Festive Recipes to Save Your Christmas

Christmas, although the most wonderful time of the year, can be stressful, financially demanding, and time-consuming. Trying to organise gifts, family visits, and food everyone will enjoy is challenging, but don’t fear; Kangaroo Self Storage is here to help! Not only can we offer some extra space with our household storage facilities, suitable for storing your personal belongings to make room for Christmas visitors, but we have compiled Roo’s favourite festive recipes to help you gather some inspiration for everyone in your family.

Guaranteed to put a smile on even the fussiest eater’s faces, here are our festive dishes suitable for all!

For the Meat-Lovers: Pigs in Blankets Toad-in-the-Hole

Who doesn’t love a big pile of pigs in blankets and Yorkshire puds? Well, what if we told you you could combine the two festive favourites and offer the meat-eaters pigs in blankets toad-in-the-hole? This mouth-watering recipe feeds four, so feel free to double, half, or adapt the ingredients to suit the number of guests you’ll be feeding (and don’t forget to leave some for Boxing Day leftovers).

Ingredients

• 140g plain flour
• 4 eggs
• 200ml milk
• 8 rashers of streaky smoked bacon
• 8 of your favourite sausages
• 2 tbsp sunflower oil

Method

1. Pre-heat your oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7
2. Sieve the flour into a bowl and beat in the eggs until you form a smooth consistency
3. Whisk in the milk a small amount at a time until the batter is lump-free, and then set aside
4. Take your sausages and wrap a bacon rasher around each one
5. Drizzle the sunflower oil into a roasting tin and heat in the oven for just a few minutes
6. Once heated, add your pigs in blankets and move around the tin until they’re covered in the hot oil
7. Roast the pigs in blankets for around 15-20 minutes, turning halfway, and cook until brown
8. Once cooked, remove from the oven, and quickly pour the batter all around the pigs in blankets
9. Place back in the oven for another 25 minutes, making sure to leave the door closed
10. Check until your pigs in blanket toad-in-the-hole is deep golden brown, and then serve with the rest of your dishes.

Roo’s Top Tip: Pour your favourite gravy on top for a delicious accompaniment!

For Those Who Are Never Impressed: Roast Potatoes with a Twist

Perhaps you never quite perfected your roastie recipe, or you just fancy trying something new and exciting this Christmas? Whatever it is, we’re certain that these thyme and chestnut roast potatoes will go down a treat and impress any guest.

Ingredients

• 5-2kg potatoes
• 150ml vegetable oil
• A bunch of thyme
• 180g pouch-cooked chestnuts

Method

1. Pre-heat your oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6
2. Cut your potatoes into equal chunks and roughly chop the thyme to prep
3. Put the potatoes into a pan and cover with cold salted water
4. Bring the water to the boil before reducing it to simmer for five minutes
5. Wait until the potatoes are tender before draining
6. Drizzle the vegetable oil in a roasting tin, then leave in the oven to heat for 10 minutes
7. Once the oil is heated, remove from the oven and tip in the potatoes and thyme, ensuring they are coated with oil
8. Roast the potatoes for 40 minutes
9. After the 40 minutes, turn all the potatoes before returning to the oven for another 10-15 minutes
10. Add in your chestnuts and roast for another 10 minutes

For the Vegans: Meatless Wellington

If you’re starting Veganuary early or you’re a meatless enthusiast, this meat-free wellington is sure to be the perfect centrepiece to your Christmas feast.

Ingredients

• 90g dried porcini mushrooms
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large finely chopped onion
• 250g finely chopped chestnut mushrooms
• 2 crushed garlic gloves
• 500g peeled and cut sweet potatoes
• 1 tbsp finely chopped rosemary
• 1 tbsp finely chopped sage
• 100g white breadcrumbs
• 40g chopped walnuts
• 40g dried cranberries
• A grating of nutmeg
• 2 x 320g sheets of dairy-free puff pastry
• A dusting of plain flour
• 3 tbsp of your favourite vegan milk
• 1 tbsp English mustard

Method

1. Pour 500ml boiling water over the dried mushrooms in a bowl and make sure they’re well covered before leaving to soak
2. Heat your olive oil and fry the onion and chestnut mushrooms until soft, for around 20 minutes
3. Stir in garlic, sweet potatoes, rehydrated mushrooms and the soaking liquid, making sure to leave a little of the water in the bowl as this may contain grit
4. Cover the pan and cook until the potatoes are soft

Roo’s Top Tip: If the water evaporates quickly, add more to keep everything hydrated.

5. Add your herbs, breadcrumbs, nuts, and cranberries before seasoning with your favourite spices (including the nutmeg)
6. Once your mixture resembles moist stuffing, turn off the heat and leave it to cool
7. Unroll one pastry sheet onto floured parchment on a baking tray
8. Whisk together the milk, mustard, and punch of salt
9. Once your filling has cooled, spoon it into a neat line down the centre of the pastry sheet, making sure to leave around 2 inches of the border, which you will then brush with the mustard-milk
10. Once filled, top with the other pastry sheet and press down to remove any air
11. Make sure it looks presentable by crimping it sealed and removing excess pastry
12. Cut a steam hole in the middle and finish with a brush of mustard-milk to cover the wellington
13. Leave to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes and while it’s chilling, pre-heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6
14. Brush again with mustard-milk and bake for 30-40 minutes until golden and puffed
15. Leave to rest for 10 minutes and then serve.

We hope this has given you some festive inspiration for your Christmas feast! Don’t forget, if you need some extra space to fit your family and friends, we’re here to help. We offer household storage across Scotland and North West England, including:

• Household storage in Edinburgh
• Household storage in Glasgow
• Household storage in Dundee
• Household storage in Carlisle
• Household storage in Altrincham
• Household storage in Warrington
• Household storage in Wirral
• Household storage in Liverpool
• Household storage in Preston
• Household storage in Widnes

Get in touch to find out more, or hop over to one of our storage sites to speak to our friendly team.