Table of contents for December 2022 in Taste.com.au

Come with me and, for a moment, imagine this… Christmas shines just ahead of you in its golden summery light like a beacon of stress-free promise, of long laughing tables, bare feet beneath white linen, and glasses raised - to life! Granted, it’s a little poetic, but this image has been our own little ‘beacon’ for your Christmas 2022. The greatest yet, not just for all the guests at your table, but for you too, because we all deserve it. What I love about this Christmas issue (my 16th in food magazines!) is that it’s all easy. Even for the grand masterpieces, the actual hands-on time is both doable and enjoyable with our easy steps. We’ve called in shortcuts, hacks and cheats galore to save you time and money -…

30 mins easy vego 20 mins easy low cal GF healthy vego low cal low fat GF easy vego 30 mins easy easy 30 mins easy easy GF easy easy healthy vego low cal GF easy easy GF easy GF easy vego low cal easy…

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR RECIPES WITH CHERRIES CHERRIFIC! Everyone will be fighting over the fiddly Christmas Day job with this little guy in play! The cheery cherry pitter has a plunger action that pushes the pit and juice into its belly in one mess-free motion. The protective tooth ensures kids can get in on the fun too. Then just chuck it in the dishwasher. Talisman Designs Cherry Chomper at amazon.com.au. LIVING THE cream Wanna know what’s top of our list for Santa this year? The Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker, $430. It can make deliciously smooth frozen treats (sweet or savoury) in mere minutes! Plus, it’s nowhere near the hefty size of a standard ice-cream maker. The best bit? We’ve got one up for grabs! Turn to p136 for…

white christmas crackle STAR This edible gift shines brightest! Place 6 greased star-shaped pastry cutters on a lined tray. Place 180g chopped white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on Medium, stirring every minute, until melted. Stir in 2 cups rice bubbles and ⅔ cup desiccated coconut. Spoon among cutters then smooth the surface. Place in the fridge for 1 hour. Use a small knife to loosen stars then transfer to a serving plate. Drizzle over melted white chocolate. Decorate with sprinkles.…

CHEAT'S PASTRY BITES Get ahead! Make this nibble tower, cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 hours. EASY CHESY TREE-SY! Introducing the ingenious hand salad! Fill baby gem leaves with summer fruit and juicy prawns, so your guests can grab their own fresh and crunchy morsel. Make dressing and prep salad ingredients a day ahead. Store in airtight containers in fridge. For watermelon stars, place paper towel in the base of container. This double cheese dip will wow with its colourful layers of tomato and basil pesto! And best of all, you can make this ahead and just unmould in time for the party. EASY RICOTTA STACK Get ahead! Make this torta up to the end of step 4. Store in the fridge for…

Tried & tested Food processors are one of the hardest-working appliances in any kitchen, and finding the right one for your home can shave serious time off food prep. But with so many attachments, size options and add-ons, it can be hard to know what to look for. Looking at motor speed, reviews, functions and attachments, we’ve rounded up some of the best food processors in Australia right now. Magimix CS 3200XL BEST FOR: top of the Line The bestselling Magimix is a real workhorse. Ultra quiet, it comes with slicing, grating, chopping, whisking, blending, kneading, juicing, pressing and dicing options, as well as three bowls. It might be a little more expensive than the rest, but think of it as an investment: the 1100-watt motor also comes with a…

Michelle Q What shortcuts do you take to make the day go smoothly? For turkey and stuffing without hours in the kitchen, make ‘stuffing muffins’. Prepare your stuffing mix and bake it in muffin pans. Use quicker-cooking turkey cuts, such as boned breast pieces, and put it on the barbecue to slash cooking time by hours. Haven’t made a pudding? Don't panic. Stir ajar of fruit mince through softened vanilla ice-cream. Add candied nuts for crunch and refreeze. Serve scoops in tall glasses or set in a loaf pan (search 'fruitcake icecream loaf’ on taste). need a little help? If you have a question for one of our foodies, send it to tastemag@news.com.au. Tracy Q Is it possible to put on a budget-friendly Christmas celebration? Instead of picking what you…

for more info Yates Microgreens Cabbage Rubies seed is available at selected retail outlets or at yates.com.au/microgreens-cabbage-rubies Got a gardening question? Head to yates.com.au For more help growing your own veg, join the Yates Garden Community at yates.com.au/garden-community EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR TASTE: The first 100 readers to join will receive a free packet of seeds. Use promo code: TASTE2022. T&Cs apply, see yates.com.au Microgreens, also known as micro herbs, are herbs or vegies that are picked while they’re still tiny, just after they develop the first leaves. They’re tender, rich in nutrients and loaded with aroma and flavour. Mix them into salads or use as a vibrant garnish for risotto, pasta, omelettes, smashed avocado on toast or seafood. Follow these steps to grow microgreens ready for picking in under 3 weeks!…

Weis bar cheesecake It’s tropical no-bake bliss! This was delicious. The small amount of effort making it really pays off in wow factor. I will absolutely make again. @SHEBAKESGOOD Perfectly refreshing on a hot summers’ day. Was also a lot easier to make than I was expecting. @ALYSE-GRACE Best-ever roasted sweet potato salad With irresistible chipotle dressing. Easy and tasty. @GLENDA Made this and it was very good. The creamy dressing tops it all off. @BOPPER I had this with a ham on Christmas Day. People went back for seconds, just for this salad! @GALLFAMMY Vegetarian haloumi quiche Zucchini slice and quiche collide! We loved this quiche! The haloumi was a great addition. @PEARL59 I made this for a picnic brunch. There was so much flavour, especially if you add…

let's go! 2 × 570g pkt Taste Baking Mix Cookies & Cream Choc Brownie 2 eggs 250g butter, melted 100g (½ cup) caster sugar 670g jar pitted morello cherries, drained, 125ml (½ cup) juice reserved 185ml (¾ cup) espresso, cooled 125ml (½ cup) Baileys Irish Cream liqueur 16 savoiardi (sponge finger biscuits) chocolate custard 375ml (1½ cups) bought thick vanilla custard 100g dark chocolate, finely chopped mascarpone cream 250ml (1 cup) thickened cream 250g tub mascarpone 60g (⅓ cup) icing sugar mixture italian meringue 215g (1 cup) caster sugar 3 egg whites, at room temperature Pinch of cream of tartar christmas spun toffee 155g (¾ cup) caster sugar 3 drops of red gel food colouring choc-cherry tiramisu trifle with spun toffee serves 12 | prep 1 hour 30 mins (+ cooling & 6 hours chilling) | cooking 40 mins 1 Preheat even to…

SMEG FULLY AUTOMATIC BEAN TO CUP COFFEE MACHINE WITH STEAM WAND Feel the buzz with this sleek and compact machine, $1349. It grinds, doses and extracts perfect shots at the touch of a button. Visit smeg.com.au. KIP & CO LONG LUNCH WATER JUG Keep your table decor fresh with the vibrant water jugs, $79, from Kip & Co. Serve up your Chrissie cocktails or party punch then pop this pretty pitcher straight in the dishwasher. Go to kipandco.com.au. TEFAL EASY FRY & GRILL XXL FLEXCOOK With this nifty machine by your side, you’ll want to host all the silly season shindigs! This two-in-one, $499, can air fry and grill, and has two baskets so you can cook starter and main at the same time. Plus, it’s large enough to cook…

Christmas CHEAT'S SWEET DONE! The beauty of the classic ripple cake is that it can be made the day before. This retro cocktail twist is summer ready! Michelle Southan pina colada ripple cake serves 6 I prep 40 mins (+ 6 hours chilling) E 1 Use electric beaters to beat coconut milk powder, 1 tsp sugar and 250ml (1 cup) cream in a bowl until just-firm peaks form. 2 Drain the pineapple, reserving the juice. Finely chop half the pineapple then fold through the cream mixture. Place the remaining pineapple in the fridge until ready to serve. Combine the rum and reserved juice in a bowl. 3 Spread a wide line of cream mixture along a serving plate. Dip 1 biscuit in the rum mixture then spread with a heaped teaspoonful…

eat real BEST OF DECEMBER fruit apricot blackberries grapefruit nectarine plum raspberries vegies asparagus capsicum snow peas squash zucchini flowers herbs dill ginger sage tarragon Vietnamese mint SCAN THE QR CODE FOR THE WEDGE SALAD RECIPE wedge christmas tree salad The easiest way to give your side salad the spotlight? Lay it out prettily like a Christmas tree! Along with our show-stopping sides on page 65, we’re giving this vegie arrangement the same attention as our festive mains - minus the effort. This tree-riffic salad is as effortless as setting out iceberg lettuce wedges, fluffy spuds, crispy bacon, boiled eggs, feta and chives on a serving platter, then finishing with a drizzle of creamy ranch dressing. Job done! BLACKBERRIES These deep purple berries are sweet, slightly tart and wonderfully Juicy.…

test kitchen Test kitchen approved SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MORE EASY CHEESECAKES caramello cheesecake serves 12 | prep 30 mins (+ 4 hours 30 mins chilling & cooling) | cooking 5 mins 75g butter, chopped 55g Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramello chocolate bar, broken into pieces 250g pkt Arnott's Choc Ripple biscuits 200g dark chocolate, chopped 600ml ctn thickened cream 1 tbs gelatine powder 240g (⅔ cup) bought caramel spread 500g cream cheese, at room temperature, chopped 70g (⅓ cup) caster sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 tsp dark cocoa powder 1 Grease an 18 x 28cm slice pan and line with baking paper, allowing the paper to overhang the long sides. 2 Place butter and Caramello in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until melted and combined. 3 Break the biscuits into a food processor and…

peanut & biscoff PINE CONES Who knew cereal could Look so cute! Place ½ cup smooth peanut butter, ¼ cup Lotus Biscoff Spread, 45g room temperature butter and 1 cup sifted pure icing sugar in a bowl. Use a spatula to stir until combined. Divide into 10 equal portions. Use your hands to roll 1 portion into a cone shape. Starting at the base, insert pieces of Nestlé Milo cereal into the mixture to resemble a pine cone. Repeat with remaining mixture. Dust with icing sugar to serve.…

test kitchen Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne Rosé Top Brut, $74.99 The Heidsick & Co Monopole champagnes have a new look inspired by the 1920s. The rosé is new to Australia. Perfect as a pressie or to crack open on Christmas morning, it adds Gatsby-style flamboyance. DRINK IT WITH canapés, brunch, seafood. COMES IN A GIFT BOX Sushi salmon bake p59 Brown Brothers 2022 Refreshing Tarrango, $19 Brown Brothers Tarrango is back, baby! This super-light and racy red, which was hugely popular in the 80s, is having a revival. Sip it chilled and let berry fruits and a crisp, dry finish get your festive juices flowing. DRINK IT WITH charcuterie, baked ham. DRINK THIS RED CHILLED Glazed ham board p52 Heggies Vineyard Estate Chardonnay 2019, $35 Great chardonnay like this…

white christmas trifle serves 20 | prep 45 mins (+3 hours chilling & cooling) | cooking 10 mins 2 gelatine leaves 2 × 85g pkt raspberry jelly crystals 400ml boiling water 400ml cold water 460g pkt doubLe unfilled round sponge cakes, cut into 3cm pieces 80ml (⅓ cup) coconut liqueur (optional) 20 Ferrero Confetteria Raffaello truffles, halved 40g (¼ cup) pistachio kernels, plus extra, to serve 60g (1 cup) mini pink and white marshmallows, plus extra, to serve Fresh raspberries, to serve custard 70g (½ cup) custard powder 1 tsp cornflour 1L (4 cups) milk 180g white chocolate block, chopped 60ml (¼ cup) raspberry puree (see tip) 2 tbs icing sugar mixture Pink food colouring, to tint white christmas 180g white chocolate block, melted 55g (1½ cups) puffed rice cereal 50g (⅓ cup) dried cranberries, finely chopped 40g (¼ cup) pistachio kernels, finely chopped 35g (⅓ cup) desiccated coconut…

SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH THE RECIPE VIDEO Want to know the secret to moist pork belly with an irresistibly crispy crackling? Make it in the air fryer - only 10 mins prep required. SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH THE RECIPE VIDEO Stash a few of these easy muffin pan nibbles before you serve, because your guests will gobble them up in record time! SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH THE RECIPE VIDEO If you’re as obsessed with choc mint as much we are, you’re going to want to make this cheat’s cheesecake on the double!…

Santa’s feeling jolly generous - there’s not one, but two 10-piece cookware sets with bonus utensils from Circulon, worth $1250 each, in his sack for the winner of this month’s Cook the Cover comp! The best thing since nonstick, the coating on this cookware is super durable, scratch proof and enables an even heat distribution. Plus, they’re dishwasher safe. The ultimate way to update your cookware for the new year! Send us a photo of your choc cherry trifle creation to go in the running. I'm looking for the high flyer who loads their trifle bowl to lofty heights with defined stars and a spun toffee crown! SEND IN YOUR ENTRIES BY 29 DECEMBER 2 TO WIN! CIRCULON® two ways to enter email it: Send a photo of your creation,…

CHICKEN BRUSCHETTA tray bake While we all dream of Christmas-worthy dinners every night of the week this time of the year, there just isn’t enough time left after a busy day… or is there? We’ve used every trick in the book to whip up fast and fabulous festive feasts that are simple enough for Monday’s dinner, but merry enough for yule lunching. Take this bruschetta tray bake as a gold-star example. It’s ready to eat in 30 minutes thanks to clever hacks, like bought garlic bread, but pretty enough to plate up on the big day. cuban mojo prawn salad 20 mins $6.25 per serve serves 4 | prep & cooking 20 mins Q E LC GF ¼ pineapple, thinly sliced 2 baby cos lettuce, leaves separated 500g cooked tiger prawns, peeled,…

Christmas HOME SWEET HOME! Got a full house for Chrissie? Impress them with this edible fairytale cottage, made of tiramisu biscuits, mascarpone and gingerbread! You only need 1 portion of gingerbread dough to decorate the house. Cut remaining dough and offcuts into shapes and bake. Store biscuits in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Or freeze the dough for up to 3 months. KAHLÚA SOAKED LAYERS tiramisu gingerbread house serves 10 I prep 1 hour 30 mins (+ 7 hours 30 mins chilling & cooling) I cooking 20 mins 500ml (2 cups) espresso, cooled to room temperature 125ml (½ cup) Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur Gingerbread or Captain Morgan Gingerbread Spiced rum (see tip) 900ml thickened cream 500g mascarpone 2 tsp vanilla extract 120g (⅔ cup) pure icing sugar, sifted, plus extra, to dust 400g pkt…

CURVE BALL TikTok sensation Little Moons mochi ice-cream has finally landed on Aussie shores. These delicious orbs are filled with creamy gelato and wrapped in mochi (a soft, chewy rice flour dough from Japan). Free from gluten and artificial additives, these tasty dessert bites are refreshing and totally moreish. Find all the flavours at selected supermarkets, $10. PERFECT MATCH! When creamy meets tangy, it’s a match made in sauce heaven. Boost chips, burgers and sambos with a squeeze of this mayo and tomato sauce mashup - it’s your secret weapon for fast flavour this party season. Get it for $5 at selected supermarkets. BOUJEE ON A BUDGET price is RIGHT Don’t be fooled by the price tag, Taylors 2020 Estate Shiraz ($22) beat high-end wines around the globe at the…