Breakfast and Side Dishes Ideas for Christmas

Grilled Grapefruit with Juniper Berries and Honey Recipe (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian)

Ingredients (serve 4)

2 grapefruits

8 teaspoons runny honey

1 teaspoon juniper berries


1. Preheat the oven grill.

Cut the grapefruits in halves. Using a small sharp knife, cut out the grapefruit sections in the halves. Pour evenly 2 teaspoons of honey on each grapefruit half. With the back of a small spoon, spread the honey and help it run a bit between the grapefruit sections.


2. Crush the juniper berries. To do so, I use a pestle and mortar. If you do not own one, place the juniper berries in a small sandwich bag, crush them with a rolling pin. Then, chop them finely on a cutting board.

Sprinkle the crushed juniper berries evenly over each grapefruit half.


3. Place the grapefruit halves on a baking tray. Grill for 5 minutes.


Serve in individual bowls for breakfast. The taste of the juniper berries is tart but nicely balanced with the sweetness of the honey. This dish is really refreshing to have first thing in the morning, especially on Christmas day when you know there will be a lot of rich food enjoyed throughout the day.

Chestnuts with Prosciutto Ham and Fresh Rosemary Recipe (Gluten Free)

Ingredients (serve 4)

1 tablespoon butter

25g prosciutto ham (shredded)

250g chestnuts (peeled and boiled; I buy them precooked and vacuum-packed in small portions)

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary


Place a small frying pan over a medium heat. Add one tablespoon of butter. When the pan is hot and the butter has melted (it should be bubbling lightly), add the slivers of prosciutto ham and fry them up for 1 or two minutes. Add in the chestnuts and cook for 5 minutes, stirring every now and then. Sprinkle the rosemary at the end and stir well, cooking for an extra 30 seconds.


Serve as an accompaniment to roasted poultry on Christmas day. Note i do not add any extra seasoning to this dish as the prosciutto ham is salty enough.

Mushrooms with Cognac and Cream Recipe (Gluten Free)

Ingredients (serve 4)

1 tablespoon butter

1 finely chopped shallot

250g sliced mushrooms

20ml cognac (or brandy)

50ml cream

salt, pepper


1. Place a medium size frying pan over a medium heat and add one tablespoon of butter. When the pan is hot and the butter is bubbling nicely, add the mushroom slices and the finely chopped shallot. Toss them around for 5 minutes, then add the cognac. Stir well and cook for 3 minutes.


2. Add the cream, stir and cook for another 5 minutes until the liquid has reduced and there are only 1 or 2 tablespoons left of it.

Season with salt and pepper.


Serve as a side dish on Christmas day (or anytime you feel like it when mushrooms are in season, it is really lovely served on a nice piece of toasted crusty bread).

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Leek, Carrot and Goats Cheese Tartlets