I have been busily unboxing my latest toy, a Home Boston Shaker Set, from Drinks Stuff. I bought this set for less than a tenner, I’m looking forward to using it.

See my links for cocktails that you can make at home

You can join the craze in time for Christmas and get yours here 

Not that Mr T

The post Affordable Boston Shaker Sets for Home Mixology first appeared on A Little Thought for Food.

This punchy red cocktail is from the menu at the Reform Social and Grill, in the Mandeville Hotel in London West End. Although it’s been inspired by tradition dating back to the days of an Victorian British Gentlemen’s Club, it’s far from stuffy!

The Boyo, a fruity rum based cocktail is certain to kick start the Christmas and New Year’s festivities. The recipe can be found here

Not that MrT!

The post Boyo first appeared on A Little Thought for Food.

It’s the time of the year when family and friends pop round bearing Christmas cards and gifts and for those unexpected moments when unplanned vistors turn up, it’s always good t have something quick that you can prepare on the hop. This 10 to 15 minute wonder will have you passing round the festive cheer as quick as a flash.

Not that Mr T

The post Mulled Wine first appeared on A Little Thought for Food.

While scouting around for Christmas Cocktail recipes to avail my friends and family with I came across this festive recipe. It fits the bill to a tee. The recipe and picture come from celebrations.com.
Not That Mr T

The post Cranberry Cinnamon Martini first appeared on A Little Thought for Food.

It’s Christmas and time for the traditional festive drinks and Eggnog is high on my list. this recipe allows for a boozy version for adults or virgin kiddy friendly one too.
The recipe is supplied by Simply Recipes and can be found here.

The post Eggnog Recipe first appeared on A Little Thought for Food.

For the Side, I’m looking for different things to go with the ubiquitous Goose fat Roasted Spuds, so have been dipping in and out of the various Christmas themed cookery programmes that have been on over the last few weeks for inspiration and have come up with the following:

This Potato and fennel bake from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, would add a variety of taste to the meal and use some of those fennel bulbs that seem to be going cheap at the moment. It’s a simple side dish that can be pre-prepared up to the final roasting and popped in 30-40 mins before dishing up time.

I’m going to be cooking my favourite Brussels Sprout recipe, you’ve just got to have them at Christmas

This recipe combines the humble Brussels with the wonderful saltiness of pancetta and deep sweet notes of Marsala wine and sweet Chestnuts

I also cook way too many Sprouts as the make great ‘Bubble and Squeak’ to go with the cold meat on boxing day

December is also slap bang in the middle of the parsnip season and their sweets citrus notes is a highlight of any roast.

Nigella Lawson’s Maple Roast Parsnips have a smoky-sweet flavour that everyone will adore, I’ll get hold of some young carrots, scrubbed and the stalks clipped leaving about a centimetre of green and pop those in too.

To add a splash of colour to the meal, it’ll have to be the red jewel of the season the beetroot. Not just the preserve of the Boxing day fry up as a pickled accompaniment, roasted, it makes a cracking side dish too.

My favourite Roasted Beetroot recipe adds a splash of balsamic vinegar and thyme to give a sweet Herby background to this versatile vegetable

The kids just love Cauliflower Cheese and this recipe hits the mark, it’s easy and quick

BBC Good Food provides a brilliant version of the standard British classic of Cauliflower Cheese, just pop it in when you’ve taken the roasted meat out to rest.

With the addition of some decadently out of season boiled new potatoes and small sweet ‘Petit Pois’ I think that selection of sides will fill the table as well as ‘the bill’ for my side dish requirement for my Christmas dinner.

The post The holidays are approaching… first appeared on A Little Thought for Food.