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It’s that time of year again: the decorations are up, the present-buying is in full swing and the air is fragrant with the seasonal smells of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
But does your kitchen smell the same?
Read on for five ways to jazz up your Christmas cooking and baking, with these Christmas spices from Seasoned Pioneer taking centre stage.
1. Top tipples
If you’re mulling over your drinks choices for the festive period…why not mull some wine instead? That heady blend of cinnamon, allspice, cloves, cassia and orange peel pairs perfectly with a bottle of red, simmered gently to create an aromatic, warming drink that’s perfect for both festive gatherings and quiet evenings at home.
Not a red wine fan? Mulled white wine seems to be a big trend this year – or mull some cider instead!
2. Festive desserts
Of course, the Christmas pudding is one highly spiced sweet treat of the season, but a warming mixed spice blend can be used to add depth to a whole host of Christmas desserts and bakes. Try using a mixed spice blend (nutmeg, cinnamon, coriander, allspice, mace and cloves) to make your own mincemeat for mince pies, or to create spiced brownies.
A Christmas-spiced latte or hot chocolate will go down well on a chilly evening, or why not add it to buttercream as a topping for cupcakes, or use it to spice cookies to leave out for Santa?
3. Tasty turkey
I know some people find turkey a bit bland…but it’s all down to how you cook it! I swear by smearing butter underneath the skin before cooking: it not only helps to keep the bird moist, it also adds flavour.
And you know what? It’ll add even more flavour if you season the butter beforehand, too.
It’s up to you which flavour combinations you choose – some people like to use fresh herbs, others go for spices. This year, why not try a lemon and pepper seasoning to breathe new life into the bird?
4. Don’t forget your roasties!
I don’t know about you, but roast potatoes are one of my favourite parts of Christmas dinner (well, any roast dinner, in fact). I tend to make extra to snack on them afterwards, too!
But how do you season yours?
Simply salting them before roasting is often the way for me – but if you want them to really shine, why not finish them by tossing them in some herbed sea salt when they’re fresh out the oven for a delicious flavour and great visual appeal?
5. The Boxing Day curry
Are you a household that throws your leftover meat from Christmas dinner into a curry the next day? If so, there are a few things you’ll want to consider.
If you’re cooking for a family with young children you’ll want a curry that’s flavourful but not too spicy. If, like me, you’re all cooked out after preparing the main Christmas feast, you’ll also want to make the curry preparation as simple as possible.
Choose a ready-made spice blend that’s aromatic without being too overpowering, add your meat and anything else you want to include, chuck in your liquid and you can leave it to simmer away while you continue to enjoy the festivities. And the best bit? Any leftover curry can be portioned and frozen so you’ve got easy meals to enjoy over the next few weeks.
Win a festive spice collection from Seasoned Pioneers!
The good news is that you don’t need to buy dozens of jars of individual spices to add seasonal flavour to your festive food and drink. The team over at Seasoned Pioneers has created a Christmas Spices Essential Collection that includes everything you need to make these dishes – and more!
Priced at £14.99, this set includes:
- Wild Herb Cooking Sea Salt
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- Mixed (Pudding) Spice
- North Indian Style Curry Powder
- Traditional Mulled Wine Spice Drawstring
I’ve teamed up with Seasoned Pioneers to give away this Christmas spice collection to three lucky winners – head over to my Instagram to enter before midday on Sunday, December 15th when the giveaway closes. Good luck!