Merry Christmas!

Festive Dinners, Vegan vs. Traditional

Image created by Cilla’s Mum

Greetings, dear friend,

I hope you are well and eagerly anticipating the holiday season.

Mum has finished her shopping frenzy, and I've noticed an abundance of wrapped packages tucked away in the cupboard. Curiously, I asked her about their contents, but she feigned ignorance, jesting that perhaps Santa, short on storage space, had stashed them here. Such nonsense! Does she really think I was born yesterday?

But let's move on from that - I can't wait for Christmas Eve to arrive! And it’s not just because of toys; it's also for the delicious food!

Christmas Menus

Yesterday, Mum retrieved her extensive collection of recipes, and I was immediately on hand to offer my assistance. I enthusiastically scattered the recipes across her desk to begin the selection process. Firstly, I set aside all those labelled "vegan." Then, I subtly nudged forward the recipes featuring luscious roast turkey, salmon, and fish adorned with enticing photos. My efforts were helpful.

I must admit, orchestrating Christmas dinners poses a real challenge for Mum. Part of the family adheres to a vegan diet, while the others are staunch advocates of a traditional French dinner.

What exactly is a traditional Christmas dinner in France?

Traditional Christmas Dinner is a grand and elaborate affair reflecting the country's rich culinary heritage. The menu varies by region but typically includes several courses showcasing luxurious and festive ingredients. Here's a general outline of what you might find at a Christmas table:

• Apéritifs and Amuse-Bouches: The meal often starts with apéritifs (pre-dinner drinks) like Champagne or Kir Royale, accompanied by small appetisers or "amuse-bouches." These might include canapés, olives, nuts, or small pastries.

  1.      Entrées (Starters):

  Foie Gras: A luxurious paté made from duck or goose liver, often served with toast or a sweet and tangy condiment, like fig jam or onion confit.

  Seafood: Oysters and smoked salmon are popular choices. In coastal regions, seafood plays a more prominent role.

  Coquilles Saint-Jacques: Scallops are another festive favourite, often in a creamy sauce.

  2.      Plats Principaux (Main Courses):

  Roast Meat: Turkey, goose, or capon (a castrated rooster known for its tender meat) are common. These are often stuffed and served with chestnuts, fruits, or other stuffing.

  3.      Side Dishes: Chestnuts, gratin dauphinois (a rich potato dish with cream), roasted vegetables, and various seasonal accompaniments.

  4.      Salade et Fromage (Salad and Cheese): A light salad followed by a selection of French cheeses, like Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, and Comté, served with cream and cherry jam aside. Salad and cheese platters are usually served at the same time.

  5.      Desserts:

  Bûche de Noël (Yule Log): A traditional dessert made from sponge cake and buttercream, fashioned to look like a log, symbolising the burning of the Yule log.

  Historically, the Yule log was a large wooden log burned in the fireplace

  as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas Eve celebrations in Europe. The custom was widely observed in countries with cold winters, symbolising light, warmth, and safety. The log would be chosen carefully, often from a special type of wood, and burned with ceremony. As the tradition waned with modern heating, the dessert version emerged as a culinary homage to the log once burned in the fireplace.

  The Bûche de Noël is typically decorated to look like a bark-covered log, often complete with mushroom-shaped meringue or marzipan decorations, and sometimes dusted with powdered sugar to resemble snow. It's a festive dessert that is delicious and carries significant historical and cultural symbolism, celebrating heritage, family, and the warmth of the holiday season.

  

  Yule Log

  Other sweet treats include fruit tarts, macarons, and chocolates.

  6.      Boissons (Beverages): Wine is an essential part of the meal, with choices often reflecting the dishes served. A sweet dessert wine or liqueur might accompany the dessert.

  7.      Café et Digestifs: Coffee served with digestifs (after-dinner drinks) like cognac or Armagnac to conclude the meal.

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Now, let's talk about a perfect vegan dinner. Here's a menu that balances traditional holiday flavours with vegan ingredients, ensuring a delightful culinary experience for everyone:

1.      Appetisers

Vegan Cheese Platter: A selection of artisanal vegan cheeses, such as cashew brie and almond feta, served with crackers, fresh grapes, and figs.

Stuffed Mushrooms: Button mushrooms stuffed with a savoury blend of breadcrumbs, herbs, and finely chopped nuts.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: Served with raw vegetables and pita bread for dipping.

2.      Soup

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup: A rich and velvety soup made with butternut squash, coconut milk, and a hint of nutmeg.

3.      Salad

Winter Salad: A mix of arugula and baby spinach, pomegranate seeds, orange segments, toasted walnuts, and a balsamic vinaigrette.

4.      Main Course

Lentil Walnut Loaf: A hearty and flavorful loaf made from lentils, walnuts, and a blend of savoury herbs, served with a rich mushroom gravy.

Stuffed Acorn Squash: Roasted acorn squash halves filled with a savoury mix of quinoa, cranberries, and pecans.

Vegan Nuts Roast is a stunning vegan centrepiece that combines roast vegetables with mushrooms, grains, hazelnuts and fresh herbs.

5.      Side Dishes

Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts: Crispy Brussels sprouts roasted with garlic and a drizzle of olive oil.

Herb-infused Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes made with almond milk, garlic or nutmeg and fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme.

Maple Glazed Carrots: Carrots glazed with maple syrup and a touch of cinnamon, roasted.

6.      Desserts

Vegan Chocolate Tart: A rich and creamy chocolate tart with almond crust.

Pumpkin Spice Cake: A moist and spiced pumpkin cake topped with a vegan cream cheese frosting.

Vegan Chocolate Cookies or Vegan Banana Bread

7.      Beverages

Mulled Wine (Non-Alcoholic): A warm and spiced beverage made with non-alcoholic red wine, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.

Sparkling Apple Cider: A festive and bubbly drink perfect for toasting.

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Dinner at Mum’s - Mum is aiming for simplicity this Christmas and wants to refrain from creating overly complicated dinners. Moreover, she's tasked with preparing two distinct menus: traditional and vegan.

For the traditional dinner, she's chosen to start with a platter of smoked salmon, served with cream and lemon. This will be followed by a main course of stuffed roasted capon, served alongside mushrooms, chestnuts, and roasted baby potatoes. The traditional menu will conclude with a selection of fine cheeses accompanied by cherry jam, cream, and a fresh green salad. The dessert will be a vegan version of the traditional yule log or chocolate tart to cater to both preferences.

Mum plans to begin with a light starter of baby spinach, avocado, and grapefruit salad for our vegan guests. The main course will feature her much-loved vegan nuts roast, accompanied by chestnuts, roasted baby potatoes, and a medley of green vegetables. Dessert will be shared with both groups – a choice between a vegan yule log or a vegan chocolate tart.

Now, which dinner would you prefer? Would you like the traditional feast with the stuffed roasted capon or the vegan choice with the nuts roast? You're warmly invited to join us regardless of your preference.

I asked Mum to post a few of her preferred recipes on the blog next week, and she promised to do it.

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Merry Christmas

As we enter the holiday season, I want to extend my heartfelt wishes to you and your loved ones, wishing you a Christmas filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments.

As we bid farewell to this year and welcome a new one, let's hold onto the hope and promise it brings. Thank you for being such an integral part of this journey, for every word read, every story shared, and every moment of connection. Your support has been my greatest gift, and I am deeply grateful for your readership.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! May the New Year bring you joy, prosperity, and countless reasons to smile.

Your loving writer,

Freddy