SURVIVING CHRISTMAS 2017: PRE-FESTIVITIES FAMILY MEALS

Fast, easy & make-ahead family meals before Christmas 

These recipes should help take some stress out of normal mealtimes as the Christmas rush begins...but a partner/parent who helps pick up the slack will certainly help.  And the dishes are suitable wallet-friendly and some are Vegan...   

Imaginative touches like these might be few and far between in the weeks before Christmas but tasty, attractive and fun meals will compensate

This week's post:

Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup, classic & irresistible, vegan option

Peachy Fruit Sponge, ever-so-quick & tasty

       Bunless burgers with mushroom gravy, North American classic

Other popular family dishes:

ALMOST INSTANT

Almost Instant Tomato Soup

Spinach & White Bean Soup, half an hour from start to delicious finish, vegan

Almost Instant Intense Tomato Soup, stunningly delicious & so easy, vegan

7-minute Pork/Chicken & Pineapple Noodles, if the body's demanding carbs, this is the way to go

Chinese Beef & Noodle Soup, low-cal & fat but reviving

Spanish Roast Chicken, takes the edge off Arctic temperatures, make ahead

Cheat's Tortilla Espagnol, eggs, a trip to the chippie and Bob's your uncle


PEPARE AHEAD

Spinach, Tomato & Peppers Tortilla

Creamy Tuna Casserole, kidults love the potato crisp topping; no one notices the wholemeal pasta


Chicken in Lime & Ginger, fabulous flavour through & through


'Chicken' Gougons, vegan delight; they won't miss the meat


Spinach, Tomato & Peppers Tortilla; eggs, Jim, but not as we know it

Chunky Lentil Soup 

EASY HEALTHY SOUPS

Puchero'. a high-nutrition wallet-friendly peasant Spanish Stew

Big Beef or Chicken Soup, not quite a stew but equally filing

Chunky Lentil Soup with Meatballs, kids love the meatballs

Egg-Flower Pea Soup, kids adore this

German Potato and French Bean Soup, the frankfurters make it a whole meal, vegan option


SLOW COOKED

Slow Roasted Lamb Ribs

Slow Roasted Lamb Ribs, low-fat, easily turned into mixed grill with veg


Slow Roasted Low-sugar Pork Ribs, beautifully spiced


Lamb Shoulder, Mongolian Style; eaten by hand, wrapped in lettuce leaves

Sugar & Yeast Free Waffles

LOW SUGAR BREAKFASTS

Sugar-free Waffles 

Egg & Toast Hole In One

Double-dipped French Toast, frugal, crunchy; kids help make this



NOT SO UNHEALTHY TREATS

Apple Caramel Sauce, fresh fruit offsets the indulgence

Instant No-sugar Fruit Sorbet, delightful no-added sugar dairy free ice, vegan

Mango & Mint Sorbet but any other frozen fruit works beautifully

SO EASY, THE KIDS CAN MAKE THEM

Coconut Cherry Kisses, ambrosial low-sugar treats, effortless

Chocolate Daisy Sandwich Cookies, kids will love making & eating these  

Pfeffernusse, made & frozen ahead by kids; extremely popular Xmas 2016 


BREADS

15-min flatbread, can be used for pizza, vegan option

Cheese & Walnut Light Wholemeal Loaf 1 bowl wonder

                   ***

Storecupboard recommendations 

Cook in advance & freeze:

• stock/broth, preferably homemade (make ahead & freeze) or good granules, eg  Marigold 
• ham hock, shred and bag in small portions
• rice (cook in advance & freeze) See how to...cook brown & white rice
• sausages (freeze in pairs, either pre-poached or cooked)
• bacon (freeze in double slices)
• bread (frozen in double slices or rolls)

Store cupboard

• noodles
• tins of tuna & sardines
• frozen peas and corn (or tinned corn)
• eggs
• raw onion ( yellow/purple and spring ) carrots, celery, tomatoes, lettuce & peppers 
• potatoes
• flour, plain & wholemeal, sugar & fat for baking
• bagged pears, apples or plums for easy-peasy crumbles
• fat-free plain yoghurt
• jar of candied ginger in syrup
• chocolate for baking i.e. cooking chocolate in bars plus Cocoa 

                Also see Nav Bar: How to...Christmas 2016/ Christmas 2015 AND
.                                      Nav Bar/Recipes/ Almost Instant & Slow Cooker 
                                                             



These recipes have been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.