top view of an elegant table set up for christmas
Recipes

5 Christmas Dinner Tips!

Here are 5 Christmas dinner tips to make your meal extra special. For me each component of the Christmas dinner plate needs to be jazzed up to bring the meal together!

1. Seasoning your meat

Roast turkey - Christmas dinner tips

I think it is vital to add some flavours and seasonings to the meat to make it more interesting!

Place the bird on a large piece of foil. Stuff it with half a lemon and 5 cloves of garlic (or one per person).

On the exterior, coat with butter, turmeric, smoked paprika, garlic granules, salt and black pepper. Squeeze the other half of the lemon over the top.

Next, roast according to the size of the bird.

Before serving, let it rest in fresh foil and top with fresh rosemary.

2. How to Brussel up your sprouts

Brussels are probably the most hated part on the Christmas dinner plate. That’s why I add some flavours so (nearly) everyone likes them!

Firstly, steam your Brussels for 5 minutes.

Next, fry off some lardons, then add the Brussels (cut in half), 1 crushed garlic clove, chestnuts, oregano and black pepper.

3. Honey glazed carrots and parsnips

Peel the carrots/parsnips and chop them in half vertically. Put them in the roasting tray and drizzle of olive oil, roast for around 25 minutes.

Take them out and drizzle with honey and a dash of white wine vinegar. Roast for a further 15-20 minutes.

Add some sesame seeds before serving!

4. Jazzing up your potatoes

Potatoes - Christmas dinner tips

The key to delicious roast potatoes is all down to par-boiling them before roasting.

Wash and peel your potatoes, then add boiling water to the saucepan. Allow them to boil for around 8 minutes. In the mean time, heat the roasting tray with plenty of olive oil.

Next, drain the potatoes and toss them in the warm oil. Add a pinch of salt, black pepper, oregano and powdered garlic.

Now roast them for 1 hour on 200 degrees.

Once they are cooked, add a generous sprinkle of sesame seeds!

5. Roasted onion gravy

Gravy brings the whole plate together and adds moisture to each component of the dish. I love to add some onion to add richness to the plate.

To do this, peel and cut 1 or 2 large while onions in half and roast them with the potatoes, carrots and parsnips for 25-30 minutes.

Once they are cooked, use a sharp knife to cut them into slithers.

After you have made the gravy, stir the onions in with a generous crack of black pepper.

 onions - Christmas dinner tips

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If you liked this post, be sure to check out How to stay on track this Christmas! and Christmas activity ideas!

Recipes

Lemon and Almond loaf cake

Here is my delicious lemon and almond loaf cake recipe! This is a gluten free recipe, if you are not gluten free, replace the flour with either self raising or brown flour. Also remove the xanthin gum.

This loaf cake is one of my all time favourites, it is sweet, zingy and has a beautiful earthy taste from the almonds. It also is fairly low in sugar, so it’s great as a treat!

Macros: (based on 12 servings)

Calories: 187
Carbohydrates: 21g
of which sugars: 14.5g
Fat: 10.5g
Protein: 2.5g
Fibre: 0.6g

Ingredients:

lemon and almond loaf

100g Gluten free self rising flour
100g soft brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp xanthin gum
2 medium eggs
100g coconut oil
30g almonds (halved)
Juice and zest of 1 lemon

For the icing:

70g icing sugar
Juice and zest of 1 lemon

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees and line your loaf tin with baking paper.

2. Weigh out the coconut oil and melt in the microwave for around 30 seconds.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, xanthin gum, brown sugar, eggs and melted coconut oil. Mix until well combined.

4. Next, stir in the almonds, lemon juice and zest.

5. Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for around 35-40 minutes, or until springy.

6. In a small mixing bowl, combine the icing sugar, lemon juice and zest. Keep mixing until smooth.

7. Pour the icing over the loaf while it is still slightly warm. This will let the icing soak in – it is absolutely delicious!

Icing for lemon and almond loaf

8. Next, enjoy! šŸ™‚

lemon and almond loaf

Thank you for reading my lemon and almond loaf cake recipe! Make sure you give it a go, it is so easy to make! Be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out my Banana Loaf Recipe! and Halloween pumpkin soup recipe!

Recipes, Top Tips

Delicious alcohol-free drinks!

Here are some delicious alcohol-free drink ideas for people out there looking to cut down on alcohol consumption! I personally love to have a drink, but on the occasions I don’t fancy it, I never want to sit and just drink water!

This post is designed to hopefully give you some cool alternatives, so you can always enjoy a drink, whether it is alcoholic or not!

Alcohol-free spirits

Gordon’s (gin) – This is a plain, zero sugar and alcohol free alternative. It is pretty cheap and can be found in any supermarket across to UK.

CaleaƱo (gin) – If you like flavoured gins definitely go for CaleaƱo! It is infused with inca and juniper berries and is absolutely delicious! This is available on Amazon.

Clean R by Clean co (Rum) – This is a low alcohol alternative, 1.2% vol. I like to use this in cocktails and it tastes just like normal rum! This is also available in any supermarket.

Feragaia (Whiskey) – This is a Scottish alcohol free whiskey, and it is probably the best whiskey alternative I have tried! Available on Amazon, or use the official Feragaia website for a discount off your first order!

Mocktail recipes

mocktails - alcohol-free drinks
  • Mojito – a shot of alcohol free rum over ice, followed by the juice of 1 lime, a handful of mint leaves (chop slightly for more flavour) 1/2 tsp brown sugar, 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger and top up with soda water.
  • Strawberry old fashioned – a shot of alcohol free whiskey over ice, 2 crushed strawberries, rind of 1 orange, 1/2 tsp brown sugar and 2 drops of bitters.
  • Pornstar Martini – I like to buy a bottle of Funkin Passion Fruit Martini Cocktail Mixer and add alcohol free vodka to the recipe. It’s super easy and delicious!
  • Moscow Mule – A shot of alcohol free vodka or rum over ice, juice of 1/2 lime, some mint leaves and top up with ginger beer. This is one of my favourites!

Other drink alternatives

Remedy - alcohol-free drinks
  • Remedy- This brand offers alcohol-free kombucha and kefir drinks in lots of different flavours (coconut kefir and blood orange switchel are my favourites!). Wetherspoon’s now stock Remedy so make sure you check them out!

Check Remedy out here!

  • CleanCO – This brand makes both alcohol free and low alcohol alternatives. The clean G&T and clean Rum and cola are delicious and are 0.5% vol.

Check CleanCo out here!

Thank you for reading my delicious alcohol-free drink ideas! I hope you give some of these a try, and let me know how it goes! Be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out my Top tips on alcohol consumption and diabetes control! and my Sun-dried tomato and chicken pasta dish!