Christmas with Gordon: by Gordon Ramsay

This review is for the latest 2015 edition.I have collected quite a few cooking books over the years and this one is a great addition. Plenty of great Christmas dishes. Some classics with modern twists and some completely new ones for me. The book is very beautifully presented with lots of mouth-watering pictures and clear, detailed preparation instructions. Typically for Gordon you get some very fancy and complicated dishes that take time and some skill to prepare. However, there is also plenty for the occasional inexperienced cook. What I like is that there are complete Christmas menus to choose from with dishes that go together very well. Each menu has a planning section to help you prepare ahead and organise your time efficiently. Again, typically for Gordon there isn't much faffing about just straight to the point to get things done. Just how a cooking book should be.Very happy with my purchase and I cannot wait to try some of the recipes so Christmas might come early this year.Here is the list of sections and recipes from this book:PARTY FOOD:-Dry-roasted spiced nuts-Smoked salmon-witch avocado and horseradish mousse on pumpernickel-Pumpkin tartlets with sage and thyme-Marinated beef skewers with garlic and rosemary-Paprika chicken with aioli-Stilton gougeres-Stuffed dates with honey and pistachio marzipanCHRISTMAS MENUS:ROAST TURKEY MENU:-Roast turkey with lemon, parsley and garlic-Turkey gravy with cider and walnuts-Pork, apricot and pistachio stuffing-Caramelised cranberry and apple sauce-Roast potatoes with chilli and turmeric-Brussels sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts-Light steamed pudding with whiskey creamBEEF WELLINGTON MENU:-Pan-fried scallops with caper, raisin and olive vinaigrette-Christmas beef Wellington-Watercress purée-Truffle mashed potatoes-Pannacotta with pomegranate glazeGLAZZED HAM MENU-Cream of cauliflower soup with truffle oil and croutons-Haney glazed ham-Pear and saffron chutney-Parsnip purée-Creamed cabbage with thyme-Ricotta cake with caramelised clementines and star aniseSEA BASS MENU:-Smoked duck breast salad with pomegranate vinaigrette-Pan-fried sea bass with lemongrass veloute-Potato and celeriac dauphinoise-Broccoli and sugar snap peas-Sherry-glazed figs with pine nut brittleROAST GOOSE MENU:-Roast goose with five spice and honey-Redcurrant and red wine sauce-Braised red cabbage and apple-Honey glazed carrots and parsnip-Passion fruit parfaitBREAKFAST & BRUNCH:-Christmas muesli-Chestnut muffins-Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toasted croissants-Ham and potato cakes-Cinnamon pancakes with caramelised apples-Provencal Christmas breadLUNCHES & SUPPERS-Pumpkin soup with wild mushrooms-Linguine with mushrooms and truffle-Ideas for smoked salmon: *Potted salmon with harissa *Smoked salmon chowder *Farfalle with smoked salmon and peas *Smoked salmon and char-grilled potato salad-Poached side of salmon with a light tarragon mayonnaise-Salmon salad nicoise with coddled eggs-Ideas for cooked turkey: *Soba noodles and turkey in miso broth *Turkey, cranberry and wild rice pilaf *Turkey curry *Turkey, chorizo and bean stew-Pan-fried duck breast with spiced orange and cranberry sauce-Shallot tart tatin with roasted tomatoes and goat's cheese-Ideas for cooked ham: *Pea and ham soup with minted crème fraiche *Spaghetti 'carbonara' *Glazed ham salad with roquefort dressing *Leek, ham and mushroom pies-Winter minestrone with walnut pesto-Pumpkin risotto-Bubble and squeak cakes-Ideas for stilton *Stilton and walnut palmiers *Celeriac, apple and stilton soup *Griddled fig salad with stilton dressing *Steak with mushroom and blue cheese sauceSWEET TREATS:-Italian-style trifle-Christmas bombe-Pear and amaretto cheesecake-Vanilla shortbread-Cranberry mince pies-Cinnamon and almond drizzle cake-White chocolate biscotti with pistachios and dried cranberries-Mint chocolate trufflesI hope you found this review informative and helpful. Thanks for reading.

Use it all year round, easy recipes for top food outcome

I've gone from "Gordon Ramsay is completely obnoxious and not worth watching" to "Gordon Ramsay is a culinary genius" and hang on his every word.If you follow his recipes very carefully you end up with just amazingly flavoured food. I love that when the ingredients are put together the flavours are so perfectly balanced that whole new flavours emerge. I also love that many of his recipes are demonstrated on a video site to help with technique and presentation.Our Christmas dinners have been the same since i was a child and they have been lovely. This year we've decided to go for a full Gordon Christmas so i decided to get this book.Although the book is now a decade old it's still beautifully presented (maybe time to spoil us with another edition???) and contains all the elements for a spectacular christmas dinner from party food, the main meal right through to desserts. The christmas pudding looks delicious and intriguing as it's much different to the one i currently make.You get suggestions for cheeses and wine to accompany different foods as well as christmas staples.Some of the recipes appearing on my christmas table will be the potato and celeriac dauphinoise, pear and saffron chutney (sounds like something that Mrs Bennett would have on her table at Longbourn), Gordon's signature beef wellington. So much yummy stuff in this book.One of the difficulities with cooking a vast dinner is timing everything. Gordon helps us out with a timeline...well in advance...day before 1.5 hours ahead etc. It's a really handy guide and great for the less experienced chef to make sure the meal goes according to plan.This is my new christmas cooking bible.

A great book. I was looking for it for a long time and finally gave it to myself for my birthday. Thoroughly explained fantastic and delicious recipes, some of which I had tried before this purchase. I have been preparing the Christmas turkey for eight years using the recipe from this book, the best ever - confirmed by my numerous friends.

Magnifique !

Classic, great recipes. Easy to follow for the average home chef!

...premesso...amo la cucina british e amo Gordon come chef..per i fan questo libro è assolutamente consigliato..ci sono molte ricette ben spiegate, alcune elaborate ma piuttosto fattibili anche per chi cucina in casa propria.va specificato che però alcuni prodotti o ingredienti sono di difficile reperibilità qui in Italia e quindi ci si deve ingegnare o informare per trovare un'alternativa. Così come la ricetta del risotto magari a noi italiani sembrerà banale se non una presa in giro ma lui lo prepara a modo suo e nella sua testa il libro è stato scritto per gli inglesi..che il risotto non mangiano tanto spesso=). per il resto molto ben impaginato e illustrato. l'ho comprato in inglese anche perché alcuni lettori hanno trovato qua e là errori di traduzione nella versione italiana.if you love Chef Ramsay as I do, you must have this book in your kitchen. Delicious recipes perfect for Christmas period, well explained and with a lot of photos that make you eager to try them all at once! most of them are "easy" or at least practicable and if needed, you can help out with videos by Gordon on youtube

Well written and beautiful photographs. Gordon Ramsay splits the book into chapters by Christmas meal favorites and tells you how to prepare the "dinner". So whether you have turkey, ham, beef wellington, or fish...he has your menu. The last few chapters shows you what to do the morning after for breakfast and how to tackle left overs. He sprinkles desserts and cocktails/drinks throughout as well. Highly recommend.