christmas

Do you have a cooking related Christmas present wish list? For some reason I can't think of anything I really want that isn't stupidly expensive. Family are asking but I'm drawing a blank - it would be interesting to know what other cooks here would like to receive.

I have made 5 Xmas pudding today and they are on the hob steaming. The recipe suggests steaming for 3.5 hours then a further 3.5 on Xmas day. The problem is, I forgot to cover the pans for the first 1.5 hours of steaming. Should I increase the steam time by an hour or more or don’t worry...

It's an Italian tradition but probably not all over Italy. Dad discovered this tradition in the 1980s sometime and although we are not Italian (and neither Dad nor I were actually Christian at this point) it sounded like a wonderful food idea to carry on. Dad actually did carry it on for close...

Tell us what you are eating & drinking this Christmas. Photos appreciated!

Just a thread in which to post your Christmas 2019 potpourri of thoughts and items. I'll start: I'm simmering water, apple cider, cranberries, oranges, cinnamon, cloves, and rosemary, making the house smell like Christmas!

Did you receive any cooking related Christmas presents? I was lucky enough to receive two - a deep fat frier and a book about fermenting food (of which more, later). Tell us what you received.

Anyone yet started the annual search for creative uses for Christmas leftovers? I think we may be trying a turkey pie tonight.

Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas for 2018 from the CookingBites team.

For a couple of years we hung chocolates on our Christmas tree because my very young nephew came here on Christmas day and it seemed like the right thing to do. He hasn't been here for a couple of years so we no longer bother. Does anyone on here hang chocolates on their tree?

Is it a tradition in your house to have a bowl of Christmas nuts in shells? As a kid, I remember there being a bowl of nuts every Christmas with the nutcrackers poked into the bowl. We had brazils, hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts. We used to eat them on Christmas Day afternoon or on Boxing Day. I...

Apologies for not contributing much of late - I've been away for most of the last three weeks. I've had Chris Rea's "Driving home for Christmas" as an ear worm for the past week, and finally it's come true! I'm home, and looking forward to getting stuck into cooking for Christmas.

Mincepies? Yes or no? I’ve just taken my first homemade ones out of the oven, but must admit I’ve worked my way though a box of shop bought ones. Do you like them? Is it a British thing(I think so?)?

Are there drinks that you tend to only have at Christmas? Eggnog perhaps or Baileys - maybe a special malt whisky? There is one thing I used to always buy at Christmas but never had at any other time - Advocaat. I think for some reason it may have been the one alcoholic drink my parents had at...

Do you make traditional Christmas pudding? Are you faithful to Stir Up Sunday or does anything go? What do you serve with it and which recipe do you use? I always make pudding (and for family members) every year, and am normally a slave to stir up Sunday but missed it this year due to illness...

I noticed today that a new channel - Christmas Food - has appeared on Freeview TV. There went another afternoon. Rick Stein, Two Fat Ladies and Nigella (altogether too many stiff peaks) classics in abundance.

Please post photos of your own or your neighbourhood's Christmas decorations in this thread!

I have been reading on the BBC website about people charging family and friends for Christmas dinner. It appears to have sparked quite a debate. Hosting dinner can be very expensive so to a point I appreciate where the idea comes from but charging seems extreme. On December 27th my husband's...

Have spent the morning making chocolate orange fudge. Saw the recipe online and thought I would give it a try. It was super easy, slow cooker dumping job and there is lots of it. Am going to take this lot into work and am planning on making some as Christmas presents closer to the time. Am...

I'm just wondering if anyone else received any presents either directly or indirectly related to the kitchen. For me I had a few items that could qualify, from some new measuring spoons (curiously Australian ones don't have a desertspoon but do have a half tablespoon size), some cookie cutters...

On the 25th, my mom, mom in law and I decided to do a Wellington .. Here is a quick photograph .. All our best wishes for a very lovely holiday from Cadaques, Gerona ..