Decadent but doable recipes to enhance your Christmas menu

From the team at NZ House & Garden [NZ House & Garden] [NZ House & Garden - Style and Entertaining]( Hi {NAME}, And just like that, December is here again and our thoughts turn to planning end-of-year festivities. There’s simply no better way to ease into the delights of the season than with a cocktail or a chilled bottle of something special, kept cool in a pretty handmade ice bucket (read on for these easy-to-make recipes). Then, we’ve got your Big Day covered in our bright and beautiful December issue with decadent but doable recipes to enhance your festive menu. Maite Paternain has created a splendid feast of savoury dishes infused with global flavours that will bring some exotic deliciousness to your celebration table. And I have added more than a sprinkling of extra charm to some much-loved baking and desserts with new twists and flavour combinations. However big or small your gathering, these are the dishes that will make it a delectable, feel-good feast to remember. And on that note, I raise a glass to you and yours and wish you all a truly wonderful Christmas and happy holidays. See you next year. [Julie Le Clerc] Julie Le Clerc Food Editor [Julie Le Clerc] Julie Le Clerc Food Editor     From the files   Summer Garden Cocktail A gorgeous strawberry and basil syrup flavours this festive tipple. Serve garnished with flowers for a summery look. [Get the recipe]( Party Ice Bucket Keeping champagne and wine chilled will never look more impressive than when sitting in this pretty ice bucket. [Get the recipe](     Sponsored content Gift for life Spice up your Christmas gift-giving with Tearfund’s catalogue of meaningful gifts that support life-changing development projects overseas. Pick a gift, and we’ll send you a card to give your recipient that lets them know you’ve made a life-changing donation in their honour. Perfect for stocking stuffers or paired with chocolate! [Shop now]( I'm loving...   Recipes for a Lifetime of Beautiful Cooking By Danielle Alvarez with Libby Travers, Murdoch Books, $55 Danielle Alvarez is a brilliant restaurant chef who has distilled her vast knowledge and insight into this cookbook that’s very much about the joy of cooking at home. There’s a great amount to learn from her thoughtfully written advice. Start by following her guide to a well-stocked pantry, as this gives you a toolbox of flavours with the power to make any simple produce sing. With a gifted appreciation of balanced flavours, the recipes are designed around making delicious, feel-good meals with what’s available, according to the seasons, your budget, and personal taste. Danielle shares many clever ways to make the most of what you’ve got, such as how to stretch out main ingredients into more than one great meal. It's guaranteed to help you find happiness in your kitchen. Enjoy: Food Worth Sharing with the People You Love By Kelly Gibney, Beatnik Publishing, $60 Local food writer Kelly Gibney understands the power food has to bring people together, and the recipes in her latest book are intended to do just that. In this, her second book, she shares more of her accessible, wholefood-driven recipes – this time from a very personal angle, as these are the dishes she loves to cook with and for her own family. There are plenty of quick, tasty and nourishing meals for busy weeknights and some worth taking a little more time. Kelly’s goal is to show people that healthy meals can be as full of flavour as they are of nutrients. And more than this, she shows that food is about creating memories, family traditions, and mealtime wins where everyone around the table is happy with what’s on their plate. This is simple, homemade food with generous flavours that everyone will enjoy.   Sponsored content A year of amazing ballet The Royal New Zealand Ballet has announced an exceptional lineup for 2024, including two of the most beloved ballets, Swan Lake and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Midyear it has Solace, an exciting trio of premieres; Wayne McGregor’s haunting Infra and two new commissions: To Hold by Sarah Foster-Sproull and High Tide by Alice Topp. Subscription packages and tickets to individual shows are available now. [Book now](   Christmas Charity Cookies For a third year, Chantal Organics and Bread & Butter bakery are collaborating on their annual Christmas Charity Cookie campaign to raise funds for families doing it tough. Bags of mouth-watering shortbread cookies, infused with orange zest and topped with white chocolate and freeze-dried orange peel are being sold throughout the month of December. In Auckland, the cookies are available from Farro, Ecostore and Bread & Butter bakery, with donations going to Auckland City Mission. In Wellington, the cookies are available at Commonsense, with proceeds going to Wellington City Mission. In Napier, Chantal Shop is donating funds to Nourished for Nil, a local non-profit organisation. $12.65 per bag, with $5 from every pack sold going to people in need. Baron Hasselhoff's gift box Wellington-based, craft chocolate makers, Baron Hasselhoff’s have put together a festive gift box of assorted treats for chocolate lovers. The Everything for Everyone with All the Love gift box is packed full of delights – there’s premium chocolate bars, such as Marj's Yule Trifle Bar tasting of raspberry brandy sponge and custard, and Mistress Tahini, a vegan bar made with tahini and oat milk; and a delicious range of creamy truffles, with exotic flavours like chai spice and Szechuan pepper; and rose, raspberry and pomegranate molasses; plus some seasonal surprises. And they’re all as good as they sound. Surprise loved ones with this curated selection of extraordinary tastes, delivered right to their doorstep. $138 from [baronhasselhoffs.com](.   Giveaway Win a CIRCA Holiday Collection fragrance set Transform your space into a festive wonderland with CIRCA’s Limited Edition Holiday Collection. Featuring best-selling home fragrances Raspberry & Rhubarb, Gingerbread Cookies and Pine & Snow Gum, this 11-piece collection is sure to appeal to a wide range of Christmas-lovers. We have two sets to give away, valued at more than $500 each. Competition closes at 11:59pm on December 13, 2023. Terms & Conditions apply. [Enter now](   Giveaway Win a George Street Linen mulberry silk pillowcase Have a healthy, sumptuous night's sleep with [George Street Linen]( 100% organic mulberry silk pillowcases. These pillowcases come in a range of premium colours and are great for keeping your hair and skin healthy throughout the night. We have 10 pillowcases to giveaway, valued at $89 each. Competition closes at 11:59pm on December 13, 2023. Terms & Conditions apply. [Enter here](   [Visit our website]( [Buy now]( You are receiving this email because you are opted in to receive the NZ House & Garden newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Terms and Conditions]( | [Privacy Policy]( © Copyright 2023 NZ House & Garden, a division of Stuff Limited (Magazines). Stuff, 4 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland 1021, New Zealand [Instagram](