Christmas help is at hand
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We are halfway to Christmas Eveâhow did that happen? It is time to plan the food shopping, and what to make when, and while we canât do your shopping or organise your diary for you, we can certainly make sure that you have all the ideas, recipes, and ingredient lists you could possibly need. Christmas ckbk-style is a tempting proposition!
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We have a whole bookshelf of Christmas gorgeousness for you to browse. You can stay traditional with Christmas: Le Cordon Bleu Home Collection, where you will find all the essentials and a useful section on Chefâs Techniques, such as that for Carving a Turkey.
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If you want some step-by-step guidance, not just to the recipes but how to manage the whole shebang, Yvette Van Bovenâs Home Made Christmas is designed specifically to âprevent a total panic attackâ. With endless experience providing home cooks through stress-free dinners and celebrations, Yvette holds your hand and talks you through every step of the way.
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Donât forget that Chefâs Host Christmas Too. Top chef Darren Purchese, judge of Australian Bake Off, knows a thing or two about hosting and making Christmas food fun. From Blinis to Pavlova, heâs got the holidays covered.
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While you are in the party spirit, and if your festivities go beyond Christmas, donât forget we have a Celebrations Bookshelf too.
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Pictured above:Â Christmas Porchetta from Home Made Christmas by Yvette van Boven
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Better than Nonna: Modernised Italian RecipesÂ
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âI would not be the chef I am today â celebrating Italian cuisine, creating recipes, or introducing the world to our way of life â if it wasnât for my nonna.â Danilo Cortellini
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As Italian-born, London-based chef Danilo Cortellini is at pains to stress in the introduction to his new book Better than Nonna: Modernised Italian Recipes, he means âabsolutely no disrespectâ to his nonna, or anyoneâs nonna. His passion is for Italian food, for the cooking he learned as a child in Abruzzo from his mother and nonna.
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What he aims to do in the dishes he has created and served across two and a half decades working in London restaurants, (in Michelin kitchens and a decade as head chef of the Italian Embassy) is to pay homage to that legacy, and then to build on it to create superb, refined, modern Italian food. It is this that he has put also into his newly published second book, available now in full on ckbk.
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Honouring Leah Chase, the âQueen of Creole Cuisineâ
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New Orleans chef and restaurateur Leah Chase (1923-2019) left an unparalleled legacy, and was an inspiring and important figure in the culture and cuisine of the American South. Dooky Chaseâs, the family restaurant she transformed into a gathering place and political hub, has played host to pop stars and presidents. They came together over the Creole food she cherished, and brought to kitchens across America through her book The Dooky Chase Cookbook.
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The book is filled with the story of what it took to create the great Dooky Chaseâs, and the recipes that drew people to it. Try Fried Cheese Grits, Creole Gumbo, or Butter Cake, and read more about the legendary Leah Chase in our Behind the Cookbook feature.Â
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Try out our new photo feature, and you might win ckbk gifts!
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We love hearing from you, knowing you are using ckbk, making fabulous food and enjoying the results. Thereâs nothing we like more than reading your reviews, except perhaps seeing what youâve made! Now, with our new feature you can post a photo with your review.
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To kick of this fabulous new feature, we are holding a competition. For the best photo posted before January 1 2025 we are giving away a yearâs free ckbk Premium Membership and one of our exclusive ckbk aprons. To read more about our new feature, how it works, and how you can start posting, hereâs a word from our co-founder Matt. We canât wait to see your foodie pictures!
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Ingredient focus: cranberries
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As synonymous with Christmastime as the holly berry, the cranberry is an edible berry that grows on a low scrubby woody plant, and has long been cultivated in North America. Most popular in Northern Europe and North America, cranberries are very tart in flavor, with excellent preservative properties. Which accounts for the fact that they keep a long time without any treatment, and have historically been used in preserves.
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Cranberryâs sharp taste works best dried or sweetened in pastries and cakes, and is a good foil for rich meat and savory dishes. Cranberry Sauce is a must-have with the Thanksgiving turkey, and wouldnât be amiss with the Christmas roast.
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6 of the best Christmas cupcakes
When the kids are home from school, or youâve got friends to entertain, who feels like a little light baking? December 15 is Cupcake Day, so here are 6 sensational cupcake recipes for a little festive fun.
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from Crazy Sweet Creations by Ann Reardon
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from Bad Girl Bakery by Jeni Iannetta
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from Zingermanâs Bakehouse Celebrate Every Day: A Year's Worth of Favorite Recipes for Festive Occasions, Big and Small by Amy Emberling, Lindsay-Jean Hard, Lee Vedder and Corynn Coscia
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from Cupcakes for Kids by Cortina Butler and Rosie Anness
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from Cupcakes for Kids by Rosie Anness and Cortina Butler
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from Dip In Brilliant: An Indian Recipe Adventure with a Contemporary Twist by Dipna Anand
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