If you decide to make things at home to put in to gourmet food gift baskets and Christmas hampers you should make sure that the ingredients are fresh and prepared in the best possible way

If you are preparing that perfect Christmas cake try adding one dessert spoon of sherry or rum for every pound of fruit you are going to use and soak the fruit overnight, before heating the oven place a container in the bottom of the oven containing water, this helps to create a warm moist place which will lead to the perfect moist Christmas cake. When you remove the cake, do so in a room without a draught and leave to cool before first wrapping the cake in greaseproof paper then wrapping in tinfoil and store in a cool dry place

Adding coins to your Christmas pudding is a traditional and fun addition to anyone's eating experience on that special day. It a good idea to tell warn your guests or you could be calling the ambulance or paying for some expensive dental treatment. You will get the best results by adding the coins when the pudding has been cooked. As many coins have been subjected to rather nasty bacteria from people's fingers, it is a good idea to boil them for a few minutes in a pan. Finally, spread them evenly throughout the cake to avoid the disappointment of your guests

The central part of any Christmas dinner is the turkey. You would like it to be cooked to perfection with a chrispy golden skin. After many hours of cooking the last thing you need is a disappointment. It is a good idea to let your turkey stand for fifteen minutes before carving and to cut the dark meat before the light. I was informed that the easiest way to remove the wings, legs and thighs is to cut between the joints with a sharp knife where the bones meet.

Tips to help cook the perfect Christmas turkey

Prepare your stuffing in advance and let it cool slowly before use

Always make sure that when you stuff your turkey you only stuff the neck cavity

To add some extra flavor to your turkey, cut and slice a few onions and place them in the baking tray and position your turkey on top. This will avoid your bird to go soggy and will add some additional nuances

Placing sliced oranges or lemons within the cavity of your bird before adding the stuffing will add some different flavors.

You can season turkey skin with spices, salt and pepper mixed with butter of a light cooking oil to really absorb the flavors in to the meat.

Place strips of streaky smoked bacon over the turkey about half way through the cooking time.

Eggnog is a very popular drink at Christmas time and for many Christmas just would not be Christmas without having a bowlful of eggnog to warm and welcome visitors. Eggnog can be homemade and if so care should be used to warm, the eggs to 160f before use to eliminate bacteria or it can be store bought in cartons and you can add your own special touches when tipped into the bowl. Traditional eggnog contains alcohol but now can be bought in non-alcoholic forms which are suitable for children and for those who are health conscious then believe or not eggnog now comes totally egg free.

A non-alcoholic eggnog recipe for all the family. Take a dozen eggs and separate the yolks from the whites, beat the whites and add " a cup of sugar beating until the whites start to peak, take the yolks and beat until creamed, slowly adding 1 cup of sugar as you beat. Take one quart of cream and beat until stiff, then mix the eggs and the cream and add a little vanilla for flavouring. Pour the eggnog into containers and place into a refrigerator for at least one day, when needed shake the containers well and tip into a large serving bowl adding nutmeg to the top to taste.

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