When we think of “festive meals”, I’m quite sure everyone thinks of different things. For some it’s the roasts and the spread that Mom or Gran have spent days on. Some might think of a braai day with family games. Your family might have the full on turduckin with stuffing et al… One thing most of us have in common is that it’s a special time with loved ones and some kind of food!
My dear friend, who blogs at Mom of Two Little Girls, recently published a Christmas series. Across this series, she collected a fantastic storybook collection of Christmas traditions from different people. MammaChef Jozi even made it into the mix and you can read my family’s story and the rest of the collection here.
Festive Freshness
I don’t usually do the cooking over the festive season. Our special days are traditionally spent in the homes of my parents or my in-laws. Wherever we are it’s an all out Christmas feast and the most wonderful time!
This year however will be something different, the first time that we are away for Christmas and I’m still thinking about what to do for lunch… The daily meals over the holiday season, in my opinion, should be easy, summery and designed for sharing.
I was also asked by some followers on Twitter for festive recipes. So I looked around for some inspiration and came up with the fabulous festive feasts here…
Monday
Ingredients
- 1 tin red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tin corn kernels, drained and rinsed
- 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lime/lemon juice
- 200 g corn nachos
- 1 avocado, peeled and thinly sliced
- 100 g lettuce
- 250 g thinly sliced roast beef, torn
- 1/3 cup chunky tomato salsa
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Place beans, corns, red pepper and onion in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon/lime juice and toss to combine.
- Arrange nachos, avo and lettuce on a platter.
- Top with the bean mixture, roast beef and tomato salsa.
- Serve with sour cream.
Recipes for the Week
Spinach & Ricotta Canneloni with Homemade Tomato Salsa 
Chorizo & Haloumi Platter 
Broccoli & Boiled Egg Salad
If you were watching my social media, you would have noticed that I thought the Broccoli & Boiled Egg Salad recipe was absolutely awful. Whether it was because I had too many anchovies or the mustard dressing was too bitter when combined with the anchovies… it just wasn’t right.
However, there were some things about it that attracted me to trying it in the first place. After having tried it there were also elements of it that I loved.
So, I have given you all the options in the recipe! Let me know what you think of this one?
It’s a very healthy, refreshing break in the indulgence of Christmas menus.
There you have it! A delicious, summery festive meal plan made for sharing. Indulgence with a difference.
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