It’s less than fifty days to Christmas! Does that statement fill you with dread or make you incredibly excited. I’m in the latter category. I’m sure you have heard this from me before but I love Christmas it’s a time for family, friends,parties and good food, what’s not to like.
However Christmas can also be quite stressful. Cooking, presents and lots of festive events. I have it easy as my lovely super mum feeds me on Christmas Day and I’m a thirty something singleton with no kids so I don’t have just as much pressure as all you mummy and daddy’s out there.
This blog is one of my first festive themed and I’m sure there are lots more to come but this one is about FOOD!!!
Lidl NI invited me to my first Christmas party last week in the beautiful Ardtara Country House in Maghera.Although it was still October,as soon as we walked through the door we had been transported to Christmas Day,with prosecco and canapés, an open fire, gorgeous Christmas tree,harpist and beautiful Christmas carols.
The talented Ian Orr (Award Winning Head Chef of Browns Restaurant Group and Lidl brand Ambassador) had used local Lidl products from their Deluxe range to make a feast fit for royalty. All paired perfect fully with Lidls hand selected red and white wines.
We were served Celeric soup which was light and frothy, Wild Irish crab and smoked salmon. Roast Silverhill duck and an amazing five bird roast. Before rounding the evening off with a hot chocolate fondant, cheese and chutney as well as Petit fours to say I was fit to burst was an understatement. You know that lovely full lethargic feeling you get on Christmas Day, when you want to snooze in front of the telly before someone opens another tin of sweets that was it. Perfect!!
Thanks to Lidl for the lovely Christmas Dinner which was spent with good food, lots of drinks and good company. If you would like to recreate this feast see details of all Lidls Deluxe products below.
Emer D xx
SHARE MORE SPECIAL MOMENTS WITH LIDL THIS CHRISTMAS
Create special moments with friends and family this Christmas by preparing a festive menu which includes a selection of items from Lidl’s delicious Deluxe range and fresh every day products.
The impressive Deluxe range offers all the Christmas classics such as Christmas Pudding and Cranberry and Port Sauce to complete your festive feast as well as unique products such as Duck Sausages and Canadian Lobster tails and Turkey, Ham and Brie Pizza for those looking for something more alternative.
Serving fish as an entrée or starter is a great addition to your Christmas menu and Lidl’s extensive Deluxe Seafood range will inspire you to create some tasty dishes of your own. For a larger gathering, try the rich Deluxe Salmon Side with Herb Crust (600g, £5.99) or for lighter bites packed with flavour, King Scallops with Smoked Herb and Garlic Butter (200g) and Wild Atlantic Prawns with Smoked Garlic and Herb (200g).
The star of Christmas has to be the turkey and Lidl has a selection of turkeys available in a range of sizes, including the Deluxe Fresh Northern Irish Turkey Crown which can be served with Deluxe Winter Seasonal Stuffing (£300g, £2.49) on the side.
As an alternative to the traditional turkey, Lidl has a delicious selection of meats which would make mouth-watering main courses, including Deluxe Irish Crispy Roast Half Duckling (£600g), Deluxe Irish Stuffed Carvery Lamb Leg (1.5kg) and Deluxe Part-Boned Chicken Breast with Black Pudding and Apple Stuffing (480g).
Lidl has a daily selection of vegetables to accompany the main event such as well as pre-prepared Deluxe Red Cabbage (300g, £1.99) and Deluxe Honey Roasted Parsnips (£600g, £1.49), but no Christmas dinner is complete without the roast potatoes. Try making your own by using Deluxe Irish Duck Fat (180g, £1.79) to make them extra crispy or for a helping hand pick up the Deluxe Roast Potatoes in Goose Fat (1kg, £1.29).
For those with a sweet tooth, dessert will be an epic finale of delightful treats to tantalise the taste buds. Family favourites include Deluxe Sticky Toffee Pudding (450g, £1.99) and Deluxe Fresh Banoffee Pie (450g, £2.99) or you could opt for a more unusual Deluxe Salted Toffee Pavlova (400g, £3.49).
Round off your evening by offering guests a supper of cheese and wine by the fireside. Try Lidl’s Deluxe Cheese Platter (250g, £1.99) and Deluxe Mature Blue Stilton in a Pot (225g, £3.79) served with Deluxe Premium Assorted Oatcakes (250g, £0.99) and Savoury Conserves for Cheese Assortment (100g, £0.99) for an extra rich flavour. Then accompany your cheese with a selection of cooked meats such as Deluxe Salami on Wooden Board (250g, £2.99) or the Deluxe Spanish Ham Platter (120g, £2.79).
Lidl’s Master of Wine, Richard Bampfield, has hand selected a number of white and red wines to complement each course – from a crisp Sancerre (750ml, £8.99) to a full-bodied Rioja Reserva (750ml £5.99) and bring the evening to a close with a glass of Port (500ml, £6.19).
EmerDBlog 