CHRISTMAS DAY RECIPES – SIMON WOOD

CHRISTMAS DAY RECIPES – SIMON WOOD

The Turkey

Ingredients

  • Carrots 
  • Celery 
  • Garlic
  • 4 Large Potato’s
  • 2 Large Onions
  • Clementine
  • Streaky Bacon
  • Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

The Method

  • If you have stuffed the Turkey you will need to remember to Weigh it again and calculate the cooking time (about 20 minutes per 500g/1lb). 20 minutes per pound
  • Cook your Bird from room temperature not straight from the fridge
  • Cover with Tinfoil
  • Preheat your oven to maximum and as soon as you put your turkey in turn it down to 180c, 350f, Gas 4. 
  • Baste your turkey regularly this will keep the meat succulent.
  • I Like to add Sage, Rosemary & Thyme and a halved clementine inside the cavity of my turkey
  • Always use the giblets in your gravy
  • Cover the breast of your bird with smoked streaky bacon and butter this will keep it from drying out.
  • I like to sit my Turkey on some roughly cut vegetables, just to keep it raised from the bottom of the roasting tin and allow the hot air to circulate and cook the bird evenly
  • Remove the tin foil for the last 50 minutes basting regularly still.
Peppers & Spring Onions

    The Cranberry Sauce

    • Juice of 2 clementine’s
    • 400g cranberries
    • 200g light muscovado sugar
    • 100ml port

    The Method

    • Add all the ingredients into a saucepan and cook on a medium heat until sticky and delicious, store in sterilised jars in the fridge or give away as Christmas gifts!

    The Gravy – Ingredients

    • 1kg Chicken Thighs or Wings or a mixture of the two
    • Olive oil
    • 4 large carrots
    • 2 Sticks of Celery
    • 3/4 Bay leaves
    • 1 Sprig of Rosemary
    • 1 Teaspoon fresh Thyme
    • 1 Teaspoon fresh Sage
    • 3 White onions halved
    • 2 Maris piper potatoes quartered
    • 1 Tablespoon of your cranberry sauce
    • Celery Salt (1 teaspoon)
    • Ground Black Pepper
    • 3 Pints of Chicken Stock
    • 4 tablespoons cornflour

    The Gravy – Method

    • Set the Stock and cornflour Aside
    • Add the remaining ingredients into a roasting tin and cover with olive oil
    • Roast until golden and the meat is easy to pinch away from the bone, approximately 75 minutes at 180c, 350f, Gas 4.
    • Remove from the oven and shred the meat into the roasting tin and use a fork or a masher to crush all the vegetables
    • Place over a flame or on the hob
    • Add 4 table spoons of the cornflour and mix well cooking the flour out
    • Add in the stock slowly stirring well and crushing all the flavour out of the vegetables and the chicken.
    • Cook until thickened and dark brown in colour.
    • Check Seasoning and strain through a colander and then again through a sieve to get a refined finish to your sauce

    The Stuffing – Ingredients

    • 750g pork mince
    • 25g sage, chopped
    • 100g dried cranberries, roughly chopped
    • 75g Chestnuts, roughly chopped
    • 2 apples, grated
    • 2 onions, grated
    • Salt and Black Pepper

    The Stuffing – Method

    • In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients
    • You can use to stuff the neck of the turkey, or put in an ovenproof dish, cover and bake at gas 4, 180ºC, for 1 hour until golden.

    roast potatoes by Simon Wood

    Perfect Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

     

    Ingredients

    2kg Red Skin Potatoes

    2 Bulbs of Garlic (Halved)

    1 Bunch of Fresh Rosemary

    1 Bunch of Fresh Thyme

    500g Goose Fat

    Maldon Sea Salt

    Black Pepper

     

     

     

    Method

    Preheat the oven to 190ºC/375ºF/gas 5.

    Peel the potatoes, cutting any larger ones so they’re all the same size

    Wash the potatoes in cold water to get rid of any extra starch and place a large saucepan on to boil, season with a good amount of sea-salt.

    Add your goose fat into a large roasting tray, the biggest you have. This is to make sure there’s plenty of room for the potatoes and heat to circulate, heat for 10 minutes while your pan of water comes to the boil

     

    Now, add the potatoes to the water and parboil for 10 minutes, you want the outside soft and the inside with a little firmness remaining once ready drain in a colander and leave to steam dry for 5 minutes.

     

    After 3 minutes give the colander a shake to help fluff up the potatoes so they look ‘Snowy’ – this will help to help them to crisp up later on.

     

    Carefully remove your roasting tray with the hot fat from the oven and place on a suitable surface, add in half of your herbs and a bulb of your halved garlic and put it back in the oven for 5 minutes. After five minutes remove the herbs and garlic. You now have a nicely flavoured oil that will make your potatoes taste amazing! 

     

    If you leave the herbs in for the whole time it takes to roast your potatoes, they will burn and taste acrid! We will add in the rest of the herbs with 10 minutes to go to really lift the flavour!

     

    Tip the potatoes into your roasting tray and turn with tongs slowly coating them in the flavoured hot fat, take care not to break them before seasoning well with the sea salt and black pepper.

     

    Roast for 45 minutes, before turning each one to coat in more fat and ensure even colouring, now add in your remaining herbs and garlic and roast for a further 10-20 minutes depending on how much colour you want on them

     

    Once golden and crisp drain any excess oil on a little kitchen paper 

     

    As a chef I find Its always best to do a little test at this point and eat one just to check the seasoning, sometimes I must do this three or four times, just to be sure!

    Peppers & Spring Onions

    Pomegranate and Balsamic braised red cabbage

    • ½ Red Cabbage, Shredded
    • 75ml Balsamic vinegar…. The best you have!
    • 250ml Pomegranate Juice
    • 1 Pomegranate 
    • 1 Star Anise
    • Salt and Pepper
    • Olive Oil

    The Method

    • Shred the cabbage and add into a large pan with a little olive oil
    • On a medium Heat stir until coated and starting to soften
    • Add in 250ml Pomegranate juice and the star anise
    • Cook until softened 
    • Add in 75 ml Balsamic (Adjust to taste)
    • Cook down until golden and sticky
    • Sprinkle with Pomegranate Pearls and serve
      Simon Wood
      Written by

       KEEP UP TO DATE WITH BROOD:

      * indicates required
      Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Brood Magazine:
      You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.
      We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

      Related Articles

      Russell Kane & Lindsey Kane

      “IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT COUPLES IN SOCIETY DO, IF THEY AGREE TO ROLLING AROUND IN THEIR HIPPY BED, LETTING THEIR BABY SUCK ON THEIR T**S UNTIL YOU’RE BOTH 60, IF THAT’S WHAT YOU WANT – NO ONE SHOULD JUDGE ANYONE, I JUST THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO AGREE ON HOW YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR KID BEFOREHAND.”

      read more
      SALLY ROWE’S TOP MAKEUP CHRISTMAS PICKS

      SALLY ROWE’S TOP MAKEUP CHRISTMAS PICKS

      SALLY ROWE’S TOP MAKEUP CHRISTMAS PICKS

      Whilst we are amidst the countdown to Christmas Day and our  present lists are ever growing. We put ourselves under more pressure each year to buy for our nearest and dearest……and in my case, also the window cleaner, postman etc etc!! 

      Is Christmas time all about giving to others? 

      Well I believe it’s the perfect time to pop yourself on that Xmas gift list and treat yourself too…….you count too right! So spoil yourself. 

      There’s nothing like a little indulgence at this magical time of year. 

      Whether you want to splash out or be savvy, look no further as here, there is something for everyone 

      Here are my 5 top beauty must haves this season that will inspire you and have you feeling fabulous and a festive sensation.

      Skincare: Splurge

      Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream £47

      https://www.spacenk.com/uk/skincare/moisturisers/day-moisturiser/protini-polypeptide-cream-UK200021928.

      ____

      Skincare: Dupe

      e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Face Cream £12

      https://www.superdrug.com/skin/sun-care/face-sun-cream/elf-holy-hydration-face-cream-broad-spectrum-spf-30-50g/p/823819?gclsrc=aw.

      ___

      Foundation: Splurge

      Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Hollywood Filter £36

      https://www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/product/hollywood-flawless-filter-shade-5-5-tan?

      ___

      Foundation: Dupe

      e.l.f Halo Glow Liquid Filter £14

      Halo Glow Liquid Filter Complexion Booster

      https://elfcosmetics.co.uk/halo-glow-liquid-filter/82116.html

      ___

      Bronzer: Splurge

      Chanel Bronzing cream £43

      https://www.chanel.com/gb/makeup/p/185390/les-beiges-bronzing-cream-cream-gel-bronzer-for-a-healthy-sun-kissed-glow/?

      ___

      Bronzer: Dupe

       

      W7 Bronze Chic Bronzing Balm £5.95

      https://www.w7makeup.co.uk/products/bronze-chic-bronzing-balm

      ___

      Brow: Splurge

      Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz £25

      https://www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com/brow-wiz/brow-wiz.html

      ___

      Brow: Dupe

      NYX Micro Brow Pencil £8

      https://www.nyxcosmetics.co.uk/eyes/brows/micro-brow-pencil/NYX_181.html

      ___

      Highlighter: Splurge

      MAC soft & gentle mineralise skin finish £29

      Mineralize Skinfinish | MAC Cosmetics – Official Site

      ___

      Hightlighter: Dupe

      e.l.f  baked highlighter £5

      https://www.elfcosmetics.co.uk/

      Sally Rowe MUA

      Sally is the go to MUA for many stars, from red carpet events, magazine shoots, weddings and family occasions, and it’s easy to see why, with over 10 years experience in the industry her impressive portfolio speaks for itself. 

      Quick and Easy Blow-dry Tips

      Nicola Wood is a leading entrepreneur, hair professional, and founder of Hair Made Easi, the trailblazing brand synonymous with innovation of high-quality hair tools and products.

      HOME ORGANISATION WITH KIM MINCHIN

      Kim Minchin Dunn © BROODMAGAZINEKIM MINCHIN DUNN ON HOME ORGANISATIONAfter a hectic Summer and a house of chaos, finally we are back into some sort of routine, the kids are back to school and it’s time we got the house in shipshape ready for winter.There’s no better...

      STYLE WITH KIM MINCHIN

      Kim Minchin Dunn © TOM PITFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY "...I opened the wardrobe and I was overwhelmed with what I was going to wear!" KIM MINCHIN DUNN INTRODUCES OUR STYLE SECTION...Hey everyone! My name is Kim and I’m owner of Kim Minchin Lifestyle, bringing you exclusively...

      why it’s still important to wear an spf

      How important is it to still wear an SPF?There goes the sun! But does that mean your SPFs are discarded till the sunshine reappears next year? Or you get chance of that winter vacation in the sunshine? If you're not wearing an spf everyday on your face, even when...

      The ultimate (and actually achievable) skincare routine

      If the thought of ‘another thing’ to do sends you into entrepreneurial/parental spasms – you’re not alone. Typically when I see the words ‘Ultimate Skincare Routine’ I think, ‘great, here’s something else to make me feel like I’m not on top of everything’ – am I right?
      My advice is different. I promise.
      And to put your mind at rest I’m a professionally qualified skin aesthetician who works with an award winning micro-biologist recognised as one of the world’s leading experts in the science of reversing ageing.

      THE 10 MINUTE MAKEOVER FOR BUSY MUM’S

      Mornings can be the most chaotic and super rushy part of the day, what with getting the kids up, fed, dressed and ready for school. All kicking and screaming. Also bags packed with numerous fillings such as packed lunch, PE kits and unfinished homework! Already your...

      Introducing our new Beauty Columnist, Mum and Celebrity Make Up Artist, Sally Rowe

      Introducing our new Beauty Columnist, Mum and Celebrity Make Up Artist, Sally Rowe!Sally is the go to MUA for many stars, from red carpet events, magazine shoots, weddings and family occasions, and it’s easy to see why, with over 10 years experience in the industry...

      Summer makeup trends: By Sally Rowe

      SUMMER MAKE UP TRENDS Wanting to wake up your complexion from dull to full of colour? Here’s a view to an ultra glossy look with flushed cheeks that is a hit this summer. Mid tone blush is a new trending technique for blurring together your blush and under-eye makeup...

      SALLY ROWE’S TOP MAKEUP CHRISTMAS PICKS

      SALLY ROWE'S TOP MAKEUP CHRISTMAS PICKS Whilst we are amidst the countdown to Christmas Day and our  present lists are ever growing. We put ourselves under more pressure each year to buy for our nearest and dearest……and in my case, also the window cleaner, postman etc...

      Incorporating Hair Care Into A Bedtime Routine For Kids

      Incorporating Hair Care Into A Bedtime Routine For Kids As a parent, incorporating hair care into your children's bedtime routine can be a game-changer for maintaining healthy hair and ensuring a stress-free start to the day. Establishing this habit  promotes good...

      How important is skin prep to improve makeup application?

      Sally is the go to MUA for many stars, from red carpet events, magazine shoots, weddings and family occasions, and it’s easy to see why, with over 10 years experience in the industry her impressive portfolio speaks for itself. How important is skin prep to improve...

      Halloween Style for the kids

      With Halloween right around the corner, we asked our kids style editors Holly & Emma from Georgie Belle’s Boutique to provide their favourite Halloween finds for your little one’s.

      Introducing The Eyewear Stylist

      When you are suddenly told that you need glasses, it can be quite a big deal and feel quite a daunting process. When your career or running your business means attending lots of networking events and dinners etc, and it’s so important to feel comfortable in these situations. As our appearance is one of the biggest factors that can determine whether we feel confident or not, we asked The Eyewear Stylist aka Daniel Scott, on how we should approach buying eyewear and the psychological impact it can have on you.

       KEEP UP TO DATE WITH BROOD:

      * indicates required
      Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Brood Magazine:
      You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.
      We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

      Related Articles

      LOSS AFTER LOVE; CHALLENGES DURING THE FESTIVE PERIOD

      LOSS AFTER LOVE; CHALLENGES DURING THE FESTIVE PERIOD

      LOSS AFTER LOVE; CHALLENGES DURING THE FESTIVE PERIOD

      Loss and grief is something that every single human being will experience at some time in their lives, and so we are never alone in this, however, despite this, it can still feel like a very lonely and overwhelming experience when we are in it. Grief can often feel more difficult at certain times of the year, for example, when there is often more talk around family and loved ones getting together to celebrate, and those that are now missing from our lives are remembered, we may find ourselves feeling sad and overwhelmed, wishing they were still with us.

      There is no quick fix where grief or loss are concerned, and there isn’t an answer or a strategy on how to cope, but there are certainly some things that we can consider at the most challenging of times.

      Patience is one of the main gifts you can give yourself during these times. I have often heard people saying things like, ‘I thought it would feel easier by now’ or ‘It’s been so long I should be feeling different by now’ and many other versions of this. There are no ‘should’ and ‘should not’s’ when it comes to grief. There also isn’t a timeline. It takes as long as it takes for the intensity of feelings to ease, and these feelings can also come in waves, particularly as I already mentioned, around the festive season, birthdays and anniversaries and so on.

      Be kind and compassionate with yourself. Grieving doesn’t have a start and an end date, we are not waiting until it just disappears and then we won’t feel loss or pain anymore. Therefore when it does feel particularly overwhelming, notice how you talk to yourself, avoid judgment and criticism and show yourself love and compassion, especially at the times you need it most.

      Understanding and awareness is also key. There are various stages of grief we can go through such as denial, anger, depression, but these are not linear stages and so you may find that you dip in and out of the stages, and this is perfectly OK. It can be comforting to know that everything you are experiencing is normal and to be expected. Although grief is something we all experience, how we deal with it and manage it doesn’t need to be the same for everyone. Follow your own gut instinct and give yourself permission to grieve YOUR way.

      If you are facing the festive season and feeling like you are dreading this time and want it to be over with quickly due to feeling the sad loss of a loved one, then it’s important to consider lowering your expectations of yourself and your feelings. It’s OK if you don’t want to socialise much. It’s Ok if you don’t want to decorate your home. It’s OK if you want to spend time alone. Equally it’s also OK if you still want to celebrate and make the most of the time you have with friends and family, it’s OK if you want to decorate your home more than ever before!  We are still OK to enjoy our time and socialise when we are grieving too. We can experience the whole range of emotions in equal measures, and there is no need to feel guilty about that as feelings are not fixed, they ebb and flow naturally, and the less we resist all of them, the more peace we will feel in our loves day to day.

      Overall, it’s really about you seeking comfort in people and things or ways that make you feel more at ease, and that will vary for everyone. From myself and the team at Brood, for anyone feeling grief, sadness or loss, we are sending you lots of love. I wanted to finish with a little quote that gave me comfort when I lost very special people in my life over the years.

      “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”. Alfred Lord Tennyson

      Article by Sarie Taylor

      For further help, contact Sarie Taylor direct: sarie@sarietaylor.com or you can call Samaritans on 116 123

      Sarie Taylor Counsellor and Psychotherapist
      Sarie Taylor resident pyscotherapist

      What others think of us is actually none of our business…

      What others think of us is actually none of our business…This is something that I continually remind myself and my clients of. We can spend so much of our time and energy on worrying about other peoples opinions, as well as the general opinions and expectations of...

      Imposter Syndrome – Do you feel like an imposter?

      Imposter syndrome and the anxiety surrounding that feeling of ‘Imposter Syndrome’ is something I still hear a lot of people talk about in one way or another and I I have a view on it that may differ to others, but I would love you to hear me out and see if I can help you adjust your own perspective of what it means to be an imposter!

      IS GUILT A GIVEN WHEN YOU ARE A WORKING PARENT?

      When I started to really see that my feelings of guilt came from the thoughts I had about myself, I started to see guilt as a wonderful alarm and indicator for me to actually lower my expectations of myself, relieve the pressure and be much more patient and compassionate with myself! It is simply and indicator that our thoughts have gone off in an unhelpful direction.

      Sarie Taylor: Overwhelm

      Feeling overwhelmed? Our resident Psychotherapist gives us some tips to reduce our stress and anxiety when it comes to a parent juggling work and family life.

      SARIE TAYLOR: Procrastination; does it stop us from getting where we want to be?

      PROCRASTINATION; DOES IT STOP US GETTING WHERE WE WANT TO BE?It's September and routines are changing again, a time to find our feet with a new schedule again, and maybe get all the things done we haven’t managed to do during the summer. Easy? Or is it? Maybe you find...

      THE POWER OF 10 MINUTE WORKOUT

      The Power of 10 Minute workouts Should busy mums be embracing shorter workouts to get better results? Mum and personal trainer Jenny Francis-Townson investigates WE know the power of regular exercise in transforming our physical and mental wellbeing. But when you...

      4 Simple ways to reset when you’re feeling burnt out and overwhelmed

      ASHLEIGH GUTHRIE. IMAGE © TOM PITFIELD PHOTOGRAPHYONE OF MY FAVOURITE PIECES OF ADVICE FOR CREATIVE PRODUCTIVITY IS, “IF YOUR MIND IS EMPTY READ, IF YOUR MIND IS FULL WRITE.”  KNOWING WHEN TO REST AND WHEN TO ACT THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT CYCLES OF THE MONTH AND...

      DO YOU NEED TO INCREASE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE, OR ARE YOU PERFECTLY IMPERFECT?

      Need to increase your self esteem and confidence, or are you perfectly imperfect?Confidence and self esteem are talked about so much, and thats usually because we are looking for an answer on how to improve ours! If you look up what these actually mean you will find...

      Ashleigh Guthrie

      ASHLEIGH GUTHRIE. IMAGE © TOM PITFIELD PHOTOGRAPHYAshleigh Guthrie is a spiritual mentor, women’s circle facilitator, sound healer and trauma informed child hypnotherapist – trained by teachers from different traditions all over the world. Ashleigh is BROOD Magazine’s...

      HOW TO MANAGE THE CLOCKS SPRINGING FORWARD

      Twice a year when the clocks change, we are inundated with questions and parents asking what they can do. Although the spring clock change can play havoc with our bodies (an increase in heart attacks and strokes the day after this happen) but it can really help you if you have a little one who likes waking before 5am!

      Sarah Jayne Dunn & Jon Smith: On Creating more time with your family outdoors

      It can be hard to find balance in life when we are so busy with all the other things that we have to juggle. One thing that has stood out since starting BROOD, is just how many of us are constantly looking for more ways to try switch off and spend quality time as a family. It’s also clear that we all want to incorporate ways to exercise into our weekly routine and encourage our kids to be active and outdoors too, but it can be hard to fit it in when there is only so many hours in the day! So, with a new sport activity sweeping exciting across the UK – Padel – we just had to find out what all the hype was all about, and to see if it was an activity that would fit into family life.

      Recharge Through Nature’s Medicine: Cacao Ceremonies

      Cacao ceremonies have gained popularity for their potential physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental benefits, all of which can contribute to a deeper connection with oneself, enhanced creative flow, self-expression, and self-acceptance. Here’s a breakdown of these benefits:

      Sarie Taylor – Coach and mum of two

      SUCCESSFUL MUMPRENEUR SARIE TAYLOR, IS A PARENT TO A 15 YEAR OLD WITH ANOTHER ON THE WAY

      SURVIVING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS BY SARIE TAYLOR

      Sarie Taylor shares her advice for surviving the summer holiday juggle!

      How children can enrich your spiritual path

      How children can enrich your spiritual path.The beginning of my spiritual journey was one spent in solitude, I loved creating my own temple space within my living room, I meditated within the forest at the back of my home, I travelled globally...

      REMIND YOURSELF WHAT MATTERS BY ASHLEIGH GUTHRIE

      © BROOD MAGAZINERemind Yourself of What Matters As I sit here and breathe deeply, sipping my tea, eating a morning pastry, I am reminded of the importance of taking time to pause. Questions swirling through my mind, “Who are you beneath the fast paced ‘doingness’ of...

      SARIE TAYLOR: READER’s QUESTIONS

      READER'S QUESTIONSThis month we wanted to answer a couple of reader's questions. Thank you for your submissions and we hope you find these answers helpful! How to be empathic to someone who is going through high anxiety without it triggering you or making you feel too...

      Improve your Mood with your Food

      October, the month of spookiness and seasonal changes. I can’t tell you how many time I’ve discussed the weather with clients over the past month. A strange sentence to begin with, I know, but bear with… There’s been a definite shift in temperature and autumnal days…

       KEEP UP TO DATE WITH BROOD:

      * indicates required
      Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Brood Magazine:
      You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.
      We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

      Related Articles

      BLUEBERRY DUMP CAKE & FIZZY FESTIVE FRUIT COCKTAIL CUBES BY KATE DEVINE

      BLUEBERRY DUMP CAKE & FIZZY FESTIVE FRUIT COCKTAIL CUBES BY KATE DEVINE

      BLUEBERRY DUMP CAKE & FIZZY FESTIVE FRUIT COCKTAIL CUBES BY KATE DEVINE

      I love everything about this time of year. The preparing, the celebrating, the socialising, the woolly jumpers, the cosy nights in watching ‘I’m a celebrity’ religiously for 3 whole weeks! What’s not to love?! Talking of preparing, this the week I’ve been thinking of wholesome, family foods to share with you all to enjoy throughout the festive season. Instead of a main meal, I’m thinking more about a warm, hearty dessert filled with sweet fruits with a crunchy, crumbly texture which is perfect to share with friends and family during the festive season. Introducing the Blueberry Dump Cake. Not the most enticing name for a dessert, I know, but it’s an original American recipe which comes from the concept of this cake – dump and bake! Quite literally you ‘dump’ the ingredients into a baking dish and bake. It’s as simple as that! I use the term ‘cake’ loosely, it’s more of a crumble or cobbler to me but let’s roll with it! It’s pretty simple and take around 40mins to make and bake so you’ll be done in the kitchen in no time.

       

      Here’s the recipe, give it a try, you won’t be disappointed!

       

      BLUEBERRY DUMP CAKE – Serves 8

       

      You will need:

       

      • A medium sized oven proof dish
      • A mixing bowl

       

      Ingredients:

       

      • 3 cups of frozen blueberries – you can use fresh, just reduce the cooking time by 5-10mins
      • 1/2 cup of sugar free sweetener
      • 1 tbsp lemon juice
      • 1/4 tsp Xanthan gum
      • 1/2 cup coconut flour
      • 1/4 cup almond flour
      • 1 tsp baking powder
      • 1 egg
      • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
      • 1/4 tsp salt
      • 1/2 cup melted butter/coconut oil
      • Handful pecan nuts – crushed (optional)

       

      Method:

       

      • Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees C or 375 degrees F
      • Place the blueberries, sweetener, lemon juice, xanthan gum in a bowl and mix well, coating all the blueberries
      • Once mixed, empty the blueberries into the ovenproof dish
      • In a clean mixing bowl, add the coconut flour, almond flour, baking powder, egg, cinnamon and salt and mix together
      • Layer the mixture over the blueberries
      • Drizzle the melted butter/coconut oil evenly over the top of the mixture
      • Sprinkle the crushed pecan nuts over the top if using
      • Place in the oven for approximately 30 mins or until the top is golden brown
      • Enjoy with piping hot custard or a scoop of your favourite ice cream.
      Festive Fizzy Ice Cubes

      Something else we all enjoy during December is raising a glass with friends and family, below you will find my ‘fizzy fruit cocktail cubes’ recipe which are perfect for both the adults and the children to enjoy!

       

      FIZZY FESTIVE FRUIT COCKTAIL CUBES

       

      You will need:

       

      • Ice cube trays – one regular square shaped tray and one star shaped tray if possible
      • Clear tumbler glasses – to get the full effect of the colourful fruit

       

      Ingredients:

       

      • Fizzy water/lemonade/champagne
      • Blueberries
      • Raspberries
      • Cranberry juice

       

      Method:

       

      • Prepare the fruit ice the night before you plan on making these drinks – start by filling the star tray with the blueberries and raspberries and fill each mould with regular water and place in the freezer
      • Do the same with the cranberry juice in the square shaped ice tray and place in the freezer
      • Once frozen, place the cranberry cube(s) in the glasses first, then a fruit star, then the sparkling water/champagne to get the nice colour gradient in the glass
      • Be careful not to get the fizzy water drinks mixed up with the champagne drinks!
      • Raise your glass and enjoy!

       

      And as usual, don’t forget to share your creations with us @broodmagazine and @thedevinelife and feel free to drop us a DM with anything you might want help with or any nutrition related questions you might have. I’m more than happy to help!

      Shayne Ward and Sophie Austin
      written BY KATE DEVINE

       KEEP UP TO DATE WITH BROOD:

      * indicates required
      Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Brood Magazine:
      You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.
      We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

      Related Articles

      Imposter Syndrome – Do you feel like an imposter?

      Imposter syndrome and the anxiety surrounding that feeling of ‘Imposter Syndrome’ is something I still hear a lot of people talk about in one way or another and I I have a view on it that may differ to others, but I would love you to hear me out and see if I can help you adjust your own perspective of what it means to be an imposter!

      read more

      HOW TO CO-PARENT AT CHRISTMAS

      HOW TO CO-PARENT AT CHRISTMAS

      HOW TO CO-PARENT A HAPPY CHRISTMAS

      I love Christmas as much as my children do.  When I was younger I used to get so excited on Christmas Eve I used to give myself stomach ache and my mum would get cross with me and have to calm me down. Now I’m a parent myself I don’t get the Christmas Eve stomach-ache (now it’s usually the anxiety of how many presents there is left to wrap) but there’s an added layer of excitement to Christmas when you get to experience those feelings all over again with your own children.

      But what if your divorced or separated and have to share the holidays with your ex-partner? It can be a tricky one, Christmas is an emotional time for many of us and navigating it so everyone’s happy can be a juggle.

      In my research for this piece, I spoke to parents whose experiences were positive and negative.

       Suzanne told me she finds Christmas a depressing and lonely time as she’s completely alienated at Christmas. ‘I’m not the residential parent of my girls so I find Christmas awful as my girls prefer to be with their dad. I find it difficult as we don’t share the holidays. Fortunately, I have a lovely supportive boyfriend who I will be spending it with and pray that one day that things will get better’

      Laura Naser, family lawyer and author of ‘The family lawyers guide to separation and divorce – How to get what you both want’ advises planning early and considering the lone parent in your discussions Although the focus is on the children, and from a legal perspective the decisions about arrangements for children are always based on ‘what is in the child’s best interests’, I commonly see solo parents having concerns about the Christmas period in particular because if it means the children are with their other parent, it often also results in that parent spending time alone. Depending on when the handover is between the parents, it is frequently an issue for the other parent to not have enough time to travel anywhere to be with family or friends because they need to stay local to do a handover, meaning they not only spend Christmas without their child, but they may also spend it without their extended family or friends.

      Alice on the other hand has a great relationship with her ex and even though they both now have new partners they still spend Christmas morning together for the sake of their son Jesse and split the rest of the day. “We make it work even though we have different partners, they have to accept this is how Christmas is for us. They can join in or do their own thing, but this has worked well for us for 11 years, so we stick to it”

      I separated from my husband some years back and while I dreaded the first Christmas we weren’t a full family unit it’s always been something that’s turned out happily. We are lucky that we get on as friends well, (arguably better than we ever did as husband and wife) so my situation is unique in that we are still close enough that we do things together as a family and my ex-husband  still likes to spend Christmas day with me, my children and my extended family. We did it once successfully and it sort of set a precedent for all future Christmas’s. I feel torn somewhat in that my parents still traditionally host Christmas dinner (I’m a good cook but my Christmas dinner doesn’t come close to my mum and dads, and they aren’t ready to pass the baton on yet thank goodness) I can’t invite my ex-husband without them offering first but care about him enough that I won’t leave him alone either. The children understandably just want everyone together and we always put them at the forefront of our decisions. We split the rest of the time between us equally and alternate bigger days like Boxing Day and New Year etc.

      If you don’t get on with your ex-partner communication is key in any decisions about co-parenting but especially for the holiday season. Kids don’t want the burden of choice around who to spend it with as they will feel guilty about whichever parent is left alone so its preferable if you can sit down amicably and do it together as early as you can. Make sure to stay as busy as possible if you are the lone parent to distract yourself from overthinking about what you are missing out on. Have a photo of the children in front of you while you discuss it together can serve as a visual aid in making them the priority in your decision making. Keep going back to the same question, what would make the children the happiest? and you will be at a great starting point for negotiation.

      For the parent who won’t be able to be there for wake up and present opening arrange a separate time for opening gifts, not forgetting grandparents and extended family as well who may still want to see them.

      Consider a fake Christmas where you do all the festivities again on a different day meaning no one is left out and the children benefit from two separate days of celebrations.

      If you do feel completely alone consider reaching out to like-minded individuals if not friends in a similar situation, then online apps such a Frolo a single parent community where you can meet up and make friends with local people in your area.

      Laura Naser says the most common arrangement for Christmas is to alternate each year and to remember that whatever you argue for this year you will experience the flip side the following year, so try to visualise what both sides of the schedule would look like for you.

      Laura says it’s a rare few in my situation that have a joint Christmas and gifting joint presents but if you can manage it, it’s bound to be something that your children will benefit from.

      Natalie Ferrigno is a writer, health coach and single parent of two boys.

      Brood Shop
      Sarie Taylor resident pyscotherapist

      Recharge Through Nature’s Medicine: Cacao Ceremonies

      Cacao ceremonies have gained popularity for their potential physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental benefits, all of which can contribute to a deeper connection with oneself, enhanced creative flow, self-expression, and self-acceptance. Here’s a breakdown of these benefits:

      SARIE TAYLOR: READER’s QUESTIONS

      READER'S QUESTIONSThis month we wanted to answer a couple of reader's questions. Thank you for your submissions and we hope you find these answers helpful! How to be empathic to someone who is going through high anxiety without it triggering you or making you feel too...

      THE POWER OF 10 MINUTE WORKOUT

      The Power of 10 Minute workouts Should busy mums be embracing shorter workouts to get better results? Mum and personal trainer Jenny Francis-Townson investigates WE know the power of regular exercise in transforming our physical and mental wellbeing. But when you...

      Imposter Syndrome – Do you feel like an imposter?

      Imposter syndrome and the anxiety surrounding that feeling of ‘Imposter Syndrome’ is something I still hear a lot of people talk about in one way or another and I I have a view on it that may differ to others, but I would love you to hear me out and see if I can help you adjust your own perspective of what it means to be an imposter!

      SURVIVING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS BY SARIE TAYLOR

      Sarie Taylor shares her advice for surviving the summer holiday juggle!

      Improve your Mood with your Food

      October, the month of spookiness and seasonal changes. I can’t tell you how many time I’ve discussed the weather with clients over the past month. A strange sentence to begin with, I know, but bear with… There’s been a definite shift in temperature and autumnal days…

      HOW TO MANAGE THE CLOCKS SPRINGING FORWARD

      Twice a year when the clocks change, we are inundated with questions and parents asking what they can do. Although the spring clock change can play havoc with our bodies (an increase in heart attacks and strokes the day after this happen) but it can really help you if you have a little one who likes waking before 5am!

      REMIND YOURSELF WHAT MATTERS BY ASHLEIGH GUTHRIE

      © BROOD MAGAZINERemind Yourself of What Matters As I sit here and breathe deeply, sipping my tea, eating a morning pastry, I am reminded of the importance of taking time to pause. Questions swirling through my mind, “Who are you beneath the fast paced ‘doingness’ of...

      IS GUILT A GIVEN WHEN YOU ARE A WORKING PARENT?

      When I started to really see that my feelings of guilt came from the thoughts I had about myself, I started to see guilt as a wonderful alarm and indicator for me to actually lower my expectations of myself, relieve the pressure and be much more patient and compassionate with myself! It is simply and indicator that our thoughts have gone off in an unhelpful direction.

      Sarie Taylor: Overwhelm

      Feeling overwhelmed? Our resident Psychotherapist gives us some tips to reduce our stress and anxiety when it comes to a parent juggling work and family life.

      Sarah Jayne Dunn & Jon Smith: On Creating more time with your family outdoors

      It can be hard to find balance in life when we are so busy with all the other things that we have to juggle. One thing that has stood out since starting BROOD, is just how many of us are constantly looking for more ways to try switch off and spend quality time as a family. It’s also clear that we all want to incorporate ways to exercise into our weekly routine and encourage our kids to be active and outdoors too, but it can be hard to fit it in when there is only so many hours in the day! So, with a new sport activity sweeping exciting across the UK – Padel – we just had to find out what all the hype was all about, and to see if it was an activity that would fit into family life.

      SARIE TAYLOR: Procrastination; does it stop us from getting where we want to be?

      PROCRASTINATION; DOES IT STOP US GETTING WHERE WE WANT TO BE?It's September and routines are changing again, a time to find our feet with a new schedule again, and maybe get all the things done we haven’t managed to do during the summer. Easy? Or is it? Maybe you find...

      4 Simple ways to reset when you’re feeling burnt out and overwhelmed

      ASHLEIGH GUTHRIE. IMAGE © TOM PITFIELD PHOTOGRAPHYONE OF MY FAVOURITE PIECES OF ADVICE FOR CREATIVE PRODUCTIVITY IS, “IF YOUR MIND IS EMPTY READ, IF YOUR MIND IS FULL WRITE.”  KNOWING WHEN TO REST AND WHEN TO ACT THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT CYCLES OF THE MONTH AND...

      What others think of us is actually none of our business…

      What others think of us is actually none of our business…This is something that I continually remind myself and my clients of. We can spend so much of our time and energy on worrying about other peoples opinions, as well as the general opinions and expectations of...

      DO YOU NEED TO INCREASE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE, OR ARE YOU PERFECTLY IMPERFECT?

      Need to increase your self esteem and confidence, or are you perfectly imperfect?Confidence and self esteem are talked about so much, and thats usually because we are looking for an answer on how to improve ours! If you look up what these actually mean you will find...

      Sarie Taylor – Coach and mum of two

      SUCCESSFUL MUMPRENEUR SARIE TAYLOR, IS A PARENT TO A 15 YEAR OLD WITH ANOTHER ON THE WAY

      How children can enrich your spiritual path

      How children can enrich your spiritual path.The beginning of my spiritual journey was one spent in solitude, I loved creating my own temple space within my living room, I meditated within the forest at the back of my home, I travelled globally...

      Ashleigh Guthrie

      ASHLEIGH GUTHRIE. IMAGE © TOM PITFIELD PHOTOGRAPHYAshleigh Guthrie is a spiritual mentor, women’s circle facilitator, sound healer and trauma informed child hypnotherapist – trained by teachers from different traditions all over the world. Ashleigh is BROOD Magazine’s...

       KEEP UP TO DATE WITH BROOD:

      * indicates required
      Please select all the ways you would like to hear from Brood Magazine:
      You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.
      We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

      Related Articles