Christmas ‘Food’ Books
Including: recipe books, make your own gift books, Christmas food history etc etc
This isn’t a ‘you must buy’ nor ‘ a perfect gift’ book list, rather some of my favourite books for this time of year. A few have pencilled notes, when I’ve tweaked a recipe, or substituted an ingredient, there might be a bookmark or paper clip to remind myself which was the recipe I really loved in this particular book. I’m sure you have similar ways of keeping notes in your own favourite books.
I have started with Thanksgiving, I know it’s held on the fourth Thursday of November, it’s not technically Christmas nor is it a British celebration, however Turkey and Cranberries are key ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal, and many of the puddings, vegetables and drinks are perfect, when entertaining during those busy weeks before December 25th.
Advent is the four weeks before Christmas (Sunday - Saturday). Don’t forget that the first Sunday of Advent is Stir-Up Sunday, time to make your Christmas Pudding, or ensure that you have added an especially delicious one to your Christmas order. (There are always useful reviews of cakes, puddings, mincemeats etc in the Sunday supplements at this time of year!)
I believe that taking a little time for yourself during the build up to Christmas is important, for me it’s a daily walk with the dog, making simple decorations, meeting friends for coffee. The following books are full of simple ‘to do’ recipes, Christmas decor and homemade gifts. Don’t exhaust yourself, but take a look, and if not this year, pop a bookmark in for next.
These kitchen gift books are inspiring, I sometimes give friends and family bakes, preserves, jars of mincemeat, mini Christmas puds and very occasionally homemade liqueurs, such as the Sloe Gin I made earlier this year in France!
Even though I won’t make many of these gifts, I find the photographs of presentation, wrapping and ribbons incredibly useful, for presenting jams, biscuits etc that I’ve bought.
I love reading about Christmas traditions, many of which are tied to seasonal food!
The following books speak for themselves: Irish, Scandinavian, French, American and Australian Christmas recipes, plus drinks, recipes from childhood stories, plus gardens and food shops!
There are many celebrity/ TV cooks with Christmas recipe books, these are my favourites and are used on repeat throughout November and December.
I have a new book, which I think will be quickly added to my frequently used Christmas recipe books, I love planning ahead, and “effortless festive entertaining” really appeals.
Finally my original Delia Smith Christmas recipe book (from 1990), complete with scribbled notes, lists and timings for the Turkey!
NB. Some of these books are no longer published, but could be found in online second hand book shops, or perhaps in your local Oxfam bookshop.
Do let me know your favourite Christmas ‘food’ books.
I’ll be back next week with some more of my much loved Christmas books.
Jude xx
Wow so many. The American ones look fun from a cultural perspective but I rarely cook from step by step books these days. We cook Christmas dinner collectively now so everyone brings fresh ideas and no one follows a written recipe.
Wow that's quite a collection! I have the Annie Rigg one and also Nigella/white Delia. We always follow the high temperature faster turkey roast method favoured by Nigella, the Delia timings take forever. Hot and fast works for us! A temperature probe is a game changer for big birds though!
I was looking the other day at my grandmother's tatty paperback copy of Fanny Cradock "Coping With Christmas", it's not a volume I recommend cooking from, it's a fairly ghastly book with stuffy prose and intimidating menus. However the state of the book indicates that my grandmother adored it!