A Christmas Carol Feast
BY Alison Wiebe
Prepare a lavish Christmas Carol feast with recipes inspired by Charles Dickens’ beloved Christmas story!
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
The influence of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on the holiday season can hardly be understated. Credited with reinventing Christmas, it is this heartwarming tale that solidified many of the holiday traditions we still hold dear today. The beloved tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s personal transformation following the visits from three spirits on Christmas Eve night is our inspiration for this decadent holiday feast. Featuring many of the classic dishes mentioned in A Christmas Carol, this feast is packed with traditional flavours and plenty of good cheer!
Scrooge’s Gruel: Oatmeal with Honey Spiced Pears
Oatmeal topped with sweet honey spiced pears is creamy and decadent and a far cry from the watery, thin gruel of Ebenezer Scrooge’s old life!
Baked Oysters with Vermouth Cream
While baked oysters are considered something of a luxury item today, oysters were actually quite common and affordable during the Victorian era, and enjoyed equally by the poor and the rich. These baked oysters with vermouth cream, topped with a buttery crunch crumb with bacon, would have provided a luxurious and decadent touch to the Cratchit family’s Christmas feast and showcased the generosity and abundance of the holiday season.
Roast Goose with Port Wine Gravy
There is perhaps no more iconic food associated with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol than a luscious and tender roast goose! With golden, crispy skin and tender dark meat, a slow roasted goose is the perfect crowning glory for a Victorian Christmas feast. A homemade giblet broth adds rich savoury flavour to the Port wine gravy.
Brandied Cherry and Apple Stuffing
Brandied cherry and apple stuffing is a delicious twist on the traditional Christmas stuffing, infused with a touch of elegance and a burst of fruity and spiced flavours!
Goose Fat Hasselback Potatoes
For the Cratchit family Christmas dinner, there would have certainly been at least one potato side dish. The abundance of golden goose fat rendered from Mrs. Cratchit’s roast goose are put to excellent use in these crispy roasted hasselback potatoes.
Mulled Wine Braised Red Cabbage
For a special Christmas treat, pair red cabbage with the festive flavours of mulled wine. Paired with a roast goose, the sweet and tangy flavours of the cabbage serve to balance the richness of the goose. Red wine and warm mulling spices add a holiday flair to this humble cabbage side dish.
Smoking Bishop
Smoking Bishop is best enjoyed as the snowflakes gently fall and the faint melody of carollers fill the air in quaint Victorian London. Made famous by Charles Dickens, this traditional Victorian mulled wine recipe is a delightful blend of red wine, Port wine, citrus fruits and spices.
Traditional Plum Pudding with Brandy Butter Sauce
The Cratchit family’s splendid Christmas dinner is triumphantly finished with a flaming plum pudding. Plum pudding has a long history in British cooking and is a much beloved Christmas delight. Studded with a plethora of candied, dried, and fresh fruit and then steamed to perfection, plum pudding is the perfect ending to our Christmas feast.
