Food inspiration is just a click away this December on the small screen, writes Nathan Adams
December is usually the time when the TV schedules get shaken up a bit and festive season cooking shows pop up on screen to so that celebrity chefs can give viewers their take on festive feasts.
Sadly, the SABC and e.tv are not exactly brimming with festive treats, that you have to look very closely to find foodie inspiration on their schedules.
Cooking with Chris Smit
SABC 3 serves up Cooking with Chris Smit on Saturdays at 4pm and on Christmas Eve the chef will be looking at traditional Christmas dishes through the eyes of a child. Chris will be baking and cooking with his God-daughter and her family and on the menu is a whole baked salmon side wrapped in phyllo pastry an orange and ginger glazed turkey as well as a crunchy cabbage salad with tropical fruit and roasted butternut and quinoa. For dessert, there is a luxurious carrot cake that will suit any Christmas lunch or dinner table.
Afternoon Express
Afternoon Express on SABC 3 also has a great cooking feature on their show which airs weekdays at 5pm.
In the kitchen there’s some mouth watering inspiration for the holidays from resident Chef Clem and guest chef Megan Daniels whipping up various Christmas lunch inspired food for their viewers.
If you do have DSTV then of course the Food Channel (channel 175) is your first stop for recipes and inspiration for a festive feast.
One highlight on the Food Channel menu is the series 12 Chefs of Christmas, Holiday Baking Challenge and Denise Van Outen’s Christmas.
12 Chefs of Christmas
12 Chefs of Christmas begins on Monday, December 19, and every day two episodes will be broadcast. There are some great baking recipes in this series including a tropical meringue cake, a Christmas trifle with a joconde sponge. On Friday, 23 December it’s a Spanish Christmas special.
Denise Van Outen’s Christmas
Denise Van Outen’s Christmas also starts on Monday, 19 December at 11am and is filled to the brim with recipes for yummy dishes like when Lisa Faulkner visits Denise on Wednesday 21 December’s episode and gives veggie options for Christmas dishes cauliflower, sage and onion steaks, alongside a perfect starter from Ina Garten - cheese and spinach soufflé.
The Food Network also has an updated and easy to use website which along with BBC Lifestyle (channel 174) and its archive of recipes make for a foolproof dishes and desserts.
Simply Nigella: Christmas Special
On Christmas Eve on BBC Lifestyle there’s the hour long Simply Nigella: Christmas Special where she aims to serve up stress free Christmas meals.
Nigella demonstrates how to make her trio of Bundt cakes and begins with a delicately flavoured cider and five-spice sponge, topped with an indulgent salted caramel sauce, followed by a delicious lemon and thyme version and ending with a pumpkin bundt adorned with an aromatic orange icing (pictured below).
She has other sweet tricks up her sleeve like her own make-ahead triple chocolate buckwheat cookies, Nigella whisks up a green spiced parsnip and spinach soup.
So if you still need inspiration on what you will serve your guests for Christmas Day lunch, then these shows should have you covered.