I am one of those people who buys and eats Christmas food weeks before the big day. I can’t help myself. I just love it. I’m the same at Easter. I’m the first one purchasing and eating hot cross buns and Easter eggs.
Why not? Life is too short.
I may have gotten a little overexcited by Christmas this year because I am in a bigger house in which I can fit a much large and REAL Christmas tree. Plus, I love Christmas food so much and not just the grown up stuff like plum pudding and baked ham. Give me those marshmallow Santa chocolates and some candy canes and I’m a very happy little elf.
Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by IGA. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in her own words.
When I was asked to write an article for IGA called “7 easy Christmas lunch ideas” I was so happy. I now had the perfect excuse to prepare seven amazing Christmas lunches with all my favourite Christmas foods. The kids have had so much fun. For the past week I have been prepare stunning festive lunches. As soon as each meal was ready my daughter would run through the house yelling, “Another Christmas is ready”.
IGA has a HUGE range of foods to choose from. I could have done 10 Christmas dinners but I’m trying to be good at the moment so I’ll just stick to seven.
When it comes to Christmas lunch I’m all about shortcuts, and why not. Who says I have to cook everything from scratch? I want to be able to enjoy the lead up to Christmas and in particular I want to enjoy Christmas Day. My mum is a machine and cooks for weeks in the lead up to the big day and gets up at 5am to do the rest of the cooking ahead of Christmas lunch. She’s amazing. I don’t take after her at all.
Christmas is about family and friends, about enjoying each other’s company, about watching the kids play with their toys. It’s about eating really delicious food that is affordable and easy to prepare.
Here are 7 Christmas lunch ideas that will take a fraction of the time of a traditional Christmas lunch. You’re welcome.
CHRISTMAS LUNCH 1: Roast beef, root vegetables and fresh apricots
My mum makes THE BEST beef roast in the world. She buys a really good piece of scotch fillet and marinades it in olive oil and sweet white wine and then adds fried onions, garlic, fresh parsley and salt and pepper.
The smell as it cooks is divine. Throw in some potato and pumpkin pieces, even carrots and you’re all set. It’s pretty funny that I used to be vegetarian and now could happily eat roast every day of the week. My children are little carnivores too.
I set up some fruit with this meal. Apricots are in season. Yay! And don’t forget to save some extra wine to drink while you eat it.
RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
-1.5 kilos of scotch fillet
-One onion
-Two gloves of garlic
-1/2 cup white wine, preferably sweet
-1 tablespoon fresh parsely
-Pinch dry oregano
-2 tablespoons corn flour
-Olive oilDIRECTIONS
1. Pat the meat dry with paper towels
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a plan. Place the meat in and brown it on all sides
3. Remove the meat from the pan and place on a plate
4. Added the chopped onion and garlic to the pan and fry for 30 seconds
5. Add the wine, parsely, oregano and one tablespoon of cornflour
6. Cook for 2 minutes
7. Coat the inside of a oven bag with flour and shake out the excess
8. Salt the meat and place it in the bag. Pour the contents of the pan into the bag along with a pinch of pepper
9. Seal the bag and poke two holes next to the sealed section
10. Place in a baking tray for an hour at 160 degrees
11. Once cooked allow to rest for 15 minutes
12. Open the bag and poor the meat and the juices into the baking dish
13. Slice and serve with seasonal vegetablesServes 8
CHRISTMAS LUNCH 2: Marinated chicken, green beans and mince pies
IGA has some brilliant marinated meats to choose from and taste better than those you do yourself because they have been sealed in the marinade so the flavour is excellent. The day I bought the marinated chicken a butcher was at the meat section in the store and he helped me choose it. I chose the Mexican marinated chicken and asked if it would be too spicy for the kids. He said it was actually quite mild so it would be a good choice.
Top Comments
gross and lame. not a single imaginative (or healthy, or culturally diverse, or vegetarian) meal.
I'm roasting a turkey fillet roll with cranberry chestnut stuffing in my new Weber Q! Om nom nom... I have a macadamia and brandy pudding ready for dessert too.