Foodie Gift Guide + Leftover Turkey Recipes Part II
And Happy Holidays from me to you!!
Hello pickles, I hope you’ve had a great and festive week so far! This week’s newsletter is going to provide you with three more leftover turkey recipes, so make sure to save them for those days after the holidays' when you’re desperate for inspiration!
We’ve got just over a week until Christmas (aaaah), so for those of you who are looking for last minute gift ideas for foodies, don’t stress. Further down in this newsletter, I’ve given you a few of my favourite ideas ranging from cookbooks to homemade edible gifts that my friends and family have loved in the past!
But first up, the weekly recipe round up! Last week I shared my Leftover Turkey, Brie, and Cranberry Flatbreads, Turkey Mac and Cheese, and my Grinch Dumplings. They’re all great for using up any leftover turkey. But, if they’re not enough, check out my three new recipes below!
WEEKLY ROUND UP
DUMPLING WREATH - Take a break from making difficult recipes for Christmas and start making easy show stoppers like my Dumpling Wreath. It's so simple to make, absolutely gorgeous, and such a fantastic centrepiece for your festive table. It’s one of those dishes that will really impress your guests so let me show you how to make it.
SWEET CHILLI TURKEY QUESADILLAS - This Sweet Chilli Turkey Quesadilla is going to become your new favourite festive lunch. Topped with a homemade avocado drizzle and stuffed with a cheesy turkey sweet chilli filling, it's full of flavour, slightly spicy, creamy, and easy to make. I think you're going to love it!
HOMEMADE LEFTOVER TURKEY RAMEN - I often get asked which of my recipes I make the most, and homemade ramen has to be up there. This is my Homemade Leftover Turkey Ramen. It's warming, full of flavour, and really customisable. It's also a great way to make the most of your turkey leftovers including the carcass.
LITTLE FOODIE GIFT GUIDE
If you have a friend or family member that loves food, OR your love language is making food for other people, then here are a few things I’d recommend for last minute holiday gift-giving!
Cookbooks: I own all of the books below and each of them have a very specific purpose. They’re all fantastic and full of creative, helpful, joyful recipes. Some of them also happen to have been written by my friends (VERY proud friend moment!!!).
Beat The Budget by Mimi Harrison: An absolute go-to if you’re looking for delicious meals on a budget. And with the current cost of living crisis, there’s no better time to invest in a cookbook that’ll save you time and money! From breakfast recipes to weeknight winners, to one pot wonders, and takeaways, Mimi’s book is full of gorgeous recipes that won’t break the bank. She provides an array of tips for budgeting as well as meal planners and shopping lists!
Have You Eaten? by Verna Gao: This gorgeous Asian-inspired recipe cookbook is all about eating based on your mood. So, whether you’re craving a speedy 10-minute creamy peanut noodle dish that brings “simplicity and peace”, or a plump dumpling perfect for joyful potluck parties, you can discover dishes to satisfy every mood and occasion.
Mob 6: Written by the wonderfully talented Saskia Sidey, the MOB 6 book is a must-have in the kitchen. Every recipe only requires 6 ingredients and they’re all phenomenal. You’ve got quick, fuss-free dishes ready in less than 20 minutes like their preserved lemon + prawn linguine, or more time consuming (yet still only 6 ingredients!!) dishes like chipotle chicken and pineapple tacos.
Do yourself a flavour by Fliss Freeborn: I love a cookbook that is full of sass and fun, and that’s what the chef delivers for this one. Fliss is a hugely talented writer and cook. Her cookbook “Do yourself a flavour” provides 75 easy recipes to feed yourself, your flatmates, and your freezer. A great one for students or flat-sharing friends, who fancy a bit of a laugh while cooking too.
Gluten-free Christmas by Becky Excell: To any gluten-free friends out there, I’ve got you! Vibrant Becky (queen of gluten free cooking) has come out with the ultimate gluten-free Christmas cookbook. She also has 4 other cookbooks (all gluten free of course) that you could look into too! I love her “Quick + Easy Gluten Free” Cookbook that shows just how easy and quick gluten free cooking can be!
The 20 Minute Vegan by Calum Harris: For all you vegan-curious or plant-based fanatics out there, this book is for YOU. A cracking cookbook for this Christmas filled with dozens of vegan recipes that all take less than 20 minutes to make. Fuss free, simple, and super tasty.
Homemade Food Gifts: I’ve made my fair share of homemade food gifts over the years, whether it’s been a big jar of kimchi, chilli oil, or nut butter, they’re all really fun and thoughtful gifts to give this Christmas! I love buying a load of jars and then labelling them for friends and family!
Homemade Kimchi - I love this recipe by Doobydobap! Click here!
Homemade Chilli Oil - there are so many chilli oil recipes out there, but this one by Red House Spice or by Zenas Kitchen are fantastic!
Homemade Nut Butter - a lovely almond butter recipe for you!
Homemade Honeycomb - so much easier to make than you think! Check this one out for a simple recipe covered in chocolate!
A few other bits and bobs: the wonderful thing about food lovers, is that there is an unlimited number of possible gifts. I’ll share a few below that I would buy for any foodie friend.
Food posters: Just type “food posters” into Etsy or even just Google, and you’ll find any array of fun, random, graphic-style designs. Pick one that resonates most with your friend, for example, if they LOVE coffee, then type “coffee poster”, or if they can’t stop eating ramen, look up “ramen poster”. Such a great gift that adds to someones space!
Tableware: You can either go for more local independent shop gift searching for this, or you can look online. Some of the classic large shops like H&M or ZARA have great bowls, plates, and tablecloths. But I would recommend looking for a more local brand to support over Christmas near you!
Kitchen gadgets: If you’ve got a bigger budget, an air fryer (Ninja is my favourite brand) is a cracker of a present. A good pan, food processor, or blender are all great options too (Our Place pans are colourful and fun, bit more on the expensive side though. I also love ProCook for a more budget-friendly brand).
Okay, I think that sums up all my gift ideas for you! I hope it was helpful (even though it’s a bit last minute!!).
I’m going to be taking a couple of weeks off work to celebrate Christmas and refresh my brain! I hope you all have a glorious holiday season and I can’t wait to share more delicious, simple, and exciting recipes in the new year! Thank you for being here and supporting me, I really appreciate each and every one of you!!!!
Sending lots of love and festive hugs!!!
Em xxx