I love a Christmas-themed cookbook, no matter how idealised or rarified the writer’s Christmas appears. At this time of year, I fully embrace whimsy, sentimentality, and romantic images of snowy Hallmark Christmases, despite the ad-hoc nature of my festive plans and the fact that my dysfunctional childhood means I am always anxious that Something Might Go Badly Wrong. Some of my choices are newly published, while others are old favourites, and all possess distinctive writerly voices. Think of their authors as a Christmas chorus of cooks sent from the publishing heavens to help you celebrate however you see fit. By the way, if you know of any great seasonal cookbooks from the Southern Hemisphere or by authors writing in different languages, do leave a comment. I know how narrow and UK/USA-focused this guide is, and I would like to change that.
What a wonderful variety. And I'm really intrigued by several of the "non traditional" ones in terms of both their recipes & stories. Something to investigate.
I have and love Deila's Christmas book from the 90s - although my life has never contained a time when I would have come home from Midnight Mass to homemade sausage rolls (when I was in a church-going family we were largely vegetarian and very keen on early bedtimes). Her Irish coffee pudding is a triumph.
As far as I'm aware the library of Christmas Cookbooks written for an Australian audience isn't very extensive. The Australian Christmas Cookbook by Kay Fairfax, was probably the first Australian Christmas book I bought. It was written in the early 1990s and no longer in print, although there are second hand copies around. It includes plenty of traditional (English) recipes, but also chapters on barbecue and picnic Christmas fare and recipes for a beach Christmas. It also seems to have a disproportionate number of savoury jelly recipes, including a fresh vegetable jelly terrine and a tomato ring mould. Quite strange given that these don't survive the heat particularly well.
Maggie Beer, an iconic identity in Australian food, wrote Maggie's Christmas in about 2013 and it's still available. While has a number of more traditional Christmas recipes, it also makes the most of seasonal fruit and vegetables that are available in Australia at this time of year - stone fruit, cherries and berries. It also has plenty of seafood recipes. Seafood has become increasingly popular as the main Christmas meal.
A revised edition of Donna Hay's Christmas Feasts and Treats has been released this year. Again there are variations on the Christmas classics as well as more contemporary alternatives all presented in Donna Hay's very recognisable style.
The Australian Women's Weekly, is well known for it's reliable recipes and almost every year publishes a cookbook that revisits traditional Christmas dishes as well as some alternatives.
I think that all of the Australian Christmas cookbooks probably reflect the two main camps - those who are very much wedded to traditional English Christmas fare and insist each year on turkey and Christmas pudding. And those who think that such a meal in the height of summer is ridiculous and are looking for alternatives.
A lovely summary, Nic, with some of my favourites, from which I take recipes/stories each year (Christmas Chronicles, Nigella, Delia) & some intriguing news (to me) ones. As usual, many thanks!
What a wonderful variety. And I'm really intrigued by several of the "non traditional" ones in terms of both their recipes & stories. Something to investigate.
I have and love Deila's Christmas book from the 90s - although my life has never contained a time when I would have come home from Midnight Mass to homemade sausage rolls (when I was in a church-going family we were largely vegetarian and very keen on early bedtimes). Her Irish coffee pudding is a triumph.
As far as I'm aware the library of Christmas Cookbooks written for an Australian audience isn't very extensive. The Australian Christmas Cookbook by Kay Fairfax, was probably the first Australian Christmas book I bought. It was written in the early 1990s and no longer in print, although there are second hand copies around. It includes plenty of traditional (English) recipes, but also chapters on barbecue and picnic Christmas fare and recipes for a beach Christmas. It also seems to have a disproportionate number of savoury jelly recipes, including a fresh vegetable jelly terrine and a tomato ring mould. Quite strange given that these don't survive the heat particularly well.
Maggie Beer, an iconic identity in Australian food, wrote Maggie's Christmas in about 2013 and it's still available. While has a number of more traditional Christmas recipes, it also makes the most of seasonal fruit and vegetables that are available in Australia at this time of year - stone fruit, cherries and berries. It also has plenty of seafood recipes. Seafood has become increasingly popular as the main Christmas meal.
A revised edition of Donna Hay's Christmas Feasts and Treats has been released this year. Again there are variations on the Christmas classics as well as more contemporary alternatives all presented in Donna Hay's very recognisable style.
The Australian Women's Weekly, is well known for it's reliable recipes and almost every year publishes a cookbook that revisits traditional Christmas dishes as well as some alternatives.
I think that all of the Australian Christmas cookbooks probably reflect the two main camps - those who are very much wedded to traditional English Christmas fare and insist each year on turkey and Christmas pudding. And those who think that such a meal in the height of summer is ridiculous and are looking for alternatives.
Oh, which I like those, my favourite is Sarah Raven’s Complete Christmas
A lovely summary, Nic, with some of my favourites, from which I take recipes/stories each year (Christmas Chronicles, Nigella, Delia) & some intriguing news (to me) ones. As usual, many thanks!