The Christmas tree is up, the turkey is ordered and we're eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. If you're like us though, you've been thinking of Christmas dinner since September (or since last Christmas in the case of Recipe Guru's biggest Christmas fan) and finally the day is nearly upon us. For many people, Christmas Day dinner is the best, and biggest, meal of the year. With so many options it can be difficult to narrow it down to just one plateful. Don't worry though, Recipe Guru has you covered. We've chosen our favourite festive recipes to create the ultimate Christmas Day menu. Enjoy!
Starter
You may be about to tuck into three days worth of food on one plate shortly, but we think it's important to warm your stomach up first. It's the sensible thing to do. Our pick for a festive starter is Paul Flynn and Lidl's Crab Claws with Clementine, Pomegranate and Rosemary Butter. Fresh clementine zest and juice add the flavour of Christmas to the light, elegant and festive starter. Find this recipe here.
The Main Event
Some people like to have duck or goose on Christmas Day, but here in Recipe Guru HQ we're traditionalist. We've chosen this classic Roast Turkey with Thyme and Onion Stuffing by Bord Bia as our main event. We like to make a tent with the foil à la Delia Smith to trap the steam inside the tin. This leaves us with a perfectly moist turkey every time.
When it comes to the ham though, we're willing to try something a little but different. Aoife Whelan's Christmas Ham is gloriously fragrant with the flavours of mulled wine. Thanks to a low, slow cooking method, this ham falls apart easily, giving you moist, meaty morsels.
If you're looking for a veggie option, Aoife Whelan has you covered. Her Vegan Nut Roast is packed full of vegetables, seeds, nuts and most importantly, flavour. We think even the meat-eaters will be fighting over this one.
The Trimmings
For some people, the trimmings are more important than the turkey. Narrowing them down can be difficult, meaning that many families enjoy three different types of potato in one meal. (That doesn't sound too bad, does it?) We've done the hard work for you though and chosen our favourite side dishes to complete you festive plate.
Our potato choice was easy: Celeriac and Potato Gratin by Clodagh McKenna for the National Dairy Council. Christmas is a time for indulgence, and this is the ultimate indulgent dish. The celeriac cuts through the richness nicely though, so you won't feel too full!
Whether you love them or hate them, Brussels sprouts have to make an appearance on Christmas Day. This Balsamic Roasted Parsnips and Brussels Sprouts recipe by Aoife Whelan will convince you that sprouts can actually taste good. Add Bord Bia's laid-back, slow-braised Red Cabbage and you'll keep everyone happy.
Of course Christmas dinner wouldn't be complete without a sauce, and we've chosen the two most traditional options: Bread Sauce by Nessa Robins and Aoife Whelan's Cranberry Sauce.
Dessert
Don't worry if you don't have room for dessert. It's Christmas, so it's perfectly acceptable to raid the fridge for trifle at 2am. Speaking of trifle, why not try something a bit different this year? This stunning Chocolate Pecan Brownie Trifle by Clodagh McKenna for the National Dairy Council is a real showstopper, and your whole family will love it. For something a bit lighter, we've chosen Mulled Wine Pears with Fruit Cake Cream by Paul Flynn for Lidl. We think that even the fullest of stomachs will have room for this one!
So that's it! Our ultimate Christmas Day menu. We hope you love every second of your Christmas feast. For more Christmas inspiration, search 'Christmas' on Recipe Guru to find lots more festive recipes.