Christmas Food

[Tracey]

I have a Christymas Party this Sunday & 3 kids birthday parties on Saturday, so I want to know of any recipes I can make ahead of time...
Not only that but the Christmas Party is at my cousins which is about 1+ hours drive away so not something that needs to be held on a lap or anything!!! something easily transportable!!!
It's my Mums side of the family & there are over 80 people gonna be there, so most people bring some cooked chicken etc, so something easy finger foodish & a dessert.... or something... I dont know open too ALL suggestions!!! But need to make it probably on Friday night, a main/savoury & a sweet I guess!??? AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH #-o

[Janie]

Make a variety of mini quiches in muffin or patty cake trays. Really easy and just throw anything in - ham, corn, sun-dried tomato, mushrooms, cooked sweet potato etc. Top with a little cheese.

I freeze these and take them to work - just pop them in the oven when you get there or even the microwave. Actually they are great cold too.

[Rouge]

Sausage rolls made with Turkey mince instead of sausage mince and served with cranberry sauce? Just get some Turkey mince, some onion, garlic, a herb you like (ie parsley, rosmary, thyme etc), salt & pepper and mix it all up together then make sausage like shapes that fit onto some puff pastry (cut each piece into half and place the sausage down the middle). Fold the pastry over, and cut into sausage roll sizes, place on lined tray and wash with milk or egg (you can even dress with sesame seeds or similar if you like) then place in a very hot oven and cook until pastry is only just brown (but cooked - about 20-30 mins) that way when you reheat the day after it won't over brown. Allow to cool on the bench and then refridgerate till you need them the next day then cook at about 180C for about 10-15 mins Serve with a cranberry sauce (I'd just by a jar of cranberry sauce and whizz in the blender or stab blender so its smooth like tom sauce)... YUM!

Dessert well theres lots of things, you could do a trifle or you could do individual ones in throw away plastic cups just use some jam roll get some ready made custard (the browns one is pretty good) whatever fruit you like, fresh or tinned (I use fresh strawberrys and soak in a little fruit juice) then just put a slice or two of jam roll in each cup, a splash of brandy, some fruit, some custard and some cream then decorate how you like. And if you have kids you can make christmas jellies in red & green and instead of putting chocolate frogs you can use chocolate cadbury elves instead? If I can think of anything else I'll let you know!

*hugs*
Cailin

[nixie]

I am going to Qld with the kids for a couple of days before Christmas, getting back on the 22nd, so I have the same problem of needing to be at least a little bit prepared prior.
I decided for a dessert to make a raspberry ice cream cake, just soften a 2L tub of vanilla icecream, mix in a bag of frozen raspberries and a couple of roughly crushed meringues, and freeze in a lined cake tin covered in cling wrap. Then when you are ready to serve, turn it out onto a plate, and top with lots of yummy fresh raspberries.
Easy to do while I am busy with packing and looking after the kids, and then easy and quick on the day. It also looks pretty!

[Tigergirl1980]

Cailin- Love the turkey sausage roll idea, that's fabulous

Ummmm, little meatballs, or make it a bit Cailin and do turkey balls with a cranberry dipping sauce. Ooooh I have a great recipe for a cranberry glaze that would actually make a great dipping sauce, I will try and dig it out for you later Other than that I will ponder and get back to you.

[Tigergirl1980]

Grrrrr, I have lost the recipe for the cranberry glaze, but from memory I think it's as follows but of course you could adjust the recipe for a bigger quantity.

1 jar jellied cranberry sauce
1/4 cup onion, diced finely
1 tbsp tomato sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar

Fry onion in a little oil until soft, add rest of ingredients and stir until the cranberry has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Put on low heat and simmer for 10 mins.

I think that's right, but I can't be totally sure. But it's very yummy, I hope it's right