Steph’s Favourite Christmas Recipes

The sights and smells of Christmas have always been one of my favourite parts of the season. As I get older, I try to focus on enjoying the little things and getting the most out of each season that comes along. The pine and cedar bows that make their way into homes as garland and mistletoe during December suddenly have a magical scent to them.

This is why one of my favourite Christmas recipes is Mulled Apple Cider. It makes the house smell so warm and inviting, plus if you add in the rum that just makes it all the more “festive”. You can serve this out of a tea pot if you’re.. fancy. Or ladle it straight out of the sauce pan, cinnamon sticks and all, it’s more rustic that way.

Ingredients

  • 4 Cinnamon Sticks

  • 8 all spice berries (if you don’t have these, like me, you can just shake in these next 3 ingredients in place of the berries)

  • 1/4 tsp cloves

  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg

  • 1/4 tsp cinammon

  • orange peel from one orange

  • lemon peel from one lemon

  • a handful of cranberries

  • 6 cups apple juice (freshly juiced or store bought)

  • 1/2 cup maple syrup

  • apple slipes and orange twists for garnish

  • 1/2 cup dark rum (optional, use none or more if you’re staying home ;)

Instructions

  1. Throw the cinnamon sticks, peelings and berries/spices into a sauce pan. Pour the maple syrup over them then the apple juice.

  2. Bring it all to a gentle boil then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 20-30 minutes. Turn off the heat.

  3. If you’re feeling festive stir in the rum! Just warn your pregnant friends or set the rum on the side for guests to add into their own mug.

Tip: gather all of your ingredients ahead of time and get this on the stove right before your family or friends come over. When they come in the scent will put them in a good mood and distract them from whatever they were arguing about on their way over.

The second recipe I want to share is my Great Aunt June’s Pulled Chicken or Turkey in BBQ Sauce on a soft bun. I know this isn’t particulary Christmasy but it was a tradition growing up and I love to carry it on.

I realize now it was just an easy delicious meal to please any crowd (maybe not the vegetarians) and that’s probably why we had it every year and that’s partly why it’s my favourite now. I love make ahead meals that I can throw together ahead of time instead of standing at the stove all day while trying to visit with family.

Ingredients & Instructions:

  • 1 whole chicken (roasted at 350F for 25minutes per pound with a little seasoning salt over top and covered in foil - then pull apart for sandwhiches)

  • A bottle of your favourite BBQ sauce or a few packs of light gravy.

  • Combine chicken and sauce in crock pot to keep warm, throw in a splash of chicken broth to keep it from drying out if you’re going to be serving for a while.

  • Plop the saucy chicken on top of a soft brioche bun or just a plain hamburger bun will do!

  • This is great with some coleslaw on the side and salt and vinegar chips.