Jamie Oliver’s Christmas Cookbook, by the Naked Chef himself, Jamie Oliver, should be the only Christmas cookbook you need. Released in October 2016, it showcases both classic recipes and those with a more modern flair.
Synopsis from Goodreads
It’s everything you need for the best Christmas ever.
Inside you’ll find all the classics as well as tasty alternatives, including: salmon pate, apple and squash soup; roast turkey, goose and venison; nut roast and baked squash; best roasties, baked mash, parsnips, glazed carrots, four ways to do sprouts; gravies and cranberry sauce, meat and vegetarian stuffings; turkey risotto; Christmas trifles, pavlova; chocolate logs, Christmas cake, mince pies, gingerbread, baked camembert, smoked salmon bilinis, hot buttered rum and many, many more delicious recipes.
Positives
- Colorful pictures
- Easy to follow recipes
Negatives
- Several recipes contain nuts, which don’t work for my family.
My Opinions
I’ve never really watched any of Jamie Oliver’s shows, so I can’t say whether I’m a fan of his. Nor have I ever really looked at any of his cookbooks. So why did I pick this one to review? Because I wanted to see what all of the hype was about.
I love how each recipe in the book includes a colorful picture. That is so rare in cookbooks, even though it’s something that everyone loves to see. Interestingly, there are also several pictures of Jamie Oliver and his family. The recipes are written in a way that makes them easy to follow, and contain ingredients that most people will have on hand or at least easy access to.
There are fourteen chapters in the book. It starts with a chapter labeled Smart Starters, which includes the kind of recipes you would expect-shrimp cocktail, soups, and salads. The last chapter in the book is a Guide to Roasting Meat. This chapter breaks down the various meats that may be found on a holiday table and provides both cooking times and temperatures.
Oliver was so generous that he included a chapter devoted solely to potatoes and another to gravies and sauces. Even better, though, is the chapter that has leftovers as its focal point. Sure, there’s a recipe to make a Turkey Pie, but what about using the leftover turkey for a risotto? Or the leftover ham to make a Carbonara Cake? There are even recipes for using leftover vegetables and wine!
There are so many fantastic recipes in this cookbook, you’re sure to find something new to add to your holiday table.
Are you looking for more food-related content? Check out my other Foodie Fridays posts.
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