By IANSlife

December 25, 2023 (IANSlife) ‘Tis the season for joy, laughter, and delicious food. If the holiday hustle has left you with little time for elaborate recipes, fear not! Our Christmas treats are here to add a touch of magic to your celebrations. From comforting classics to innovative twists, these recipes promise to fill your home with the irresistible aromas of the season and leave your guests craving more. Fast, flavorful, and fuss-free, these recipes are the perfect solution for those moments when you want to enjoy the festive spirit without spending hours in the kitchen.

Cranberry Pecan Brie Bites: A delightful blend of creamy Brie, tart cranberries and crunchy pecans in a perfect bite-sized holiday indulgence.

Ingredients:

• Crescent dough
• Chopped pecans
• Brie cheese
• Cranberry sauce
• Fig (for garnish)

Instructions:

• Roll out the crescent dough and cut it into sections that will fit into a mini muffin pan.
• Place the crescent dough sections into the mini muffin pan, pressing them gently to form cups.
• Add a layer of chopped pecans to the bottom of each crescent dough cup.
• Cut the brie cheese into small pieces and place a piece in each crescent dough cup on top of the pecans.
• Spoon a small amount of cranberry sauce over the brie in each cup, ensuring it covers the cheese.

Optionally, garnish each cup with a small piece of fig.

• Bake in your Voltas Beko microwave for 12-15 minutes, or until the crescent dough is golden brown and the brie is melted and bubbly.The Digital Display in the Voltas Beko microwave helps you to keep an eye on the dough so you can ensure that it is being baked perfectly.
• Remove from the oven and let the brie bites cool for a few minutes before serving.

 

Gingerbread Mug Cake: A festive single-serving delight that brings the warm and spicy flavors of the holidays to your mug in minute.

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

• In a small bowl, whisk together 4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
• To the dry ingredients, add 2 tablespoons of molasses, 2 tablespoons of milk, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
• Pour the batter into the mug. Place the mug in your Voltas Beko microwave on high for 1 to 1.5 minutes. Keep an eye on it to prevent overflow, as microwave times may vary.
• After the initial cooking time, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter), the cake is done. If needed, microwave in 10-second intervals until fully cooked.
• Enhance your gingerbread mug cake experience by adding toppings like whipped cream, a dusting of powdered sugar, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

 

Frosty Cocoa Mint Delight: A decadent fusion of rich cocoa, cool mint, and sweet delight that brings a winter wonderland to your taste buds.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• Whipped cream
• Crushed candy canes for garnish
• Chocolate shavings for garnish

Instructions:

• In a shaker or mixing glass, combine the milk, chocolate syrup, and peppermint extract.
• Shake or stir well to ensure the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
• Place the mix in Voltas Beko refrigerator for 30 minutes,the NeoFrost™ Dual Cooling technology keeps the natural goodness intact.
• Once chilled, rim the edge of a glass with chocolate syrup and dip it into the crushed candy canes to create a festive rim.
• Fill the glass with ice and pour the chocolate peppermint mixture over the ice.
• Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
• Garnish with chocolate shavings and a sprinkle of crushed candy canes.
• Serve with a festive straw and enjoy this indulgent chocolate peppermint mocktail!

 

'Tis the season to be merry! Spreading the joy of Christmas and adding on to the festive fervour, Chef Aji Joseph, Head - Culinary Development, FreshToHome has curated some delicious, easy to prepare recipes.

Coconut Crumbed Prawn

Ingredients (with quantity):

• Paprika powder - 1 tbsp
• Mustard powder - 1 tsp
• Garlic chop - half tsp
• Water - 1 tbsp
• Refined oil - 1 tbsp
• Maida / flour - 2 tsp
• Egg - 1 egg
• Lemon juice - 1 tsp
• Salt - a pinch
• Prawn whole cleaned with tail on - 250 gms
• Breadcrumbs - 100 gms
• Desiccated coconut - 50 gms
• Oil for deep frying - 500 ml

Method:          

• In a bowl, mix together pakrika powder, mustard powder, garlic chop, maida / flour, egg, lemon juice, salt, refined oil & water to a fine paste
• Deshell and devein the prawn. Retain the tail        
• Add the marination to the cleaned prawn and mix well      
• Careful while mixing the marinade as the the sharp tail ends would cut through the skin  
• Mix the breadcrumbs and desiccated coconut together in a plate 
• Take the prawn one by one holding the tail and coat it with breadcrumb-coconut mixture
• Make sure the tail is without any breadcrumbs     
• One by one coat all the prawns and keep aside      
• In a sauce pan or kadai add enough oil to immerse the prawn while frying 
• When the oil is hot, slowly slide the prawn one by one into the hot oil
• Fry the prawns for a couple of minutes in hot oil to a golden colour
• Serve hot and crispy along with tartare sauce or ones choice of sauce

 

Chicken Tenders in Tuscan Cream

Ingredients (with quantity)

For Chicken marination:              

• Chicken fillet or supreme - 200 gms
• Salt - to taste
• White pepper powder - 1 pinch
• Flour - 1 tbsp
• Olive oil - 3 tbsp

For sauce             

• Butter - 20 gms
• Garlic slice - 5 cloves
• Celery slices - 1 stick
• Onion slice - half onion
• Sundried tomato slices  - 10 gms
• Flour - 1 tbsp
• Water        - 100 ml
• Cream - 250 ml
• White pepper powder - 2 pinch
• Salt            to taste
• Cheddar cheese - 50 gms
• Parsley (chop) - 1 tbsp       

Method:              

• Take 200 gms of chicken fillet or supreme and mix with all the ingredients required for marination and keep aside                     
• Heat up a non-stick fry pan and add butter                       
• Add garlic slices and saute to a slight brown                     
• Add the sliced onion and celery and saute             
• Once the onions are translucent, place the marinated chicken on the pan and grill on both sides              
• While the chicken is getting grilled, cut the sundried tomato to smaller pieces and add to the chicken          
• Then add water and mix well                     
• Once the water starts to boil, add cream and white pepper powder while stirring             
• Allow the chicken to cook in the creamy sauce till the sauce turns thick and evenly coats the chicken           
• Add the cheddar cheese and parsely and stir                    
• Allow the sauce to thicken and transfer to a plate to be served with a potato mash and sauteed vegetables                 

 

 

 

 

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