Out & About January 2018

The 12 days of Christmas in the Christian calendar start on Christmas Day and run through to January 5, the eve of Epiphany. During this period, a lot of partying goes on and HILARY SCOTT has found some shortcuts to make it easier for the hosts and to get 2018 off to a great start. So next time you go to the supermarket, take this list with you and hey presto! – the party season will be a cinch, rather than turning you into a Grinch... Party season

1 One large side of smoked salmon Cut into three pieces. Slice one piece into thin slices and serve on top of buttered walnut bread or bread spread with crème frâiche with a squeeze of lemon. Slice another (and you can make it a little thicker) to drape in folds on a plate surrounded by watercress and topped with dollops of crème frâiche mixed with roasted garlic. Finally, cut last third into tiny cubes and top with a miso mayonnaise, use 1-2tbsp miso paste per 100g mayo. 2 One turkey Roast then carve. Use the leg and thigh meat to make a coconut soup by frying one shallot until golden, adding 1tbsp of green curry paste, a tin of coconut milk, some chopped green beans or whole mange tout, two kaffir lime leaves and a stalk of bashed lemongrass. Simmer for 15 minutes then add the chopped leg meat. This will serve four. Use the breast meat to make a risotto with leeks, herbs to taste (thyme is good) and with some mascarpone stirred in. Eat as a whole dish for four or serve hot or cold in canapé spoons for risotto nibbles. You can top these with a little crumbled crispy bacon. 3 One large pack of sausages Split into two roasting tins and roast for 20 min- utes, glaze half with mustard and honey and the other with shop-bought barbecue sauce. Roast for another 10-15 minutes. Serve as canapés or serve the barbecue sausages with mash and green veg. 4 One punch bowl Fill with a seasonal punch – two cups of chilled pomegranate juice, one cup of vodka, one cup chilled soda water, half-cup sugar syrup, one cup of chilled cranberry juice, one

Parma or serrano ham. 9 One jar of cranberry sauce

cup Cointreau and half-cup lemon juice and combine in a punch bowl. Add ice and serve. Adjust quantity to fill your bowl. 5 One bottle of prosecco (oh ok maybe more than one!) Put the prosecco on a small table or drinks trolley and add the following so guests can pimp their own prosecco: A large punnet of mixed berries Bottle of blackcurrant or elderflower cordial Pomegranate seeds mixed with sprigs of rosemary Pink grapefruit juice Sliced cucumber and limes and sprig of basil Hibiscus flowers that open when dropped in fizz (Wild hibiscus flowers in syrup, Lakeland, £9.99) Rose Gold Shimmer Powder (£7.49, Lakeland) 6 One packet of corn tortillas Cut into halves. Make a pico de gallo salsa with one chopped white or red onion, two medium sized chopped tomatoes, one chopped jalapeno or serrano chilli and 1tbsp of lime juice. Fill half of the tortillas with this, adding a dollop of sour cream if liked, and then roll up. With the other halves, make a feta salsa with two medium tomatoes, one avocado sliced, one small chopped onion, 100g feta crumbled and some olive oil. Fill, roll and serve. 7 One packet of vol au vents Fill half with cooked chicken in a curry mayonnaise or bought coronation chicken and the other half with cooked liver and onions. 8 One large jar of olives Thread half on to cocktail sticks with a cooked gnocchi, a basil leaf and a sundried tomato, the other half with a cube of cheese and some

Buy ready-made pizza dough and top with a slather of cranberry sauce, with sliced Brie cheese and thinly sliced pear. Or make a cranberry Cheddar dip by combin- ing one jar of cranberry sauce, one pack of cream cheese and one and a half cups of Cheddar, mix and heat through in a medium oven. Serve warm. 10 One packet of roasted chestnuts Make canapés by topping slices of thin brown toast with some paté and add chopped chest- nuts. Or stir into bought sausagemeat to make sausage rolls. 11 One packet of filo pastry in sheets Cut each sheet into four. Place one sheet on a board and brush with melted butter, place a further sheet on top and brush again with butter. Place a spoonful of filling (see below) at the edge in the centre and roll up – pinch the edges to make a cracker shape. Place on a baking sheet and brush with a little more melted butter. Bake in medium oven for about 15 minutes until pastry is golden and crisp Fill with crumbled feta, lime juice and a little butter or prawns, avocado, lemon juice and a little butter. 12 One punnet of strawberries Dip into milk or plain melted chocolate and then when set, dust with icing sugar for snow. Or, one for the children to help with, top fattish strawberries with whipped cream then top with the bottom peaked end of strawberries so they look like a hat. And now they resemble mini Santas.

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