4 Ingredients Christmas Contents
Introduction
The Night Before Christmas
Magic Reindeer Dust
Reindeer’s Favorite Dip
Reindeer Treats
Brunch
Almond Bread
Bacon & Avocado Bruschetta
Breakfast Trifles
Chocolate-Filled Crepes
Croque Monsieur
Eggs with Smoked Salmon Fingers
Grilled Fruit & Ricotta Stacks
Ham & Egg Quiches
Pancakes with Caramelized Banana
Nibbles
Asparagus Wraps
Baked Brie with Macadamia Praline
Cheese Board
Cucumber Ribbons & Shrimp
Decadent Salmon Stacks
Oyster Trio
Ricotta & Prosciutto Pies
Salmon Ceviche
Shrimp with a Trio of Dipping Sauces
Skewer Duo
Sweet Fig & Gorgonzola Pizza
Tasting Plate
Soups & Salads
Arugula & Roquefort Soup
Carrot & Cilantro Soup
Crispy Salmon Salad
Entertainer’s Timbale
Garden Salad
Mango, Avocado & Shrimp Salad
Ruby Jeweled Lobster Salad
Mains
Apple, Camembert & Potato Terrine
Citrus-Glazed Ham
Feta-Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Guard of Honor
Maple & Pepper–Glazed Turkey
Roast Pork & Crispy Crackling
Rosemary & Chicken Arrows
Salmon Terrine
Sweet Squash Galette
Wild Mushroom Beef Wellington
Sides
A Plate of Asparagus
Golden Roast Potatoes
Green Beans with Garlic & Lemony Butter
Honey-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Sauce & Gravy
Seasoned Roast Vegetables
Desserts
Caramel Ice Cream
Chocolate Tofu Mousse
Christmas Fruitcake
Custards
Fruitcake–Ice Cream Terrine
Garden Bed Pavlova
Mincemeat Meringue Tarts
Plum Pudding
Roly-Poly Trifle
Rum & Raisin Decadence
White Christmas Cheesecake
Sweet Treats
A Box of Chocolates
Angel Wings
Cherry Baubles
Choc-Cherry Fudge
Chocolate-Coated Orange Candy
Christmas Glitter Pops
Cinnamon Stars
Coconut Truffles
Lime & Macadamia Fudge
Marzipan Marbles
Peppermint Crème Checkers
Reindeer Bark
Rocky Road Bonbons
Salted Caramel Charms
Drinks
Christmas Candy Martini
Festive Fruit Fizz
Mango Daiquiri
Mint Tea
Watermelon Bellini
Acknowledgments
Index
Invitation|4 Ingredients Christmas Introduction
I love Christmas and everything about it. Festive fare, family and friends, and a little time out from the business of life. Yet as we all know, it can also be an overwhelming amount of work! Clever entertaining to me is creating the illusion that I have been slaving away diligently in the kitchen, meticulously planning the menu, setting the table, choosing a theme, color, flowers, and prepping as much as I can so that when the time arrives, I too can actually enjoy myself.
As with all of my books in the 4 Ingredients series, 4 Ingredients Christmas is all about making cooking and entertaining at home fast and fabulous. I truly believe that as long as you have fresh ingredients, four are really all you need to come up with something delicious and impressive. (Special note: Salt, pepper, and water are not included in the four ingredients.) In this book, you’ll find recipes perfect for Christmas Eve treats, holiday brunches, and formal family dinners. Your table will be full of amazing-looking dishes that will appear much more complicated, time-consuming, and expensive than they actually are.
Where I live in Caloundra, along Australia’s gorgeous Sunshine Coast, December 25 is in the middle of our summer. Christmas to me means outdoor parties, grilled fish, fresh cherries and watermelon, ice cream, and ice-cold cocktails. It means decorating with pink petunias and bright orange nasturtiums in addition to a festive Christmas tree and hints of red and green throughout the house. The holiday wouldn’t feel complete without traditional dishes like Citrus-Glazed Ham, Maple & Pepper–Glazed Turkey, Seasoned Roast Vegetables, Plum Pudding, and Christmas cake (your fruitcake), which is why I’ve included glorious recipes for those in this book. But I also wanted American cooks to consider a Southern Hemisphere twist to the holiday with Watermelon & Feta Bites (you can replace the watermelon with pears, dates, or whatever lovely fruit is in season where you are), Ruby Jeweled Lobster Salad, and Caramel Ice Cream. Many of the desserts and sweet treats you’ll find here don’t require baking. For me, it’s a way of keeping my kitchen calm and cool for the many friends and family passing through it. For those of you at home in a winter wonderland, these dishes will help save time and oven space. By way of the beautiful photographs taken by Megan Slade, 4 Ingredients Christmas represents what my table looks like on Christmas Day and the day after . . . and the day after that . . .
The fact is, 4 Ingredients Christmas isn’t just a Christmas cookbook. My husband requests the Wild Mushroom Beef Wellington every year for his February birthday. My dad’s July birthday wouldn’t be the same without his beloved Chicken & Port Pâté. My sister-in-law, Nelly, asks for the Heavenly Halloumi Skewers every time she visits (which is a lot—“Hi, Nelly!”). Sunday dinner is so much better with Roast Pork & Crispy Crackling, and the Lime & Macadamia Fudge makes a simple, elegant thank-you gift any day of the year.
It is my hope that 4 Ingredients Christmas will become your go-to cookbook for any occasion, be it Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, or special dinner parties with family and friends.
Stress no more, my lovelies!
Take a deep breath, pour a glass of wine,
and start to plan your menu from the simply yummy recipes within.
Happy entertaining!
Kim x