67GOINGON50's FAVOURITE SIDES, SOUPS & BREADS FOR CHRISTMAS 2022 (+ breakfasts)

SIDES, including Condiments, Vegetables, Soup, Breads, Crackers & Breakfast  (from the Archive)

Prices are historical and do not reflect 2022 inflation

Many of these recipes are indulgent, in keeping with the spirit of Christmas, but most categories contain at least one fabulously frugal/thrifty dish.  Many are pretty easy and nearly all are healthier than most. 

 

(TIPS FOR MAKING LIFE EASIER  at Christmas is at bottom of page)

CRANBERRY & RED WINE SAUCE: great on the plate OR as a gift
Don't buy cranberry sauce without trying this easy sohisticated recipe first.

Kid-friendly Cranberry Sauce with Orange & Cinnamon: vegan, lower-sugar 

Christmas Slaw: Sprout, Pear, Walnut & Cranberries, it'll get kids to love sprouts

Sensational Simple Sprouts: the cook's best friend in the frantic minutes before the food hits the table; easiest sprout recipe ever; popular with all ages

Simple Pickled Veg, new flavours & textures, easy-peasy

GRAVY: all can be made ahead and frozen till Christmas day

•        Vegetarian Gravy: muscular 
•      Vegetarian Red Wine Gravy: Absolutely WOW!
•      Jaimie Oliver's magnificent Chicken Wing & Vegetable Gravy -- 

SOUPS 

Silky Mushroom & Sherry Potage, sophisticated, no cream or potato; Vegetarian and kids' options 

 CELERIAC & APPLE POTAGE: (No.1 fav of all time) Silky, delicate, heavenly, dairy-free 

Veloute of Smoked Haddock: a special occasional indulgence; creamy with little dairy, rich thick & saatisfying

Frugal: 

White Bean Soup, VEGAN, Dairy Free with Veggie Bacon Bits; lovely!

Spinach & Bean Soup: VEGAN, strikingly delicious,  quick & substantial

Egg-Flower Pea Soup

Kids adore this vegetarian soup with vegan option; low-fat/cholesterol/salt 

BREADS & BISCUITS

  

Festive Fan Rolls: attractive pull-apart rolls are so soft and rich they melt in the mouth... an assset on the Christmas table.  Serve with sensational Orange Butter and they'll be gobbled up in no time.  Option for double size rolls

Latin American Cornbread with niblets, chilli & spring onions;  tender and slightly sweet but with a definite kick of heat; it's a one bowl wonder that's low-sugar, yeast-free and comes in slices or muffins; perfect for brunch, dinner with old friends and pot-luck get togethers

Cranberry Nut Oatmeal Molasses Bread: gorgeous with cheeses; easy-peasy

Make-ahead No-Knead Cinnamon Rolls

There's not much better than good home-made cinnamon rolls and the easy prep is a bonus!  Tasters said they were the 'best-ever'.  

 'Midi' Soda Breads for Singletons & Small Households

Quick & Easy rustic soda breads are terrifically versatile and egg & butter free (left: Olive, Walnuts & Seeds, Dried Cherry with Nuts & Seeds)

Thrifty More-ish Soda Bread with Oatmeal & Seeds:

Irish Soda Breads are a lifesaver in busy households: there's no kneading or rising; no preservative and the amount of salt is controlled. And it's uber tasty and beautifully textured - make it top of your home baking list. 

CRACKERS:

Luxury Date & Nut Cheese Crackers: vegetarian indulgence, Vegan opt, fat-free.

The stuff of heaven, a crispy take on the fruit and nut breads usually served with  cheeses.  Crunchy and delicately earthy; the crackers might require a bit of a financial outlay if you haven't a store of nuts and seeds on hand.  That said, the recipe makes a good 50-70 crackers.  Prep ahead

 

Exquisite home-made cream crackers:
egg-free, prep ahead; crisp & white, they are a stunning surprise, so far above shop-bought in taste and texture as to be a different animal.  As easy to put together as scones; the  dough can be frozen for a month.

Cheese & Chive Crackers: an Indulgence but so, so good!  And so easy to make.  Tasters said: 'so light and fragile; the taste explosion is total!'

WARM VEGETABLE SIDES

Oven-roasted Sprouts, Parsnips & Baby Corn: VEGAN one tray wonder; perfect consistency

 Hot Veg Carousel

2-potato champ

Carousel of Low-carb Veg, mouth-watering dieter's delight
 

Two-potato Champ: healthy, frugal, terrific replacement for mash; easy;   bright lively flavours

Stir-fried Sprouts & Corn: kid-pleaser; quick, easy & healthy 

BREAKFASTS

English Breakfast Salad. perfect make-ahead sassy brunch for the holidays; stays fresh as guests wander down as and when; serve with coffee and/or orange juice with brandy & something fizzy 

Breakfast Roll, Lebanese Style, Exotic: stuffed with omelette, toms, 'shrooms &  tahini mint dressing.  Breakfast will never be the same again!

Plum & Ginger Jam, low-sugar Almost-instant; you won't believe how good this is 

How to do healthier Sunday brunch & make it ahead Planning & prepping as much prep as possible the day before makes English breakfast for a crowd a doddle 

                     ****

BE KIND TO YOURSELF: MAKE LIFE EASIER

1. Get organised.  Whenever you have guests, make a shopping list and a 'to do' list.  On the 'to-do' list, list every single thing that needs doing for your meal.  Make a timeline, working backwards from serving time.  What can be made in advance?  Can anything be done the day before; perhaps setting the table?  What must be served straight out of the oven?  Integrate the 'to-do' list and the timeline.  
2. Assign tasks to others.  Kids and partners can prepare veg or even take over the preparation of a simple dessert.  Do a group shop and divide up the tasks: veg, bakery, tinned goods.  Meet near the cash registers for paying and packing.
3. On PREP day, have a good breakfast (eggs? smoothie?) and a simple but sustaining lunch (soup & sarnie? whole meal salad? something from the freezer?)
4. Pace yourself; leave room in the schedule for breaks for tea, coffee and hugs 

If you can't afford...

• Turkey...treat yourself to an organic chicken. (M&S does a good sized, tender tasty one for £18'ish)  Game is also a good bet: pheasant, grouse or venison.  Cheaper cuts of beef, lamb or pork ( eg. beef brisket, shoulder of lamb or pork belly) can be cooked in a slow cooker or in some cases, slow-roasted.  Don't stint on the usual Christmas sides -- roast taters, gravy, cranberry or fruit sauces, roast veg.

• Smoked salmon...smoked salmon offcuts are back in supermarkets after disappearing for awhile; offcuts are the untidy slices that don't look good on a plate but are still decent quality and cost less.  For a special breakfast, split croissants and fill with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon & dill; warm in med oven 10 mins  

• A Gammon joint ...try frugal ham hocks; it won't slice like ham or have the lovely glaze but is very tasty shredded and used at breakfast, in salads or soups, or in open-faced sandwiches or heavily stuffed doorstops with celeriac & apple slaw    

• Artisan Bread...in terms of prices, supermarket specialist breads are not far off artisan breads.  For example, M&S sourdoughs cost about £4 each.  They contain some yeast but the loaves are unusually delicious and absolutely huge.   But if you can or want to indulge, get the real thing; it is Christmas!  67 goingon 50 can recommend: (1) Libby's on England's Lane: does amazing gluten-free bread, bagels and buns (2) Bread Ahead near Hampstead Tube does the kind of bread and doughnuts that taste and look old-fashioned homemade, in a good way! (3) Sable D'or on England's Lane offers French style baguettes.  And don't forget Gails, Karma Bakery on South End Green and Ole & Steen near Hampstead tube.

   For more Sides go to Recipes II on the Nav Bar 

Also: How to...Christmas 

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These recipes were developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and  may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.