Day 8: Lazy Guide To Christmas Lunch

Christmas lunch is one of those things that has become synonymous with stress. The endless hours of prep, endless hours of cooking and endless hours of cleaning up after- it’s a long day. But it doesn’t have to be. I’m a firm believer that good food doesn’t need to be a herculean task. You can have simple meals that are packed with flavour and make your tastebuds sing.

I don’t know about you guys, but the last thing I want to do this year is go through the stress of Christmas lunch. I want the food but in half the time. Which is why I came up with the ‘Lazy Guide to Christmas Lunch’ menu! We’re still keeping it Christmas-y but cutting down the steps and cooking hours. From sesame sausage rolls (takes only 15 minutes!) to a roasted lemon and herbed baby chicken, we’re not skimping on the seasoning this year.

Sesame Sausage rolls

You will need:

1. Store-bought puff pastry
2. Sausage meat
3. Sesame seeds

How to make:

1. Roll out the pastry and add in sausage meat.
2. Season further with some mixed herbs and salt!
3. Seal at the edges with a fork and glaze over with a beaten egg adding sesame seeds on top!
4. Put in the oven for about 10-15 minutes.

Jollof rice

You will need:

1. 1 large red bell pepper
2. 1 can of peeled plum tomato
3. 2 garlic cloves
4. 2 scotch bonnets ( depending on how spicy you want it!)
5. 1 large onion or 2 medium onions
6. Rice

How to make:

1. Dice onions up and fry with tomato purée, add in thyme as well as all-purpose seasoning, let this fry for about 1 minute.
2. Blend your bell pepper and plum tomatoes.
3. Add pepper sauce in the blender and let it cook for about 20mins – 30mins on medium heat.
4. Wash your preferred type of rice and add into the pot with minimum amount of water ( to prevent it being mushy!) and then cover this up with foil!
5. Turn occasionally and season to preferred taste and let it cook until the rice is soft!

Roasted lemon and herbed chicken.

You will need:

1. Baby chicken
2. Herbs: parsley, coriander, dill, rosemary, thyme
3. Lemon zest
4. Garlic
5. Butter

How to make:

1. Mix fresh herbs ( parsley, coriander, dill, rosemary, thyme), with melted butter, lemon zest and fresh garlic.
2. Pour this all over the chicken as well as inside and underneath the skin. You can add other seasonings of choice e.g black pepper!
3. Roast till well done!

Roasted potatoes

You will need:

1. Potatoes
2. Garlic
3. Herbs – Thyme, rosemary, dill.

How to make:

1. Boil potatoes till soft .. but not too soft!
2. Toss the potatoes in herbs, olive oil and garlic and roast to your preference!

Gizdodo

You will need:

1. Plantain (I prefer soft plantain)
2. Gizzard
3. 1 large onions
4. 2 garlic cloves
5. 2 scotch bonnet
6. 1 large red pepper
7. 1 can of peeled plum tomato
8. Thyme

How to make:

1. Clean gizzard thoroughly
2. Put gizzard into the pot and add onions and season with salt and thyme. Add water to cover the gizzard and boil for about 30 minutes/until tender.
3. Heat up a pan with oil and fry gizzard until brown. Set aside when done.
4. Peel and cut your plantain into cube pieces and fry until golden brown. Set aside when done.
5. In another pan, put 3 tablespoons of oil and stir-fry onions until they’re translucent and soft.
6. Blend your garlic, scotch bonnet and red pepper and plum tomatoes.
7. Add your blended sauce to the pan with onions and leave to simmer. Add seasoning (salt and thyme).
8. Finally, add the Gizzards, the Fried Plantains, and the diced bell peppers. Stir together thoroughly, leave to simmer for 3 to 5 minutes and you are done.