Christmas Recipes

Want to give your baby shower Christmas recipes that extra special festive feel.

The Christmas baby shower recipes are so easy to make and bake and smell and taste absolutely delicious.

The great advantage of preparing your own baby shower food is that you can make additional batch loads of your favorite Christmas recipes.

Some of the recipes you can even make in advance.

It's also a great way to get others involved. Give a Christmas recipe to each person and let them cook or bake you up a treat for the baby shower day.

Easy Recipe Ideas

Mince Pie Twinkles

Makes about 17 - 18 Mince Pies

Easy Mince Pie Christmas Recipes - Eat hot or cold.

Ingredients

• 2oz Raisins
• 3 1/2oz Sultanas
• 1oz Dried Prunes - Chopped
• 1 Small Apple - Grated
• 2oz Dried Cranberries
• 1 Orange - Zest and Juice
• 1oz Chopped Walnuts
• 2fl oz Liqueur of Your Choice - (From Brandy, Rum, Tia Maria)
• 1/2 tsp Ground Mixed Spice
• 1oz Light Muscovado Sugar
• 250g Pack of Shortcrust Pastry
• 1 Medium Egg - Beaten
• A Small Quantity of Butter - To Grease Baking Sheet
• Flour to Roll Out Pastry
• Icing Sugar to Dust When Cooked

Method

Place the first ten ingredients into a large mixing bowl and allow all the ingredients to soak for 24 hours in the refrigerator.

Once soaked place half the mixture into a food processor and whiz just enough until the ingredients resembles a pureed like texture. Return the puree to the mixing bowl and mix well with the remaining ingredients.

Put the mincemeat ingredients to one side and pre-heat the oven to Gas Mark 7, 220c.

Whilst the oven is warming through lightly flour the kitchen work surface and roll out pastry.

Using a 2 3/4in or 7cm star cutter stamp out 20 stars then re roll the remaining pastry and cut out an additional 16 star shapes.

Once the stars are cut out fill 18 stars with 1/2tsp of the mincemeat ingredients and brush the pastry edges of each star with the beaten egg.

Once complete put another pastry star on the top of each one and press the edges down to seal.

Pop the mince meat twinkles onto the greased baking tray and allow to cook for 10 - 12 minutes. Once cooked allow to cool on a wire rack then dust with icing sugar to serve.

Tip

The mincemeat ingredients can be made in advance and will keep for up to a month if stored in a sterilized jar in the refrigerator.

The mincemeat ingredients will make enough for an additional two to three batch loads of mincemeat twinkles.

Festive Olives

Serves 6

Arrange the festive olives on your baby shower table for guests to help themselves or use as part of a buffet style baby shower party.

The olives are great served with delicious crusty white or brown bread.

Ingredients

• 4oz Marinated Red and Yellow Peppers - Chopped
• 3 Whole Garlic Cloves
• 3tbsp Fennel Seeds - Toasted
• 1/1 Lemon - Sliced
• 2tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3tbsp Fresh Chopped Thyme
• 7oz Mixed Olives

Method

Place all the ingredients into a large sealable container and stir well. Cover the container and leave in the refrigerator overnight. Stir the ingredients occasionally.

Place the olives in small glass bowls and serve.

Christmas Recipes - Cheesy Bites

Makes Approx 25 Christmas Bites.

Ingredients

• 1/2tbsp Sesame Seeds
• 1 Medium Egg - Beaten
• A Pinch of Paprika
• 4oz Chilled Butter - Chopped
• 4oz Sifted Plain Flour - Plus Extra To Dust
• 4oz Cheshire Cheese - Finely Chopped
• Thyme Sprig Leaves - A Couple
• 1/2tsp Dijon Mustard

Method

Line a baking sheet with grease proof paper and pre-heat oven to Gas Mark 5, 190c.

Take the flour and butter and whiz up in a food processor until the contents resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Once whizzed pour the breadcrumbs into a bowl and add the paprika, cheese, thyme and mustard. Season and stir in enough beaten egg to combine the mixture together.

Flour your work surface then roll out the mixture until it is 5mm or 1/4inch thick. Using a 1 3/4inch or 4.5cm round cutter cut out circles and place them on the baking sheet.

Brush over each one with the remaining beaten egg then scatter with the sesame seeds. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown.