The Ritual Master Maybe it’s the gourmand speaking, but what can make you dream of Christmas more efficiently than a cookbook ? And I have a selection that will send you grocery shopping in a minute. Here are three of my favourite Christmas cookbooks this year.
Christmas with Dickens
by Pen Vogler
Don’t you feel like no-one ever told you “food historian” is a possible career path ? Peg Vogler seems to have one of the most wonderful jobs you could imagine. And you can feel her passion in the research that precedes every recipe in this book. Inspired by the personal opinions of Charles Dickens as to the beauty of the holidays and the importance of a social balance when it comes to the celebrations, this collection of 22 recipes takes us through almost every writing of Dickens and the mentions of food that can be explored today. From the roast goose in A Christmas Carol, to the pickled pork of Great Expectations, with a side of cauliflower inspired by Bleak House and some Ladies’ Fingers from The mystery of Edwin Drood, it’s a book to inspire not only your cooking, but also your reading and maybe discover some classics you never got to read before.
Christmas at River Cottage
by Lucy Brazier and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
This is more than a cookbook, I would say it’s a guide for the home in winter. It takes you from the end of summer, with all the jams and pickles to prepare, the root cellar to stock up and plans of a cosy feast for the whole family. With DIY projects of wreaths and seed purses, tree decorations and homemade reusable gift wrappings, this is a book to make you fall back in love with your home (if ever you should need to). And when you get to the food, it’s the most extraordinary blend of cottagecore and festive cooking, just listen to this : oysters with apple and kimchi dressing, stuffed squash, red cabbage, carrot and clementine salad, or maybe some scrambled eggs and crab for boxing day… This book will be your trusted companion from September to January, with inspiration to make every day just a bit more cosy.
Downton Abbey Christmas Book
by Regula Ysewijn
And now for the glitter and glam, what better invitation than Christmas at Downton Abbey ? All the fans of the series remember Mrs Pattmore’s magic in the kitchen, and the old-school techniques of proper soufflés or elegant hors d’oeuvres. The book is full of ideas for big feasts or small luncheons between Christmas and New Year’s Day, with lovely reminders of English traditions and their evolution with time. It does feel like a private course in the kitchens at Downton, and the recipes are mouth-watering : anchovy éclairs, shrimp tartlets à la diable, pheasant soup, baked John Dory, duck with orange, lemon and olives, or hazelnut cake with coffee icing. Just a few of the temptations you will end up giving into, because it’s Christmas, and because cooking is the easiest happiness therapy you could find. Careful, you’ll want to wear your sequins and tiara when dining at the Downton inspired table.
Happy Christmas cooking, friends !
If you would like to support The Ritual of Reading, please consider purchasing your books from the Bookshop.org dedicated site by clicking the link below. You get to support local bookstores and I make a small commission with every purchase. Thank you !
