guide to cooking for Christmas. This book aids
in the planning of Christmas festivities by sharing 150
recipes, including 100 new recipes and 50 much-loved classics, plus
menu plans and shopping lists, and is illustrated with beautiful
photographs. I love the simple beauty of the cover, itself. I have
several of Delia’s titles and they have never failed
me.
Mary Berry’s Christmas
Collection: Over 100 of My Fabulous Recipes and Tips for a
Hassle-Free Festive Season by Mary Berry combines
time-honoured festive favourites with a variety of new and exciting
dishes to spice up the season. By taking the traditional Christmas
fare and giving it a twist, Mary adds sparkle to every celebration.
Simple yet reliable recipes and Mary’s handy hints will take the
pressure off entertaining, whether it’s for the big day itself, a
Boxing Day crowd or an intimate New Year family gathering. With a
Christmas Day countdown, sample menus, shopping lists and
ever-popular tips on preparing ahead and freezing, this is the
must-have companion to the festive season.
Jamie Oliver’s Christmas
Cookbook by Jamie Oliver is packed with all the
classics you need for the big day and beyond, as well as loads of
delicious recipes for edible gifts, party food and new ways to love
those leftovers. It’s everything you need for Christmas. Straight
talk from the author himself, “I’ve got all the bases covered,
with everything you need for the big day and any feasting meals
over the festive period, as well as party fare, edible gifts,
teatime treats, cocktails and, of course, exciting ways to embrace
and celebrate those leftovers. You’ll also find all the deeply
important technical info you need, such as cooking charts, and
wherever possible, I’ve designed the recipes to be cooked at the
same oven temperature, so you can be efficient with time and oven
space, and it’ll be super-easy for you to mix and match the
different elements and build your own perfect Christmas
meal.”
The Christmas Table: Recipes and
Crafts to Create Your Own Holiday Tradition by Diane
Morgan is a book that gets many a mention in The Cookbook Junkies
group. Morgan serves up comfort and joy with helpful hints and
recipes to plan an unforgettable holiday feast with festive recipes
and decorating ideas that are sure to become favorites.
Cinnamon-Scented Bread Custard, Juniper Brined Roast Turkey and
Whipped Yams topped with a Crunchy Praline Crust can become
yuletide classics with the author’s recipes. Christmas cookies,
candied nuts, and other giftable goodies are included.
Joan Nathan’s Jewish Holiday
Cookbook by Joan Nathan is a tour through the Jewish
holidays as told in food. For each holiday, Nathan presents menus
from different cuisines – Moroccan, Russian, German, and
contemporary American are just a few that show how the traditions
of Jewish food have taken on new forms around the world. There are
dishes that you will remember from your mother’s table and dishes
that go back to the Second Temple, family recipes that you thought
were lost and other families’ recipes that you have yet to
discover. Explaining their origins and the holidays that have
shaped them, Nathan spices these delicious recipes with delightful
stories about the people who have kept these traditions
alive.
A Treasury of Jewish Holiday
Baking: The 10th Anniversary Edition by Marcy Goldman is the
updated edition of a kitchen classic, with 30 new recipes for
favorite savory holiday dishes. Professional pastry chef and
BetterBaking.com creator, Goldman, has
assembled a comprehensive collection of easy-to-follow, time-tested
recipes from sweet raisin challah for Rosh Hashanah to
apricot-filled Hamantaschen for Purim and velvety Shabbat marble
cake. All of
Marcy Goldman’s books are keepers and are in my
collection.
by Jeanne Sauvage shares 60 gluten-free recipes with all
the flavors of their wheat-filled counterparts. Also included are
tips on how wheat-free ingredients work and Jeanne’s own
gluten-free flour mix. With favorites like apple pie, plum pudding,
rugelach, bûche de Noël – even a gingerbread hous – everyone can
pull up a chair to the holiday table with comfort and joy. Jeanne’s
website is a go-to for those with gluten-free
needs.
Happy Cooking and Baking. I hope everyone has a wonderful,
peaceful holiday season.