Two Classic Christmas Recipes
that Are Simple and Tasty
Christmas often begins in the kitchen. Full plates, familiar flavours, and the comfort of sharing a meal with people you love.
These two classic Christmas recipes are easy to prepare and always popular; a honey-glazed ham for the main event, and festive gingerbread that’s just as fun to make as it is to eat.
Honey-Glazed Ham
A glazed ham is a Christmas staple for a reason. Not only does it look impressive, but it also feeds a crowd and tastes just as good the next day. When choosing the best Christmas ham for your table, look for fresh, Australian free-range pork with smooth skin and even colouring.
Prep
- Preheat your oven to 160°C (fan forced). To prevent the ham from burning, position the oven shelf on the lowest rung. Remove the ham from its packaging and place it on a cutting board, ready for preparation.
- Carefully run a knife around the handle of the bone, about 10-15cm from the end. Then, slice around the sides and under the rind top. Slide your fingers under the rind and gently peel it away, then trim off any remaining pieces.
- Next, use a small knife to score (make shallow cuts) the fat around the ham in a diamond pattern, about 3-5mm deep. Once this is done, stud the centre of each diamond with a clove to have that traditional aromatic smell and taste.
- To prepare the ham for the oven, line a large baking dish with two layers of baking paper and transfer the ham from the cutting board to the dish.
- For the glaze: In a medium-sized bowl, mix 1/3 cup of honey, ½ cup of brown sugar, 1 ½ tbsp of Dijon mustard, and 3/4 tsp of ground cinnamon until well combined. Set aside half the glaze for basting later. Then, brush the remaining glaze over the top and front-facing side of the ham.
Cook
Now, your ham is ready to go in the oven! Place the ham in the oven and cook for 1 hour and 20 minutes, basting every 20 minutes. In the last 10 minutes, pour over the remaining glaze, then remove the ham from the oven and get ready to serve!
Serve
Either slice and serve the ham warm, or allow it to cool slightly before carving. Either way, this sticky, golden ham is sure to tantalise the taste buds!
Festive Gingerbread
Baking gingerbread is one of those Christmas activities that’s just as much about the experience as the end result. It’s perfect for sharing, decorating, and enjoying with a cuppa.
Prep
- Grab a large mixing bowl, then beat 125g of butter and 100g of brown sugar until it’s pale and creamy. Next, add 125ml of golden syrup and an egg yolk to the mixture, then beat until combined. Make sure to save the egg white for later.
- Once everything has been mixed in thoroughly, stir in 375g of plain flour, 1tbsp of mixed spice, and 1tsp of bicarb soda. You now have the basic gingerbread dough!
- Lightly flour a clean, flat surface. Then, take the dough from the bowl and knead it on the flat surface until smooth.
- Once you have the desired texture, press the dough into a disc, wrap it in cling wrap, and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest. Now would be the perfect time to preheat your oven to 180°C (fan forced) and lightly grease two baking trays.
Bake
Place the dough between two sheets of baking paper and roll it out until it is about 4 mm thick. Then, using a gingerbread man-shaped cutter, cut out the gingerbread men and place them on trays, leaving at least 4cm of space between each one. Place them in the oven and bake them for around 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Once baked, transfer the gingerbread to a wire rack to cool down and harden.
Decorate
Take your saved egg white and beat it in a small bowl until soft peaks form, then gradually add icing sugar until its consistency is stiff. Then, spoon the mixture into a piping bag or small plastic bag, and decorate once the gingerbread has cooled.
Once decorated, they’re ready to enjoy!
A Little Extra Help This Christmas
Christmastime can be busy, and preparing meals, shopping, and cleaning can take a lot of energy. If you or a loved one could use an extra hand, Simply Helping is here to support you.
We offer flexible home care services, including assistance with grocery shopping, meal preparation, and everyday tasks, so you can spend less time doing chores and more time enjoying the festive season.
Click here to contact your local Simply Helping team, and see how we can support you this holiday period.
