Gourmet Recipes

The big talking point this Christmas in some circles is not just how much should we spend but should we be buying Christmas gifts at all? The PC brigade would have us all leading dull austere lives, or so it seems. For my part I think it’s good for the soul to give presents and it’s great to receive them, this is the tradition of Christmas. But having said that, maybe the politically correct “thought police” do have a point. I don’t subscribe to their preferred martyrdom at Christmas but like many other people I do wonder at the senseless giving and acquiring of so many useless gifts. I feel like screaming when I get yet another scented candle in a box..... So here is my idea, instead of budgeting to allocate a spend level to all the various members of a close group of friends say your sister's family or neighbours that you socialise with, amalgamate the individual budgets and buy one big family present. So why not buy them a Christmas gift hamper? “It will cost a fortune” yo...

These individual apple puddings are perfect comfort food for the cold winter months. They’re delicious served with crème fraiche or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Serves 4 75g Unsalted Butter 75g Clear Honey 4 tbsp Double Cream 4 Eating Apples (I used Cox’s), peeled, cored and thinly sliced 120g Dean’s Butterscotch Shortbread Rounds Method Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the butter, honey and cream in a small saucepan and heat, stirring until melted, to make a caramel sauce Divide the caramel sauce between 4 ramekins, top with a layer of apple slices, then half the crushed shortbread Layer with the remaining apples and shortbread, then pour over the rest of the caramel sauce Place on a baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes until golden and bubbling Allow to stand for 5 minutes then carefully turn out onto plates (you may need to run a sharp knife around the inside of the ramekin) Serve with crème fraiche or vanilla ice cream and a dusting of ground cinnamon

Real Food Direct has brought out a number of hampers specifically designed for Christmas. They are great gifts for family friends, companies and children. Christmas Food Box - £34.95 The Christmas food box is a smaller hamper with only 7 products but is a lot cheaper and is great for individuals, couples or your parents. Below is a list of products you get in the box: Traditional Christmas Pudding - Medium 450g Handmade Star Mince Pies 12 Cocktail Stollen Cranberry Sauce 227g Brandy Butter 227g Luxury Christmas Truffles 60g Mini Christmas Cake 225g Christmas Food Hamper - £99.95 The Christmas food hamper is a great gift for a whole family or maybe a company. Including 18 different products - this hamper contains all the classic Christmas products you would expect to see for a family Christmas. Go on - indulge yourself. Cranberry Butter Shortbread Rose & Lemon Turkish Delight in Hexagonal Box Marzipan Fruits 75g Traditional Christmas Pudding - Medium 450g Handmade Star Mince Pies ...

Hawkshead was once a part of Lancashire, known as Lancashire beyond the sands. Many of the traditional Lancashire and Cumbrian dishes bear common routes, and are based on great locally grown and farmed produce. This recipe for Lancashire Hotpot is the recipe I use at home, but as with many of these dishes every household makes their own version, mine is based on my mothers recipe and always reminds me of my childhood. Serves 4 - 6 people Ingredients 2lb best end or middle neck of lamb, cut into bitesize pieces, cutting off any excess fat 1 whole link of great lancashire Black pudding cut into 4 - 6 pieces Hawkshead Relish (bottled sauce similar to Worcester Sauce but a softer version) 2 large Onions sliced 1 large Carrot sliced Oil Butter plain flour Bay leaf Thyme 2lbs potatoes (waxy lancashire potatoes) cut into thin slices Sea Salt Freshly ground black pepper Pre heat the oven to 170c/325f/Gas3 Method Having trimmed any excess fat from the lamb and pat dry with kicthen paper,...