Christmas is coming at the end of the month. Where are you going to have a big meal? Although it is said that eating Christmas set meals out saves trouble and effort, in all likelihood you will be ripped off. The cost of a meal can be hundreds or even thousands per person. Compared with Popular restaurants are divided into two rounds, which is as rushed as eating out for a family reunion dinner, so if you don’t mind, why not try making Christmas meals at home this year! The recipes shared below include a salad, a staple dish, and a dish that can be upgraded to a staple dish As the main course, there is also a super quick but beautiful dessert, I hope everyone will like it.
1. Waldorf Salad (for 1-2 people)
Waldorf salad is definitely one of the classics of American salads. It is said to be the first of its kind at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The first version only contained apples and celery. The reason why I chose this salad, which is more suitable for spring and summer, in my Christmas recipes is because it tastes refreshing, crispy and sweet, and it is very quick to prepare, making it perfect for busy moments when there is a big meal to prepare.
This salad has since evolved into many versions, including ones with whipped cream, raisins, raisins, smoked chicken, and other nuts, fruits and vegetables. You can customize it according to your own needs. I like the combination, but the prerequisite is that it must have the iron triangle of apples, celery and walnuts.
Ingredients: Two stalks of celery, 1 apple (preferably a green apple, if not, a crispy variety is OK), a small handful of roasted or fried walnuts, half a lemon, 2 tbsp of mayonnaise, 5g light cream (optional), appropriate amount of salt and freshly ground black pepper
Step 1: Peel, core and dice the apples, squeeze in lemon juice and stir to prevent oxidation and discoloration. Wash the celery and peel off the outer rough fibers and cut it into small sections; (those who are worried about eating celery raw can blanch it for a few seconds, then run it through a cold river, drain the water and then use it for salad dressing)
Step 2: Mix mayonnaise, light cream, salt and black pepper, and taste it before tossing the salad. (The addition of light cream can make the taste richer and adjust the concentration of mayonnaise. A little bit is enough. Adding too much will make the sauce thin and unable to cover the ingredients)
Step 3: Finally, mix the walnuts, apples, celery, and sauce and serve. (If you want to be beautiful, don’t mix some of the walnuts into the salad dressing and use them as a garnish at the end)
Note:
1. Don’t add too much sauce, otherwise it will cover up the fragrance of celery and the fruity taste of apples.
2. If you are losing weight, you can use low-calorie mayonnaise or Yogurt instead. (The editor’s personal favorite is Yogurt)
3. If there are no lemons, soaking the diced apples in water can also prevent discoloration, but adding lemon juice will add a fresh fragrance.
4. Add lettuce and chicken and it can be eaten as a dinner menu, which is nutritious and less burdensome.
2. White wine shrimp and tomato spaghetti (for 1 person)
Similar to the salad above, this tomato pasta is also fresh and sweet, sour and refreshing, making you look forward to the next main dish. Because the shrimp heads are fried in oil, and the tomatoes and shrimp meat are enhanced with white wine, they are very fresh and have a beautiful and attractive red oil sheen. Another thing to remind everyone is that you must add a small chili pepper, the taste will be sublimated immediately!
Ingredients: 80g pasta, 8-10 fresh shrimps, 8-10 small tomatoes, 2-3 cloves of garlic, 1 small red pepper, about 1/3 cup of white wine (if the soup is not enough , you can add an appropriate amount of water or wine), an appropriate amount of salt, an appropriate amount of black pepper, an appropriate amount of olive oil, and a few slices of parsley or basil
Step 1: Wash the small tomatoes, remove the stems and cut them in half, quarter the larger ones; remove the heads, backs and devein of the shrimps; slice the garlic cloves; remove the seeds from the red peppers and cut into rings.
Step 2: Pour the shrimp heads into hot olive oil and fry over medium-low heat until the oil turns red. Cook the pasta on the other side according to the instructions on the package, usually 8-10 minutes. (Remember to add salt to the water!)
Step 3: Pour the garlic and chili into the shrimp head oil and stir-fry until fragrant, then add the shrimp meat, sprinkle with salt, and then pour in white wine to remove the fishy smell and enhance the flavor.
Step 4: Pour in tomatoes and sauté over medium-low heat until soft and juicy.
Step 5: Sprinkle with salt and black pepper. If you have basil or Italian mixed spices at home, you can also add a little more flavor.
Step 6: Pour the cooked spaghetti into the shrimp and tomatoes, stir well to combine and place on the plate. Finally, garnish with pasta or basil.
Note: Try to use fresh shrimp. If you don’t dare to process it, you can put it directly in the refrigerator to freeze and then take it out for processing.
3. Red wine braised chicken (serves 2-3 people)
At Christmas, of course we have to eat chicken, but the turkey is big and the meat is not tender enough. In addition, not everyone has an oven, so the editor decided to change the traditional Christmas roast turkey into this French-style red wine braised chicken, this is a good choice if you don’t have time to make the above staple food, because the soup has a rich flavor and is very suitable with rice or pasta.
Ingredients: 6-8 pieces of chicken thighs, half an onion, about half a bottle of red wine, 200ml chicken broth, 10 white mushrooms, one carrot, 4 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 rosemary sprig, two bay leaves, A small piece of butter or an appropriate amount of olive oil, 6 slices of bacon, an appropriate amount of starch, an appropriate amount of black pepper, an appropriate amount of salt
Step 1: Marinate the chicken legs with salt and black pepper for at least 6 hours (it is recommended to marinate one night in advance), slice the bacon, wash and drain the white mushrooms and quarter them, chop the onions and dice the carrots. (Preferably use white onions or pearl onions if available)
Step 2: Dry fry the bacon without adding oil until the oil turns slightly brown, then set aside.
Step 3: Coat the chicken with a thin layer of starch, then fry it in bacon oil until both sides are browned.
Step 4: Put butter or olive oil in a large pot, heat and melt, then add mushrooms, radishes and onions and stir-fry until almost cooked.
Step 5: Pour in red wine, chicken broth and tomato paste.
Step 6: Place the fried chicken, then place bacon and rosemary on top of the chicken, then add two bay leaves, bring to a boil and then cook over medium-low heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove rosemary and bay leaves halfway through.
Note: This dish looks like there are a lot of ingredients, but it is not difficult to make. The stewing period can be used to prepare other dishes. The soup is very fragrant and the chicken is smooth and tender, absorbing the aroma of red wine, but there are Two points must be noted.
1. Be cautious when choosing red wine. The most orthodox one is to use red wine produced in France, but for friends who are not particularly demanding, you can also use ordinary red wine, but do not choose one with a bitter or sour taste, otherwise it will seriously affect the soup. The taste of juiceroad.
2. If you use a non-stick pan when stewing, please stir the ingredients more during the process to avoid sinking to the bottom and sticking to the pan.
4. Coconut-flavored fresh fruit cheese cup (for 1 person)
This next dessert does not need to be prepared in advance. It can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes after dinner, which just gives the guests some time to rest. There are only 4 steps. It is a no-bake type and can be used as a fancy version of rice. However, it is recommended not to make a large cup. After all, cheese and cream are used. If you eat more, you will get tired.
Ingredients: A few strawberries, a few blueberries, two pieces of butter biscuits, 2 tbsp of mascarpone cheese, 1 tbsp of coconut milk (you can use coconut milk, but reduce it to 0.5 tbsp), 2 tbsp of rum, whipping cream 80g, 15g sugar, a few mint leaves (for decoration)
Step 1: Wash the strawberries, remove the stems and slice them (not too thin), then pour in rum and 2g of sugar to pickle the strawberries for 5-10 minutes.
Step 2: Whip the whipped cream until it is barely fluid and can leave scratches. Add the remaining 13g of sugar in three batches during the process (if the strawberries used are very sweet, the amount of sugar in the whipped cream can be reduced appropriately. , if you have vanilla extract, add a drop in).
Step 3: Mix mascarpone cheese with coconut milk or coconut milk. The latter does not need to be used too much. It makes the cheese easier to stir but still thick, and then proceed with the previous step. Cut in the whipped cream and mix. (Do not use stirring techniques, as this will defoam the whipping cream.) It should be very thick after mixing.
Step 4: Cut out 4 to 6 small pieces of butter biscuits and place them on the bottom of the container, then add a layer of strawberries, then fill with a layer of cheese, and then repeat until the container is full and add a few more blueberries. , you can also add mango.
Note: The only difficulty with this dessert is to whip the whipped cream, because it takes 1-2 minutes to beat by hand, and your hands will be a little tired. Also, don’t overbeat. If the whipped cream is whipped, it will stand up. , if it doesn't fall off when it is turned upside down, it proves that it has been completely beaten. If you beat it again, it will become thin and grainy.
