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‘Tis the season to be jolly’ – and all the jollier with those scrumptious food we’ve been waiting for all year long to eat! Here is a must-try list in melody to the ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’..
On the first day of Christmas…
Candy canes & Peppermint chocolates
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Let us initiate the happiest time of the year with some cane or shepherd’s rod-shaped, peppermint flavoured confectionery or enjoy cacao-based sweets mixed with a refreshing taste of mint!
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Creative tip: You can use the candy canes as Christmas ornaments too.
On the 2nd day…
Cookies & Biscuits
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Yums to the tums, add a dash of sweetness with some sprinkled, chocolate chip angel or snickerdoodle cookies. Have a bite of traditional Scottish shortbread. And to Asianise things a bit, you have a selection of butter-based, cornflaked, and nut-filled biscuits to choose from.
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On the 3rd day…
Mashed potato & French beans
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Some like it hot, some like it cold; some like it creamy, while others in chunks of gold. Whether it be egg salad, chilli-mixed or just basic mashed potato and gravy, it’s a staple you’ll find in nearly every home. Complete with a side of seasoned boiled greens, it adds a healthy crunch to the meal.
Note: The mashed potato dish varies to how a home would have it cooked. Afterall, you say potato, I say potahto.
On the 4th day…
Roasted Chicken or Turkey-big-birdy
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The highlight of the meal and the definition of Christmas food for many is generally roasted chicken or turkey. It takes up most of the prep and dedication. So brace yourself for the beautiful clinking of cutlery as they slice through the succulent meat; or the mouth-watering display as the juices trickle down and flood the platter.
5 GINGER MENNN!!!
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Of course we mean Gingy’s “less successful” friends and not Rupert Grint, Ed Sheeran, Chuckie Finster, or even Chuck Norris….though exception is reserved for His Royal Highness, the Duke of Sussex.
On the 6th day…
Gingerbread house & Eggnog
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Man needs a home, and a home is what man shall have – introducing the gingerbread house. However, unlike its inhabitants, gingerbread houses are meant to be admired from a distance. Covered in assorted confectionery and icing sugar, they come in many shapes and sizes. And with the view and festive music in the background, delight in a frothy milk and egg beverage.
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Note: Gingerbread houses are edible and take days to build. Usually all the hard work is happily digested only at the end of the celebration. As for eggnog, it is a beverage of European and American homes, so it would not be surprising if you’ve never seen or tasted it in Malaysia.
On the 7th day…
Yule log
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Like a Swiss roll, the dessert is a type of roulade. Basically made of sponge cake and chocolate cream, it is decorated and coloured resembling a Yule log. Grooves and even real mushrooms are sometimes added to give it that real-life effect.
Nugget: According to tradition, Yule logs are cut down every year for the hearth on Christmas day.
On the 8th day…
Shepherd’s pie
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A baked dish with a crispy top layer and enveloping soft layer of pastry rich with red meat, mashed potato and gravy centre. Paired with mixed peas and carrots (if served), they make up the vegetable side.
Food for thought: The red meat filling used is lamb or mutton. It is similar to the cottage pie that has a beef filling instead.
On the 9th day…
Brownies and Sugee cake
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To sweet teeth and fudge because who voluntarily rejects a brownie? Warm sugar-coated chocolate temptations cut into perfect squares are enough to take you to paradise. Sugee cake on the other hand, keeps you grounded and less hyperactive.
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Nugget: Sugee cake is as special desert, baked and originated from Eurasian homes.
On the 10th day…
Fruit salad, Pudding & Tarts
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On to lighter bites, you can opt for the slightly healthier fruit salad (or a fruit cocktail) or dig into cold puddings and jellies of different flavours and fillings. Look out for jam tarts if you want something more solid.
Remember: Fruit salads for Malaysian homes usually mean taking on fruit-dipping in mayonnaise or condensed milk.
On the 11th day…
Wine or Sparkling juice
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Ahh…. you’ve out-lavished yourself with the menu this year and now it’s time to give your stomach a rest. A glass of red wine is common for the festivity though some prefer to have sparkling juice as a child-friendly beverage.
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Note: During open houses, many people serve syrup juice or carbonated beverages instead as it is more accommodating and definitely cheaper.
On the 12th day…
Fruit cake
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The most anticipated of all and the richest – the traditional fruit cake. The preparation process takes up to almost a year. The dried fruits are soaked in wine or spirits for months before the actual baking come Christmas day. Nuts are added to the cake mix as well.
Note: The soaking process is optional not to mention tedious. There are many that bake alcohol-free fruit cake.
May this menu fill your appetite this season with joy and happiness. Merry Christmas to you!
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