christmas food and food

Christmas Baby Food Ideas And Recipes

2011-10-31T17:59:00.000-07:00

Christmas dinner for baby can be put together quite easily from your meal, which is traditionally full of healthy veggies - but exactly what you give your baby depends, of course, on his age and stage of development.

Remember :Your baby should be at least 6 months of age before you introduce him to solid foods, unless your doctor has recommendedstarting earlier. And, even though it's Christmas and you're anxious to include your baby at the Christmas meal, you should still introduce new foods separatelyand with the consent of his doctor.

This is to prevent and identify food allergies and digestive problems.

Turkey

Turkey can be given to your baby from 7 months of age. Here's a simple Christmas baby food recipe using turkey - remember to cook your baby's veggies without salt.

1 large turkey slice
1 cooked potato
1 medium cooked carrot
2 cooked broccoli florets

Blend the turkey in a food processorwith water or homemade stockuntil fairly thin.
Then add the potato (which will thicken the mixture) and the remaining veggies and puree to the desired consistency.
Older babies, already comfortable with finger foods, can be given this meal cut up into bite-sized pieces.

Gravy

Commercial gravies tend to be high in salt and are unsuitable for babies. If you would like to create a healthier gravy to accompany these Christmas baby food recipes, then simply take 4 oz (about 1/2 cup) of your cooked veggies and puree with 8 to 12 fl oz (around 1 to 1/2 cups) of the meat juices from the pan (assuming that your meat was not heavily seasoned with salt). Puree them together and serve - you can adjust these quantities to create a thinner or thicker gravy if you prefer.

Another option is to combine arrowroot with homemade chicken stock (1 tbsp arrowroot per 8 fl oz (1 cup) of stock). Pour into a small saucepan and heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. For a more robust flavour, stir in 1/2 tsp tomato puree.

Stuffing

Many commercial stuffing mixes and standard stuffing recipes contain salt. Unless you choose to make a homemade, salt-free version just for your baby (like our reader below), then it's probably worth giving this one a miss!

Christmas Baby Food Ideas And Tips

2011-10-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

These Christmas baby food ideas and tips for the holiday season will help you make baby's first Christmas extra special! Your baby's first Christmas is simply a magical time - for him AND for you! It's a time to introduce your little one to the wonderful traditions you grew up with and an opportunity for you to re-create wonderful memories from your own childhood. Of course, your baby is a little young to appreciate or understand all that's going on at this busy time. But there's no doubt that he can enjoy the warm family feelings that Christmas evokes - not to mention the sparkling decorations and lights, the music and (hopefully) the extra attention from all your visitors!

Tips For Making the Most of Baby's First Christmas ...

· Keep your baby beside you as you decorate your home for Christmas. It may be tempting to put up your decorations, then bring your baby in for a "surprise" - but babies tend to dislike surprises and much prefer routine!

· Speaking of routine - try to keep your baby's day as normal as possible. It can be difficult to do, particularly when your home is filled with guests, but your baby will be calmer and happier as a result.

· Despite your best efforts, your baby may still find the extra noise/attention/excitement overwhelming. This may cause him to cry, which will bring both you and him even MORE attention, as your guests all rush to offer their assistance and advice. This can be very stressful - so don't be afraid to take your baby to a quiet room to calm him down. It is also important that he has a quiet haven in which to sleep.

· Don't spend lots of money on toys!At this stage, he simply doesn't need them. As many parents will attest, babies are happier playing with boxes, wrapping paper and bows (under supervision of course), than they would be with the latest "stimulating" baby gadget. Someone once wrote that the play value of a toy is 10% toy and 90% imagination! Wise words indeed - and ones that apply throughout childhood.

· Think twice about taking your baby to visit Santa. While older children love him, babies very often find Father Christmas to be a big, loud, scary red man!

· Take lots and lots of photos!

· Write an account of the day. Keep a "Baby's First Christmas" scrapbook, filled with his gift tags, wrapping paper etc.

· Make or buy your little one a "Baby's First Christmas" stocking.

· Start some new traditions. Buy your baby a collectible gift and add to the collection each year.

Christmas food safety advice

2011-10-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

When you’re making food for large numbers of people, for example at Christmas, it’s especially important to keep food safe. Here are some practical tips.

1. Try to plan ahead. If you can prepare food in advance, this should help to reduce the pressure.

2. Keep foods out of the fridge for the shortest time possible.

3. If you’re short of space in the fridge, take out wine and beer, and put it somewhere cold, such as the cellar or garage, or in buckets of ice.

4. Even if people are waiting to eat, don’t reduce cooking times.

5. Always make sure food is properly cooked before you serve it.

6. 'Use by' means exactly that. You shouldn't use any food or drink after the end of the 'use by' date shown on the label. Even if it looks and smells fine, using it after this date could put your health at risk and cause food poisoning. You will usually find a 'use by' date on food that goes off quickly, such as milk, soft cheese, ready-prepared salads and smoked fish. It's also important to follow any storage instructions given on food labels, otherwise the food might not last until the 'use by' date. Usually food with a 'use by' date needs to be kept

in the fridge.

7. 'Best before' dates are usually used on foods that last longer, such as frozen, dried or canned foods. It should be safe to eat food after the 'best before' date, but the food will no longer be at its best. After this date, the food might begin to lose its flavour and texture. However, you shouldn't eat eggs after the

'best before' date. This is because eggs can contain salmonella bacteria, which could start to multiply after this date.

8. Some food labels also give instructions such as 'eat within a week of opening' and it's important to follow these instructions. But remember, if the 'use by' date is tomorrow, then you must use the food by the end of tomorrow, even if the label says 'eat within a week of opening' and you have only opened the

food today. 'Display until' and 'sell by' dates are instructions for shop staff to tell them when they should take a product off the shelves. For more information of food safety, and for links to your local District or Borough

Council Environmental Health Department, visit our general food safety advice page. Your local Environmental Health department can provide you with further information

on food preparation, storage, cooking, and hygiene.

Christmas at RSA House

2011-10-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

Your Christmas party will be the one to remember.

Christmas Menu

Crab and avocado cocktail with caviar

Roast pumpkin, ginger and honey soup (v)

Game terrine with fig relish and seasonal leaves

Cream of roast parsnip, apple and mustard soup (v)

Duck, and port parfait with cherry compote and orange dressing

Crotin of goat’s cheese with red onion and cranberry marmalade

Gravad lax salmon and crayfish salad with rocket and beetroot salad and orange vinaigrette

Christmas Menu Menu

Pan seared stone bass with a baby fennel, parsley mash and mussel bisque

Roast vegetable and nut terrine, slow roast tomatoes, rocket and mint pesto (v)

Pan seared salmon on wilted spinach crushed potatoes and brown shrimp butter

Winter vegetable and horseradish crumble tart with chestnut and baby spinach salad (v)

Roast breast of duck with braised red cabbage, crushed root vegetables, mulled wine and blueberry jus

Roast turkey supreme stuffed with smoked ham hock, walnut and orange with glazed winter vegetables

Christmas Menu

Classic sherry trifle

Honey and whisky brulée with biscotti

Chocolate, rum and raisin torte with advocate anglaise

Banana and toffee cheesecake with white chocolate sauce

Selection of mature British cheeses with biscuits and chutney

Christmas pudding with rose scented anglaise sauce and crème fraîche

Be food safety wise this Christmas

2011-09-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

With Christmas just around the corner, people will be planning parties and buffets to celebrate with family and

friends. Many cases of food poisoning occur around the festive season because people do not follow the food safety rules. Food poisoning is a miserable and potentially dangerous experience. Many people attribute its symptoms to a simple tummy upset or seasonal overindulgence. Certain people such as children, pregnant

women and the elderly are more vulnerable to food poisoning bacteria, so be very careful when preparing foods for these groups. This Christmas make sure the food at your party is safe to eat by following

our food safety tips

Ingredients

20g butter

60g plain flour

75g ground almonds

/coconut

150-200g leftover

Christmas Pudding

5 large apples

(or any leftover fruits,

plums, bananas,

pears, peaches etc.)

peeled cored and

thickly sliced

3tbsp cranberry

sauce (optional)

1/2 vanilla pod

cut lengthwise,

seeds scooped out

2 green

cardamom pods

2 star anise

5cm piece cinnamon

stick

Dash of rum/kirsh

/brandy

Squeeze of honey

1tbsp demerara sugar

Custard, cream, or ice cream to serve

Method

1.Preheat the oven to 180°C.

2 Rub the butter with the flour until it looks like breadcrumbs, add the nuts and crumble in the Christmas Pudding to make the topping.

3 Place all the spices in a hot pan and cook for a minute.

4 Add the fruits, cover and cook for half a minute, shake the pan, before adding a squeeze of honey and the liquor; stir in the cranberry sauce if used.

5 Remove from the heat, cover and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.

6 Place the fruits in an ovenproof dish and top them with the crumble mixture.

7 Sprinkle with demerara sugar.

8 Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the topping has browned to your liking.

9 Serve hot or cold with custard, cream or ice cream.

Christmas Food Waste Campaign

2011-09-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

Win a day at Jean-Christophe Novelli's cookery school!

NHDC and French celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli are asking North Herts residents to think about the food waste we all throw away over Christmas. The ‘Love your Leftovers!’ campaign aims to show how we can reduce the amount of festive food we waste and still create a delicious and exciting three course meal from leftovers. Jean-Christophe and his cookery school (based in Tea Green) have created three delicious recipes using leftover foods that are commonly thrown away at Christmas time to inspire us. Now we are inviting you to send us your favourite recipes (starters, main or desserts) using leftover foods, such as over ripe fruit, vegetables, bread or milk. A prize of a one-day hands-on themed course with Jean-Christophe at the Novelli Academy Cookery School will be awarded for the best recipe. Submit your favourite recipes via email tofoodwaste@north-herts.gov.uk, online using the e-form or post them to our usual address Waste Team, NHDC, Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City, Herts, SG6 3JF. Please read the terms and conditions and submit all recipes by 13 January 2012. Judging will occur week commencing 16 January 2012 with the winner notified by 19 January 2012. REMEMBER that any food that you do have to throw away (e.g. turkey carcasses or peelings) can all be placed into your brown bin for recycling. The Waste Team will be out and about over the festive period answering questions and giving residents helpful advice, tips and recipe ideas on how to reduce food waste and make the most of their festive leftovers. The Christmas events will also be the first chance to get hold of the ‘Love your Leftovers!’ campaign recipe cards that have been created exclusively for NHDC by Jean-Christophe Novelli. Jean-Christophe Novelli is a Michelin and 5AA Rosette award winning French chef, whose attributes include AA Chef’s Chef of the Year, European Chef of the Year finalist representing Great Britain and the prestigious Egon Ronay Dessert of the Year. He won Restaurant of the Year on numerous occasions and many other awards for culinary excellence. His Novelli Academy Cookery School, where he personally teaches some courses, is placed as one of the top in the world. Jean-Christophe et son equipe vous souhaitent un bon appetit!

Gluten free gigerbread cookies

2011-09-28T17:22:00.000-07:00

Makes one serving.

3/4 cup milk free, soy free, corn free margarine

1/4 cup unsulphured molasses

1 cup light brown sugar

3 cups Kathy P's Brown rice flour mix*

1 tsp xanthan gum

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp baking powder

2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 cup water

sweet rice flour for rolling

Cream margarine and sugar. Beat in molasses. Sift dry ingredients into separate bowl. Stir into creamed mixture alternately with water. Mix thoroughly once everything has been added. Dough should be soft and will be sticky. Refrigerate dough for at least one hour. Using sweet rice flour, roll portions of dough on plastic wrap or parchment paper to about 1/4". Cut and decorate as desired. Bake in oven at 350 degrees F for 8-20 minutes depending on size. Cookies should just be getting browned. Bake longer for crispier cookies. Cool slightly on sheet before removing to rack to cool completely. Store in airtight containers. Use dairy, soy, egg, corn, wheat and/or gluten free ingredients as needed.

safe eats for christmas

2011-08-30T17:18:00.000-07:00

Homemade candy canes

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup water

Heat the water in saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until it boils. Leave until it reaches 300 degrees.

Remove from heat and pour into Candy Cane shapes. Let it dry until hard. If your child can tolerate food coloring, you can color the sugar before putting them in the shapes. You will need a candy thermometer. The chocolate candy molds are not strong enough for making sugar candies. You will need to buy ones specifically for making sugar candies.

Rice nog

1 cup gluten-free rice milk

Pinch cinnamon

Pinch nutmeg

Dash vanilla

Pinch or 2 of xanthan gum

1 whole clove

Warm everything together except xanthan gum. Stir

with a fork. Add xanthan gum, and warm again, mixing well. Bring to a small boil until it slightly thickens

and spices are well mixed throughout the mixture. Pour into coffee cup and chill.

Meals and Food-Related Events

2011-08-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

♦ Invite others to your home, notifying guests in advance of foods that are off-limits in your home.

♦ If you are attending a party at someone else’s home, bring safe foods for your child.

♦ For buffets, plan on an early visit, and then leave when it’s time for people to wander with plates of food.

♦ Make homemade cookies safe for your child and do a cookie exchange with other food allergy families or friends that you trust.

♦ Dress your child in KFA “Don’t Feed Me” clothing.

♦ Wear infants in slings to prevent well-meaning “sharing.”

♦ Have your children with contact allergies wear gloves or socks on their hands if they are too little, to keep them from having allergic reactions.

♦ For younger children, use a high chair or booster seat with a tray if child’s allergens are being served.

♦ Closely monitor your allergic child to prevent accidental exposures.

kids with food allergies

2011-08-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

Play fun board games on Christmas

Play Christmas charades acting out things that only relate to Christmas.

Play Christmas Pictionary

Learn about the history of Christmas with your children.

♦ Learn about the different dates on which Christmas is celebrated:

◊ Armenian Apostolic Church on January 6th.

◊ Eastern Orthodox Churches on January 7th, which is the date on the Gregorian calendar corresponding to December 25th on the Julian Calendar.

♦ Learn about customs from other countries and cultures, such as:

◊ In Germany, children put wooden shoes out on December 5th and St. Nicholas leaves candy or small

gifts in their shoes in the morning. They also learn about the Christmas spider legend.

◊ In Finland, they say a Declaration of Christmas Peace.

◊ In Holland, the children get presents from Santa in their shoes, rather than under the tree.

◊ In Russia, Grandfather Frost brings presents on New Year’s Eve.

◊ In Hungary, Baby Jesus delivers the presents to children.

◊ In Poland, Santa brings gifts on December 5th and Christmas Eve.

◊ In Mexico, Christmas festivities begin with Las Posadas, nine consecutive days of candlelight processions and lively parties starting December 16.