Quick and tasty recipes for Christmas get-togethers
JAKARTA (JP): These recipes can help you celebrate Christmas in an old-fashioned way. They are wonderful served at family gatherings on Christmas Eve. To make things easier during the hectic holidays, prepare quiche and eggnog in the morning, chill the eggnog in the refrigerator and reheat the quiche in an oven at 120 degree Celsius for 10 minutes.
Christmas Quiche
Shortcrust pastry * 450 g flour * 1/2 tsp salt * 250 g butter * 3 tbsp cold water
Filling * 5 eggs, separated, * 150 g grated Parmesan cheese * 350 ml milk * a dash of salt, pepper, nutmeg * 200 g bacon * 150 g parboiled spinach * 150 g grated cheddar cheese
Makes 8 servings
1. For the pastry, combine flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter, toss the mixture with a fork, sprinkle in one tablespoon of water at a time, combine well until moistened. Form dough into a ball.
2. On a lightly floured surfaced, roll the dough from center to edge, forming a 23-centimeter in diameter circle. Gently place the pastry on a pie pan. Prick the surface with a fork, line with aluminum foil and fill with rice grains (to ensure the pastry is flat). Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and arrange cooked spinach on the pastry, set aside.
3. Meanwhile, beat egg yolks in a bowl until thick, stir in grated Parmesan cheese, milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Set aside.
4. Fry bacon until crisp, cut into small pieces and add to the milk mixture.
5. In a clean bowl, whisk egg whites until stiff. Gently fold into milk mixture. Pour the mixture on the pastry. Top with grated cheddar cheese. Bake for 30 minutes. Garnish with parsley, Serve warm.
Eggnog
* 5 eggs, separated * 200 g sugar * 500 ml milk * 100 ml rum * 100 ml Martini * 1 tsp vanilla essence * 1/2 tsp salt * 200 ml double cream, whipped * 100 g sugar * a dash of nutmeg
Makes 13 servings
1. Beat egg yolks and sugar at high speed until thick. Stir in milk, rum, vanilla, Martini and salt. Chill thoroughly.
2. In a large bowl, beat egg whites and sugar until stiff. Gently fold in egg yolk mixture and whipped cream. Combine well.
3. Pour into individual serving glasses, sprinkle with nutmeg powder. Chill until needed. (Maria Endah Hulupi)