Hello!
Post-lockdown life is busy. I’ve been to restaurants! Cafes! And Sydney twice in one month. I’m also watching too many shows and trying to read three books at once. It’s a lot 🤪
One of my favourite things about this time of year is scrolling through all the Christmas gift guides. There’s one at the end of this edition — but first, here are the best recipes I’ve made recently...
The Recipes
My new favourite smoothie is Jenny Rosenstrach’s vegan strawberry-peanut butter shake. I had no idea strawberries and PB went together, but they really do. I made mine with oat milk — I’ve also tried it with dairy milk but it overpowers the flavour of the fruit.
I’ve been making cold brew in a jar using this recipe from NYT Cooking. It’s the nicest, cleanest tasting iced coffee I’ve ever made at home. I drink mine over ice without milk because the flavour is so gentle. I’ve also been served a delicious cold brew with a slice of orange, which makes it taste a little chocolatey.
If you’re into Christmas baking or just have a lot of leftover egg whites, I really loved this amaretti recipe with giant chocolate buttons. They’re made with almond meal, egg whites and sugar so might even be gluten-free. I’m not ready to let go of WFH afternoon tea, so made a batch one night after work.
Boozy apple cake & the best Christmas ham
An apple cake doesn’t feel particularly summery, but the weather has been so wintry and wet, it kind of suits! This is a very chunky apple cake made with rum and four types of apples (I went with Fuji, Rosy Glow, Granny Smith and Pink Lady!). It’s definitely more apple than cake, and it’s a nice one to make by hand because the texture of the batter is so silky.
It’s quite boozy and extra nice with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Make it for an afternoon when your family is coming over or just because it’s Sunday and you know it’ll go nicely with Monday night’s episode of Succession.
Lining up to buy a Christmas ham is one of my favourite end-of-year rituals. Last year I used Julia Ostro’s spiced maple-glazed ham recipe with peach relish and was extremely happy with my efforts. I might double the peach relish this year.
My favourite thing to do with leftover ham? Make ham and cheese toasties using a recipe from Barrio, an excellent Canberra cafe. I even buy the exact same brand of cheese because I am a nerd 🤓
Other favourite Christmas recipes from last year include subtly sweet soft white dinner rolls, Hetty’s potato salad with caramelised leeks (easily made vegan), and a trusty pavlova I loved so much I made it twice. My four-year-old nephew said it “tasted like biscuits and nice and soft!”.
And a mini Christmas gift guide!
Here are 10 food-themed suggestions for you:
📖 Laurie Colwin’s Home Cooking has been re-released and it’s such a gentle and funny read that will transport you back in time ($35).
🍫 Incredible chocolate-dipped honeycomb from the South Coast of NSW ($12). Definitely buy a packet for yourself while you’re at it.
👨🏻🍳 Give a cookbook they definitely won’t have (also a great one for any NYT Cooking fans). Eric Kim’s first cookbook Korean American is out in March 2022 and I’m so looking forward to it ($55).
🥐 Send a voucher for some next-level croissants in Manly, Sydney. The chocolate croissants are made with chocolate pastry! Order a box with some coffee to take away and eat them by the sea (one of the highlights of a recent Sydney visit).
☕ A smiley diner-style mug for morning brews ($30).
🥖 A pressie you can send via email — Mary Grace Bread’s Christmas Loaf e-zine ($10) looks festive and fun for the sourdough baker in your life (beginners included).
🌶️ A jar of Lulu’s Remedy, an addictive chilli oil to put on everything, from eggs on toast to steamed greens ($12). If you live in Canberra, find it at Ainslie IGA and Paranormal Wines.
😃 A slightly silly suggestion — my brother’s have gotten me onto Scrub Daddy for washing up. It’s cute and very practical ($3-$5, at some Coles).
🎄 For team panettone fans, I’m desperate to try this one from PiOik Bakery in Sydney ($50), which you can only buy in store.
🥭 My uncle once gave me an entire tray of mangoes for Christmas. I ate some with friends with yoghurt and golden syrup before a Boxing Day swim and took the rest home to enjoy with Panettone and coffee. Some might’ve even ended up in a mangomisu.
It’s also 🍪 Cookie Week at NYT Cooking 🍪 and the recipe videos are the best thing to watch while putting up our mini tree and wrapping presents.
Thank you for reading this year. Have a safe and lovely Christmas break and catch you in 2022!
Sonya