The 2016 RecipeTin Eats Christmas Menu is here – and it’s a show stopper that can mostly be prepared ahead! Starting with a classic Prawn Cocktail, followed by a Baked Parmesan Crusted Salmon, sides, and finishing with a classic Aussie Pav, this is stress free Christmas feasting that tastes even more incredible than it looks!
Every year since I started RecipeTin Eats, I have shared a Christmas and Thanksgiving menu. And the 2016 Christmas Menu is finally here!!
I’ve actually already shared all the recipes for the feast, so this post is bringing it all together and showing you how you can get ahead so there’s little to do on the actual day. So you can spend more time with family and friends / opening presents / sipping mulled wine and nibbling rather than bustling around in the kitchen, being a stressed out wreck. 🙂
This years’ menu is quite summery, perfect for an Aussie Christmas. And easy. Of course!
And without further ado….here it is!
??2016 CHRISTMAS MENU??
Prawn Cocktails to start….all the rage in the 80’s, but they never went out of fashion in my books! Make the sauce ahead and the prawns can be peeled the day before. Then simply toss together on the day and serve.
PS The pink sauce used for Prawn Cocktails is also perfect to use as a dipping sauce, if you prefer to serve up big bowls of prawns for people to peel themselves.
Parmesan Crusted Salmon with Lemon Cream Sauce – Everybody say “OMG OMG”! That’s just a preview of the response you’ll get when you place this on the table. 😉 This is fantastic for making ahead because you can make this sauce and the crumb mixture the day before, then assembling it to bake is a 3 minute job.
This is also great for taking to picnics and serving at room temperature. Really! I had a reader ask how to make this to take to a picnic without any way to reheat it, so I added directions in the recipe. (Yes the crumb will be CRUNCHY!)
Not just another POTATO SALAD….this is a recipe from my friend’s mother, and it is epic! The little thing she does that makes all the difference is to pour French dressing over the potatoes while they are hot so they suck up all that flavour.👌🏼 Make this up to 48 hours before the big day – it just gets better with time!
JP’s Iceberg Lettuce Dill Salad – Hands down, the salad I make most frequently using iceberg lettuce. I love this salad sooooo much. And so does everyone I make it for!
The Great Aussie Pav!!!
Fact: Pavs are notoriously temperamental in hot humid weather. ☀️
The Irony: Pavs are a summer dessert. 😂
Your Saving Grace: The foolproof tips I’ve accumulated over the years. 🙌🏼
Why It’s Great for Christmas: You can make the Pav ahead / never met a person who doesn’t love Pav / you’ll look like a rockstar when you place this on the table.🙌🏼🎉👌🏼
Oh! And in case you missed it – Cookie Mix in a Jar GIFT! All the recipient has to do is add melted butter and an egg, then scoop mounds onto a baking tray to make these irresistible White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies. 🙂 Psst This is such great value too!
And that’s the 2016 Christmas Menu! It’s quite a light one, perfect for an Aussie summer Christmas, rather than having the oven on for hours to roast a gigantic turkey. 🙂 For more Christmas recipes (including several gigantic turkey recipes!), browse my entire Christmas Collection!?
I will be back on Wednesday for one final recipe (maybe recipeS!) before Christmas, but in case you’re too caught up in the Christmas madness to catch it – MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
– Nagi & Dozer xx
PS Can you see cheeky Dozer photobombing my photos again? Seriously, I didn’t get a single photo without Dozer in it somewhere. But I couldn’t bring myself to Photoshop him out. Because…well, you know. This sight pretty much encompasses my day to day life. Lots of food. And Dozer lurking nearby!! ❤️
LIFE OF DOZER
With all that food on the table, where else would he be???
Love your table with all this beautiful food! It would never be as special without Dozer! Love him too! ❤️🇨🇦
He is definitely the highlight of every holiday around here!!! N x
Beautiful photo of you Nagi and what an incredible Christmas lunch / dinner spread. Absolutely gorgeous table setting and of course featuring Dozer as the STAR right underneath the feast! The prawn cocktail is simply stunning served on beautiful cocktail glass…. so 80s but so good. Prawn cocktail is my hubby’s favourite appetizer. I will try to make it for him now that I have your fool-proof recipe! Thank you so sharing! axx
Awww thanks Ada!!! Cheeky Dozer as always, photo bombing!!! N xx
Absolutely stunning, Nagi! You never cease to amaze me <3 I hope you and Dozer have a very merry Christmas! <3
Merry Christmas to you too Beeta! Hope you had your family have a wonderful one, I look forward to seeing photos! N x
It wouldn’t be the same without Dozer! Happy holidays Nagi!
Awww thanks Paula!!! Happy Holidays to you too Paula! I hope you have some down time on the agenda 🙂 N x
What a great chrissy menu. Especially for our hot climate! (I’m up in the humidity of Queensland) Glad you didn’t photoshop out Dozer – he’s too cute! Hope you both have a wonderful Christmas ?
Merry Christmas to you too Kelly! I hope you have a GREAT one 🙂 PS Might be even hotter up where you are than down here but you have BETTER TROPICAL FRUIT!!!!! 🙂 N xx
Merry Christmas, my darling friend. Don’t you look beautiful and your sweet Dozer is adorable. I LOVED the water photo.
I hope you and your mum and the rest of the gang have the best holiday ever and that 2017 is another fantastic year for you.
xxoo
M&J
Maureen! I am so happy to hear from you! Sending HUGE hugs up the coast to both you and John. Merry Christmas to you both! N xx
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you, madam.
Thank you for your lovely message! Merry Christmas to you too! N xx
Merry Christmas Nagi ,your Mom and Dozer , that is a beautiful picture of you , your Mom must be very proud of you , she taught you well , your dishes are amazing < I've been cooking all week exclusively from your recipes , I wish you the very best of health and love , and kisses all around with Dozer , I live in Montreal -Pierrefonds ,Quebec ,Canada , ,but were on the same planet ,24 hours by plane , your 40 above ,it's 40 below here ,stay cool
Thank you so much for your lovely message Lily! I’m so touched that you are enjoying my recipes so much, thank you for letting me know. Merry Christmas to you too! N xx
It looks divine, have a Merry Christmas!!!
Merry Christmas to you too Simonette! PS Gosh I LOVE your name ?
A very happy holiday season to you and yours and Dozer . . . all the best for the year to come . . . and thank you for a wonderfully suitable and appetizing Down Under summer menu which methinks can be served at any celebration of love and friendship thru the season. Personally I have not celebrated Yule for many years but with 41 separate festivities around the world this month [so I have been just told by a very wise and knowledgeable friend] this table would bring a smile to many whose religious beliefs do not forbid shellfish . . . Thanks and see you next year . . . .
Hi Eha! I do hope you are winding down for the holiday season and will be relaxing. Thank you for your lovely message, Happy Holidays to you too! N x
WOW! What a spread! It all looks fantastic. So appropriate for our hot Summer. I love a prawn cocktail at xmas as well. I hope you have a fantastic one Nagi 🙂
Thanks so much Jem! So glad you don’t think the Prawn Cocktail is too retro! N x
Thank you so much for inspiring me this Christmas, Nagi! I’m fairly new to your site but I’ve already tried a few of your recipes and they are AMAZING. As a fellow local Northern Beaches gal I’m so pleased to see a bit of summer in all your recent recipe posts. Thanks once again and wishing you and Dozer a magical Christmas!
Looking forward to all the amazing meals in 2017 🙂
Hi Natalie!! So nice to hear from a local! Gosh with this weather we’ve been having, it’s been all BBQ and salads in this household 🙂 Merry Christmas to you too! N xx
What a great, fresh-looking spread, and so Australian!
Love all the make-ahead tips. I’ll be trying the potato salad for our Christmas lunch. Thanks and have a great Christmas.
Thanks Amanda! Merry Christmas to you too! N x
Nagi, your meal looks superb! We enjoy salmon, and I’d love to make it for my Honey for our anniversary in January — 47 years! They’ve flown. Now, I’m going to ask you a VERY personal question. I won’t feel bad if you don’t answer it. But, how in the heck did you get that overhead picture of the table??? Were you swinging from a chandelier? I remember you talking about bread and stilettos to give you some height but you must have been plastered to the ceiling. I wish you had a behind the scenes shot. I can imagine Dozer trying to climb after you 🙂 If I don’t get the chance, have a Merry Christmas!! Sending Big Hugs!!
47 years? Oh wow oh WOW Marisa! Sending you big hugs in advance your way – just in case you forget to tell me when it is in Jan!!!! Re: overhead picture….well, there certainly was a high risk of doing a face plant, that’s for sure!!! I used a very wide angle zoom – 24 mm (my lens is 24 – 70mm), stood on a stool, popped my view finder up and stuck my arm out to take the photo! Because it was bright, I was able to use a high shutter speed so arm shakes weren’t a problem 🙂 I’ll pop a thread on FBC with this tip! N xx
Looks amazing. Wishing you your family and of course Dozer a very Merry Christmas ?
Looking forward to your fab recipes in 2017
Have a great break x
Merry Christmas to you too Jane! I hope you have a wonderful one – are you taking a decent break? 🙂 N x
No unfortunately ? I’m working. But somebody has to so it’s ok.
I grew up having the same meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas – turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy…etc. ever. single. year. It’s only taken me 4 decades, but I’m really ready to mix things up..lol! So this dazzling spread has my name all over it. Thank you, my dear.
Tradition is a wonderful thing Marissa!!! I’m the opposite, I never had turkey etc growing up and now that’s all I want for the festive season! N x
That’s a lovely spread.
Have a great Christmas.
Thank you CK. Merry Christmas to you too!!! N xx
Everything looks beautiful and delicious! I would love to have that delicious salmon for Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Thank you so much Dawn! And Merry Christmas to you too! I hope you have a wonderful one – N xx
Love the salmon recipe – am trying it tonight! And Dozer – he’s a welcome addition, of course! Who doesn’t want to see a sweet furry doggie hanging around the food table – just like in real life! 😉
Oooh! I do hope you love it! So glad you don’t find it off-putting to see a giant fur ball so close to the FOOD! N x
Nagi…I am writing up my menu…and then I see this… OMG your tablescapes and decor belong in Bon Appetite magazine. Absolutely incredible! Love this so very much…and psssst I went super easy this year too and made salmon my superstar as well 🙂 Merry Xmas love.
Aww thanks Mila! I always have fun doing big feasts 🙂 Though they are a lot of work. SO MUCH CLEANING UP!!! N xx