Mash Direct (www.mashdirect.com), the award-winning ‘field-to-fork’ vegetable accompaniments brand, is determined to make this Christmas as enjoyable and stress free as possible for everyone in the family, including the host! Mash Direct’s range of delicious ready to serve vegetable accompaniments include all the traditional Christmas favourites brought straight from their family farm to your table.
No peeling, chopping or steaming required, just pop in the oven and serve in one of your fancy dishes. Christmas favourites including Honey Glazed Parsnips, Carrot and Parsnip, Red Cabbage & Beetroot, Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, Cauliflower Cheese Gratin, Shredded Duck Bites, Ham and Cheese Bites and Stuffing Bites. Belfast born Karyn Booth best known for her work as a food stylist on Game of Thrones is a big fan of Mash Direct and has collaborated with them this Christmas to take the drama out of the kitchen and bring it to the dinner table instead… in a good way.
Karyn has created a series of delicious recipes using Mash Direct products that will bring you right through from starters on Christmas Day to a delicious Stephen’s Day brunch, allowing the host to play the starring role as the hostess with the mostess! “For most of us, Christmas is one of our most favourite times of the year, it’s a great time to show love to family and friends, and spend quality time together instead of stressing in the kitchen” says Karyn. Karyn brings us some tips on how to get ready this Christmas:
Christmas dinner preparation, start a few days before …
• Make a shopping list. Plan the food you will require for the holiday period and make lists for the various shops you need to visit so you only have to do it once.
• Set the Christmas table and decorate by gathering foliage from the garden, this doesn’t have to be expensive, you can decorate the foliage with simple flowers, candles, Christmas baubles and glitter.
• Children love to create place-cards and this is something that can keep them busy for few days before Christmas.
• A lovely idea, if you can sew, is to make small red velvet Santa sacks. Fill with small tokens and secure with a ribbon and a name tag, then tie to each Santa sack to a chair.
• Once the table is ready it’s time to begin the preparation for lunch.
• First things first, cook the ham. Bring the ham to a boil and then reduce the temperature and simmer for 15 minutes per pound. Remove from the heat and allow the ham to cool in the liquid. Then remove the ham to a roasting dish and refrigerate overnight.
• Make the stuffing and stuff the turkey, then smear in butter and place the rashers of streaky bacon on top. Refrigerate up to 1 hour before you begin to cook the turkey.
Starter options
For the starter I like to prepare this delicious Roasted Parsnip and Pancetta Soup topped with pomegranate seeds for a rich ruby red finish, so there is no pressure on Christmas Day, or for a vegan option have all the ingredients ready for this lighter roasted vegetable and Quinoa Salad.
Christmas Breakfast
Keep it simple, something that can be eaten on the go as you unwrap gifts and share in the fun. Warm croissants with parma ham and thinly sliced Irish cheddar, or toasted bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon. I like to keep breakfast light and casual.
Christmas Dinner
Take the stress out of Christmas by using Mash Direct Honey Glazed Parsnips, Carrot and Parsnip mash, Red Cabbage & Beetroot, Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, Cauliflower Cheese Gratin, Shredded Duck Bites, Ham and Cheese Bites and Stuffing Bites.
Cook the turkey in a tinfoil tent and pour a litre of chicken stock into the base of the tray. fold the foil around the edges of the tray to create an airtight seal. Cook the turkey as you normally would. The stock will create steam as the turkey cooks keeping it moist. Remove the foil 45 minutes before the end of cooking time.
• Remove from the oven, insert a skewer into the thickest part of a turkey thigh and press to release the juices. If they run clear, then the turkey is cooked.
• Rest the turkey for at least 45 minutes after cooking.
• Smear the ham with English mustard and sprinkle with Demerara sugar and drizzle with honey. Place into a hot oven and roast for 1 hour. Keep basting until golden and glazed.
• Roast the Mash Direct Honey Glazed Parsnips and Roast Potatoes as per packet instructions.
• Heat Mash Direct famous Mashed Potato in the oven or microwave and add your own seasoning as you wish.
• At this time, decant your chosen Mash Direct prepared vegetables into microwaveable serving dishes. Microwave the Mash Direct Carrot and Parsnip mash, Red Cabbage & Beetroot, Brussel sprouts and Cauliflower Cheese Gratin. Keep the vegetables warm in the oven until you are ready to serve.
• Drain the cooking juices from the turkey and use to make gravy.
• Place the warm vegetables onto your serving table, decant the mash, parsnips and roasties into warm serving dishes. Bring the turkey and the ham to the table ready to carve and don’t forget the gravy.
Mash Direct vegetable and potato products are fantastic convenience products, rather than spending time preparing and cooking, this is a great cheat (no-one needs to know) alternative. The vegetables are fresh, delicious, quick and easy with the added bonus of being gluten free. Be the Hostess with the Mostess, sit back and enjoy!
Slán go fóill,
Danny
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