At CENA we think Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It gathers families and loved ones together in cosy homes, gifts are exchanged and, most importantly, there are ample opportunities to create fantastic festive dishes for everyone to enjoy.
We all know how useful our garden or outdoor space can be during the holidays. Drinks can be chilled in the open air as the fridge starts to heave with delicious seasonal food, provided it doesn’t drop below freezing! Walks in the chilly winter air are fun, refreshing and added to that, 100% necessary after indulgence in mince pies, Christmas cake, chocolates and more… But what about having a go at cooking your Christmas lunch outside too?
Are you a turkey traditionalist, a goose devotee or do you choose a premium cut of beef for your Christmas lunch? You can cook all of these options and more on your outdoor kitchen. The multitude of features also mean you can spend some time in the fresh air - therefore avoiding cabin fever and a house full of inexplicably noisy toys! It will also free up space in the house whilst you deliver seriously tasty dishes to the hungry hordes.
There may be a few tweaks to your menu depending on your outdoor kitchen features, or you can utilise the indoor kitchen for any dishes on the must-have list. Included a side burner? Use this to boil the sprouts and par-boil potatoes exactly as you normally would. Likewise, you can roast seasonal vegetables using indirect heat from the grill, whilst you use a rotisserie attachment to carefully cook the turkey. Place a tin under the bird to catch the juices for that all-important gravy and do your pigs-in-blankets on the grill. Our little CENA tip for a flavoursome and moist turkey this year? Fill the cavity with lemon, thyme and garlic and then rub a butter, herb and seasoned paste under the skin for a taste sensation.
The variations for what constitutes a 'traditional' Christmas dinner is exactly why it is such a much-loved meal. Love a Yorkshire pudding with turkey? Why not! Chipolatas, stuffing and pigs-in-blankets? Why, yes! Make cooking lunch a team effort by asking people to choose and prepare their own favourite side dish to accompany the roast. Make cooking outdoors a fun element of the day and give everyone a break from the house.
Whatever you choose to cook on your outdoor kitchen, there is one very important thing to remember – to make sure everyone can enjoy a warming drink whilst you cook. Mulled wine, winter Pimms and cinnamon cider are just a few of the wonderful options you can choose from… There's tea and coffee, of course, but it's Christmas therefore we advise that a little indulgence is OK! Champagne, anyone?