PARTY NIBBLES Having a few friends round for some
pre-Christmas drinks and want to provide homemade nibbles without the hassle of spending hours in the kitchen just before they arrive? Make your party nibbles now and freeze them so you can just defrost and pop them on a plate or in the oven before they arrive. Filo pastry triangles and sausage rolls are ideal as can go straight from the freezer to the oven and not affect their freshly baked taste!
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8j d 6 VEGETARIAN TREATS
It’s not all about meat at Christmas; there is still plenty of preparation involved in producing the perfect festive meal for
vegetarians. Make use of the abundant seasonal fruit and veg on offer to prepare some dishes in advance and freeze or pickle. If
you have a favourite green grocer, find out if they offer Christmas veg boxes and get them ordered!
CHRISTMAS CAKE, PUDDING
CHRISTMAS BREAKS AT THE CASTLE HOTEL, TAUNTON The Castle at Taunton has been welcoming travellers since the 12th century, it’s grandeur and tradition make it a great place to get away during the festive season and the Castle's philosophy of using only the best local ingredients translates into a real dining experience, West Country produce at its finest. Christmas breaks are now available. Stay for two or three nights, arriving on Christmas Eve. Throughout your stay you’ll enjoy full board and we’ll even throw in the occasional tipple! Two night packages are available from £489 per person and three nights, from £689 per person. Should you wish to stay longer, or indeed arrive earlier, we will be happy to tailor a break especially for you. For more offers and information see
www.the-castle-hotel.com or call 01823 272671.
AND MINCE PIES! The best Christmas cakes and puddings are always made well in advance of the big day giving them a rich, moist and succulent flavour. To get the best results, start making your cakes and puddings now selecting the finest ingredients where possible. Once made, wrap in baking parchment and store in a tin or air tight container. Spend the next couple of months adding a drop of brandy over the top of the cake every now and then to create a moist, juicy texture. Go easy on the amount of alcohol though, or you may have a few drunkards lying about before proceedings even get underway! Ice your cake in the run up to Christmas and enjoy! Now time for the mince pies. They are easy to make and perfect for freezing. Make a few batches now and freeze, getting them out as and when you need them.
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Christmas and New Year’s Eve are fast approaching, the countdown to your festive party has begun. Whether you’re planning an extravagant party for the entire office or a relaxed festive lunch with colleagues and friends, Bovey Castle’s unrivalled location and luxurious ambience will effortlessly impress. Watch the December cold draw in around you from the warmth of Bovey Castle’s interior, sip mulled wine and champagne beside a roaring log fire and savour decadent food in The Edwardian Grill restaurant. Christmas parties start from £35.95 per person, including weekend dates.
GET AHEAD FOR CHRISTMAS Ordering early this Christmas might be more beneficial than you think! This Christmas Jon Thorner’s is offering one lucky customer the chance to win £1000, and one customer from each of their seven butchery counters could win a hamper worth £50! You automatically go into the Prize Draw when you place your Christmas or New Year order. You can place your order online at
www.jonthorners.co.uk or pop into one of their shops in Pylle, Beckington, Farrington Gurney, Frampton Cotterell, Radstock, Reading or Street. For over 35 years Jon Thorner’s has offered a diverse and interesting range of locally sourced festive fare.
Looking for inspirational foodie gifts? Try Purely Devon Hampers. Choose from a beautiful range of luxury Christmas hampers all brimming with 100% Devon produce. You can even create your own hamper for a truly personal gift. We offer a selection of Jute bags, gift baskets and traditional wicker hampers as well as individual produce, all available from our online Fine Food Store. West Country FOODLOVER readers receive 10% off their hamper orders with code PDH110WFL. For more details see
purelydevonhampers.co.uk or call 01626 873671
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