Have you finished baking your gingerbread men? Iced your cookies? Set out the fairy lights, Christmas tree and hung up the stockings? Ready to celebrate the joy that is this season all over the country?
But if you find yourself lagging a bit behind, then no problem! We at Nature’s Basket pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop for all your shopping needs; be it whole birds for roasting, fancy cheese to arrange on a board, demarara sugar, molasses or flavoured syrups for your desserts or maybe a hamper of Christmassy treats for that special someone in your life. Here is a ready reckoner to get Christmas ready quickly!
Without doubt, carving a whole roasted bird is a classic Christmas tradition and now you can participate in the same too. Imagine yourself serving up tender, juicy slices of perfectly cooked meat with all the fixings for your family and friends. You can actually make this dream happen with our range of premium whole chicken, stuffed turkey and roasted ham. Flavour your chicken with lots of fresh sage and garlic and roast till the skin is crispy. You can serve it up with cheesy mashed potatoes and a kale cranberry-pecan salad for a fantastic meal. Or try roasting a honey-glazed ham and serve it up accompanied with braised fennel, artichoke hearts with hollandaise sauce and a potato gratin. For a sweet note, serve your guests, mince pies from Theobroma that are small, boozy, fruit-filled bites. Then sit back and bask in the compliments that flow in.
A permanent fixture on a Christmas menu has to be the rich, dense cake studded with fruits and nuts with a slight boozy kick. People typically soak their dried fruit and nuts in rum, brandy or juice months in advance for that perfect bake. But if you haven’t managed to do so yet, then don’t worry. Our nifty trick will help you out. Simply soak organic fruits and nuts overnight in the soaking liquid of choice, then bake it into the cake the next day, Once it cools down, pick it with a skewer and brush the cake with the soaking liquid till it absorbs as much as is possible. Then wrap it tightly in a muslin cloth and repeat this each day till Christmas. The cake will be moist and flavourful.
If you have kids, then there has to be a gingerbread house. Now the golden syrup, unsalted butter, flaked almonds and candies are easily available at the store which means a gingerbread house making project with the kids is possible. But if you struggle with icing, then we have some beautifully decorated ginger bread houses; the sight of which will light your kids eyes.
Want to celebrate the season with friends and family but struggling to find the time or energy to pull it off? Here’s an easy way to feel cheerful while entertaining well. 20 minutes before you guests arrive, heat ½ cup red wine with orange and lemon slices, caster sugar, whole cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf and star anise. When it becomes a thick syrup, pour 2 bottles of Chianti into the pot and leave to simmer for 5 minutes before serving this mulled wine to your guests. It’s a warm, fragrant way to welcome your loved ones while having your home smell wonderful.
Spending the day with lots of relatives? Plan ahead and get ready to serve an amazing breakfast on Christmas morning. Amidst the rush to open presents and squeals of joy and happiness, quickly put together this large delicious dish. Just remember to pick up some bread, ham, cheese and fresh sage and thyme to whisk and bake into a quick, savoury breakfast casserole.
Of course no celebration can be complete without gifts. Did you know that in some countries people place oranges in stockings as a symbol of the legendary St. Nicholas and his sack of gold and as a reminder of gifts that are shared? Whether oranges or not, you can easily find just the right gift that will please your loved one in our chic range of Christmas hampers. For instance our Christmas Essentials Hamper is packed to the brim with delightful treats like a rich fruit cake from Theobroma, a bar of L’Exclusif dark chocolate and much more.
As we work to spreading joy and cheer to you and your loved ones, we have tied up with SOS Children’s Village of India to share this festive feeling with under-privileged kids and you can help too! At each store we have set up a Christmas tree but instead of the typical baubles we offer you the chance to buy a charm that goes up on the tree. For each charm you buy, we contribute the amount to this NGO who works to ensure the welfare of orphaned and abandoned kids. Join us as we share the merry-making with them this Christmas!
