The festive season is a time to gather, celebrate, and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals with loved ones. At Willowbrook Foods, we take pride in providing fresh, locally sourced ingredients from Northern Ireland to make every meal special. This Christmas, we’re sharing some simple and satisfying festive recipes to help you create a memorable feast.

1. Roast Turkey with Herb Stuffing

A perfectly roasted turkey with fragrant herb stuffing is the centrepiece of any festive table.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole turkey (4-5 kg)
• Fresh herbs (thyme, sage, rosemary)
• 2 lemons, halved
• 1 onion, quartered
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil

For the stuffing:

• 200g breadcrumbs
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 50g butter

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan 160°C).
2. Pat the turkey dry and season the cavity with salt and pepper. Fill it with lemons, onion, and herbs.
3. Sauté the stuffing ingredients in butter until soft. Add breadcrumbs and parsley, mixing thoroughly. Add the stuffing to the turkey cavity.
4. Rub olive oil over the turkey skin, season generously, and roast for 2.5-3 hours, basting occasionally. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 75°C.
5. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving.

2. Crispy Roast Potatoes

No festive meal is complete without perfectly golden roast potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 kg Willowbrook potatoes
• 3 tbsp duck fat or olive oil
• Fresh rosemary
• Salt

Method:

1. Peel and cut potatoes into equal chunks. Boil in salted water for 10 minutes, then drain and steam dry.
2. Preheat a roasting tin with duck fat in the oven at 200°C.
3. Toss the potatoes in the hot fat, ensuring they’re well-coated. Add rosemary and a generous pinch of salt.
4. Roast for 50-60 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy.

3. Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

This festive staple gets a flavour boost with crispy bacon.

Ingredients:

• 500g Willowbrook Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
• 100g smoked bacon lardons
• 2 tbsp butter
• Salt and pepper

Method:

1. Blanch the Brussels sprouts in boiling water for 3 minutes, drain, and cool.
2. Fry the bacon lardons in a large pan until crispy. Add the butter and Brussels sprouts, tossing to coat.
3. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, seasoning to taste. Serve hot.

 

4. Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Ditch the shop-bought version for this easy, fresh cranberry sauce.

Ingredients:

• 300g fresh cranberries
• 150g sugar
• Zest and juice of 1 orange

Method:

1. Place cranberries, sugar, orange zest, and juice in a saucepan.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the mixture thickens (around 10 minutes).
3. Allow to cool before serving or refrigerating.

5. Classic Chocolate Yule Log

End your festive feast on a sweet note with this indulgent dessert.

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 100g caster sugar
• 100g plain flour
• 25g cocoa powder

For the filling and topping:

• 200ml double cream, whipped
• 150g dark chocolate
• 50g butter
• 100g icing sugar

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a Swiss roll tin with baking parchment.
2. Whisk eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy. Fold in sifted flour and cocoa powder gently. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 10 minutes.
3. Turn the sponge onto a sugared sheet of parchment, rolling it up while warm. Let it cool.
4. Unroll the sponge, spread whipped cream over it, and roll again.
5. For the topping, melt chocolate and butter, mix in icing sugar, and spread over the log. Decorate as desired.

With these festive recipes, your Christmas table will be a true celebration of local flavours and holiday cheer. Willowbrook Foods is proud to support your culinary creations with fresh, high-quality ingredients grown right here in Northern Ireland.

For more local inspiration, check out the upcoming festive food events from Discover Northern Ireland. 

Happy holidays from all of us at Willowbrook Foods! 🎄