1 Take it slow
The slow cooker is not just for busy weekdays. Take the pressure off on the big day with these throw-it-in-and-leave-it mains that are special too.
2 Bake a celebratory cake … with winter veg
Perhaps the easiest way we know to get the family to eat 5+ a day. It’s (sort of) Christmas, after all …
3 Make brunch
Can't face cooking a big dinner? Open a bottle or two of bubbly and treat your friends to a special breakfast instead. Glaze a ham and serve slices warm with a tray of Delaney Mes' spiced baked eggs or Nadia Lim's pumpkin and leafy green frittata. If you want to go sweeter, serve your ham with a stack of fluffy wholemeal buttermilk pancakes and maple syrup. And make it extra special with side dishes like these stuffed pears with goat's cheese, walnuts and honey. They take just 15 minutes in the oven and can be served warm or cold.
Make Kathy Paterson's Christmas mincemeat drops to serve with coffee or Allyson Gofton's speculaas which were historically made in Holland and Belgium around the feast of St Nicholas in early December.
4 Serve a side of salmon
"A 1.5kg side of salmon will serve about 8-10 people as a main course if served in slices with side dishes," says Bite food writer Laurie Black, "and probably 12-14 if served broken in chunks, as long as you serve it with something like tabouli, or couscous and vegetables, or perhaps a herb-laden Thai cucumber salad and steamed rice. Make sure there's a dressing or sauce to match."
Laurie says her side of salmon is one of the easiest recipes she knows to feed a crowd. See also:
5 Check out our Christmas recipe collections
From seafood to poultry, affordable Christmas to vegetarian and baking, there's a festive recipe collection here for however you choose to celebrate.
