I adore Christmas for many reasons – long lie ins, crap TV and not having to get dressed unless it’s strictly necessary. But mostly it’s because I love receiving presents and cooking up a storm in my tiny Merseyside kitchen. So, I was over the moon when the lovely people at Penguin Random House sent me two recipe books as a lovely festive gift. One of them was The Happy Pear, a book full of vegetarian recipes which I’ll be squirreling away until the New Year when I’ll (probably) be in the grips of a resolution to eat more vegetables. And the other was Meera Sodha’s incredible ‘Made in India. Cooked in Britain: Recipes from an Indian Family Kitchen,’ which is full of delicious, easy to follow Indian recipes.
I’ve taken ‘Made in India…’ out of my local library so many times over the past year that I’ve lost count. It’s a gem of a cookbook which dazzles the senses with pretty pictures, beautifully written prose and mouthwatering recipes. (The Coriander Chutney Chicken is a favourite in our house – it’s fresh, quick and a great way to use up that huge bunch of coriander moldering away at the bottom of your veg drawer.)
As a lovely little Christmas present, I’m giving away a copy of ‘Made in India…’ to one lucky reader. To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment telling me which dish you’re most looking forward to scoffing this Christmas. Perhaps it’s pigs in blankets? Or a whole baked Camembert? Maybe you’re one of those people who will be taking to their bed with a family sized Tiramisu once you finish work for the festive season. No matter how big or small, there’s no judgement here.
The competition closes at 12pm 5pm on Friday 18th December and I’ll endeavor to get this sent out on Monday 21st so it reaches you before Christmas. Unfortunately, this competition is only open to readers in the UK and Ireland. Sorry folks!
Good luck and may all your Christmases be filled with half price M&S party food selections.
Christmas day food always leaves me a bit exhausted its the boxing day leftovers and cheese board that i get excited about!
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As it happens, I’m doing a Meera Sodha recipe for duck fesunjun for Christmas dinner – it was in the Guardian. Definitely looking forward to something a bit different this year!
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My favourite thing on Christmas Day is the bread sauce! Can’t wait 🙂
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Hi Christina, my favourite thing on Christmas day is the entire dish of stuffing that is made just for me because I loved stuffing so much I could cry.
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I will be eating all the cheeses, but especially Epoisses, possibly with a spoon.
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Must I choose? Custard, honestly.
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I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my dad makes the same vodka and whisky cured salmon that he made a few years ago 🙂
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I just love eating my mum’s Christmas Dinner stuffing, she always makes is so well with just the right amount if crispy bits 💜
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I can’t wait for the vege turkey, as Indian food is so predominantly vegetarian Id LOVE to win this book!
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Staying with my Dad, so it’s gotta be the desperation curry he’ll inevitably order on Christmas eve. El Halal Tandoori, Aylesbury High Street, World’s best Murgh Masala bar none.
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I’ve finally made peace with the fact I don’t really like Christmas pudding, so I’ll be making a sticky gingerbread wreath pudding, and eating it with lots of brandy sauce, and frankly I can’t wait.
Livvy x
(Gingerbread wreath recipe: http://bit.ly/1RW4JhP)
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Every year without fail my favourite part of Christmas Day dinner is the cheeseboard at the end. Yes, I know I can eat cheese at any time. No, it doesn’t matter. My mother gives me a full cheeseboard as one of my Christmas presents every year :’)
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gonna be really boring and say my nan’s roast potatoes; the crunchy:fluffy ratio is perfection. would just eat the whole lot from the baking tray if she’d let me.
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Brandy butter. With a spoon. When no ones looking.
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This year, and every year 5eva, it will be my nan’s mushy peas on Christmas dinner. Yeah we have mushy peas on Christmas dinner and I have no shame about it because it is amazing and perfect and I’d cry if it didn’t happen.
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So hard to choose! I am really looking forward to eating copious amounts of pannetone though mmmmm
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Any dish as long as it’s with my family – it’s the one time of year we now get together for a few days. I used to love it when my granny (ever year I can remember) made a truly 1970s style prawn cocktail for the “kids starter” – now we’re grown up it’s our turn to do the chef-ing!
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Definitely Boxing Day curry made from leftover turkey – always a winner!
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It has to be the pigs in blankets scoffed piping hot, straight from the roasting tray while congregating in the kitchen with my whole family as we all swing prosecco.
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It has to be Christmas Camembert, baked with sprigs of rosemary and eaten with crusty bread. My mouth’s watering just thinking about it.
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We’re having Gujarati food for Christmas dinner and I am really really looking forward to eating piles of proper samosas.
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Hopefully just in time – I love devils on horseback! Yum prunes and bacon 🙂
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