It’s the time of year for entertaining, inviting both friends and family around to enjoy each others company while celebrating the season. Victoria loves nothing more than being hostess and this year she has been testing out some recipes to have at the ready whatever the occasion.
Let’s start with some Party Nibbles with of course an egg dish that’s so simple but looks great on a serving platter to pass around a crowd.
Recipe 1. Party Nibbles - Devilled Eggs
Instructions:
Boil your eggs till their nice and solid, then peel. Slice the eggs in half lengthwise, removing yolks to a medium bowl, and placing the whites on a serving platter. Mash the yolks into a fine crumble using a fork. Add mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper, and mix well. Evenly disperse heaping teaspoons of the yolk mixture into the egg whites or pipe in with an icing bag if you have one.
If preparing in advance leave these in the fridge. When serving, toast the bread of your choice then use a good sized circular cutter to produce disks. Place on platter, add a dollop of salad cream and place an egg half on top. Use Dill & Paprika to colour and add a little bite.
Serve with other easy to prepare nibbles to keep everyone merry all night long! All can be served buffet style and prepared in advance so you can enjoy the night along with all your quests.
Recipe 2. Dessert is Best - Sugar Cookies
Whether you need to take the office Christmas party or something on the table when you in-laws visit these sugar cookies are great to prepare in advance and ice as needed.
Instructions:
Sift together 3 cups of flour, ¾ teaspoon of baking powder & ¼ teaspoon of salt and put aside. Place 1 cup of unsalted butter in a bowl and mix in 1 cup of cane sugar. Gradually add the flour mixture until the mixture pulls away from the bowl. Divide the dough in half and wrap in baking paper and place in the fridge for 2 hours.
TOP TIP: Buy some fun cookie cutter shapes and get the kids involved once the dough is done. Sprinkle Icing Sugar on the counter when you roll out instead of flour for an extra sweet result.
Remove one lot of dough and roll out to ¼ inch thick, moving the dough around checking it doesn’t stick. Cut into desired shapes using cutter and place apart on a baking tray covered in baking paper. Cook in the oven at 200 degrees for 7-9 minutes or until cookies start to colour. Cool on wire rack completely before icing.
Our icing usually ended up pretty abstract but with some delicious golden balls & a sprinkle of cinnamon we made them nice and Christmassy. Yummy!
Recipe 3. Left Over’s not wasted – Pasta Jars
We all look in the fridge post Christmas day and find odds & ends from over estimating the eager guests at the table. The spare bits of turkey, half an open jar of cranberry sauce, what happens to them? This idea is perfect for a light lunch that also can use up any scrummy scraps so they don’t go to waste.
Instructions:
Boil your pasta then drain well using cold water so it cools and doesn’t stick. Mix in a tomato sauce or even green pesto if you prefer. Get your jar or container and place a good sized helping in the bottom. Then layer up your leftovers, turkey, sausages, cranberries and spinach leaves to top.
