So today is the day to get ahead with the preparation of some food items, that will make the big day less stressful and more enjoyable to us domestic godesses! I made a double lot of of the delicious orange pastry that I use for my mince pies, and I also invented a fruity stuffing to go with my Christmas day Turkey. I made the mincemeat about a month ago, which was so easy, and if you haven’t made any yet and have a minute over the weekend, I always use a Delia Smith recipe which is quick and idiot proof! Below are the three stages of development from the mincemeat prior to being cooked, then in the jars waiting followed by the finished article!
As for the orange pastry… I think I originally got this recipe from my dear friend Mrs Mad, and I have since passed it to all my friends as it is the most delicious pastry recipe I have ever used.
In a food processor, combine 1lb plain flour, with 12oz butter and 6oz icing sugar. Then add the zest and juice of an orange and combine until it forms a dough. This can then be kept in the fridge and used as required.
The next job that was ticked off my list today was making the stuffing for Christmas day. I prefer a non-meaty stuffing and couldn’t find a recipe for what I fancied, so I softened an onion with some smoked garlic, added some chopped chestnuts, apricots, an apple, some sage, juice and zest of a lemon, some fresh white breadcrumbs with heaps of seasoning and bound it with one of my freshly laid eggs. Then I had a vision and decided to roll it into two long log shapes, in cling film, ready for the freezer, so that on the big day I can cook it and slice it into perfect portions making it so simple to serve whilst looking aesthetically pleasing! After all, you eat with your eyes!!
Next job will be my cranberry sauce … the cranberries arrived in my Tescos delivery but I forgot to order an orange .. dementia again!!
