Preparing The Perfect Christmas Hampers And Gourmet Food

Christmas hampers can be a great way to share gourmet food that is prepared at home and can make the perfect Christmas gift for your family. Make sure the ingredients are fresh and that you follow some basic instructions.

If you are preparing that perfect Christmas cake try adding one dessert spoon of sherry or rum for every pound of fruit you are going to use and soak the fruit overnight, before heating the oven place a container in the bottom of the oven containing water, this helps to create a warm moist place which will lead to the perfect moist Christmas cake. When you remove the cake, do so in a room without a draught and leave to cool before first wrapping the cake in greaseproof paper then wrapping in tinfoil and store in a cool dry place

On Christmas day, my mother always adds a coin to the finished pudding in line with Christmas tradition. This adds an amusing twist to the eating experience and is especially enjoyed by children. It is best to add the coin or coins after the pudding has been cooked as it can be easily slipped in to the final product. Boil the coins in a pan of water for a few minutes to avoid any untoward bacteria that may be present.

The turkey in most homes is usually the centrepiece of the Christmas dinner. After many hours of cooking; you present it in all its glory, the perfect golden skin cooked to perfection. Now you have to carve it and you need to do this the right way in order to ensure its served as good as it smells, if you plan on carving soon after roasting then cover the turkey with foil and allow to stand for 15 minutes. Always make sure you cut the dark meat first before the light and the secret to removing the wings, legs and thighs is to finding where the bones meet and cutting between the joints.

Top tips for Christmas turkey perfection

Cool your stuffing before you use it and make sure to prepare it in advance

Always make sure that when you stuff your turkey you only stuff the neck cavity

To add some extra flavor to your turkey, cut and slice a few onions and place them in the baking tray and position your turkey on top. This will avoid your bird to go soggy and will add some additional nuances

It’s a good idea to use sliced oranges or lemons to your turkey before you add the stuffing as this will add subtle flavor. Be sure to place these in the cavity.

You can season turkey skin with spices, salt and pepper mixed with butter of a light cooking oil to really absorb the flavors in to the meat.

Place strips of streaky smoked bacon over the turkey about half way through the cooking time.

Eggnog is always a winner at Christmas and is very popular with the traditionalists. Many people add brandy to their mix, although you can have it without alcohol and even without eggs for th dairly and egg intolerants among us. Eggnog is a quick way to warm any new visitors to the house and is best in small doses as can be very potent.

Separate the yolks from the whites of twelve eggs and beat the whites for this non alcoholic recipe. Add a half cup of sugar while continuing to beat the eggs. You will find that the whites will start to form peaks and become stiff. Beat the yolks in a separate bowl and add 1 cup of sugar as you mix. Whisk a quart of cream until stiff and mix together with a touch of vanilla flavoring. Cool for 24 hrs in the fridge and serve in a bowl, finally adding a touch of nutmeg.

Last 5 posts by Yaclav Yvgenyvich

• Food Hampers And Tips For A Perfect Christmas - July 19th, 2009