Christmas - Christmas presence

With Christmas fast approaching, foodservice companies have been coming up with products and recipe ideas to help pub caterers cope with the seasonal rush. Here's a round-up of what's available for the big day

Soup and starters

Soup is always popular on Christmas menus. Try Maggi's wild mushroom, potato and leek or classic tomato soup. Add in

Knorr sweet red pepper concentrated finishing bouillon or a swirl of kalamata olive tapenade from the AarhausChalice range.

Distributor 3663 has added Bar Foods' roast tomato and rosemary and smoked haddock chowder to its range. Or why not

try Brakes' winter greens or Stilton with white Port soups?

Turkey tempters

Bernard Matthews' signature roast this Christmas is the boneless basted turkey breast, weighing 1.5kg. The company's

Easycarves - turkey breast and turkey breast and thigh - are supplied in roasting bags so they're easy to cook, straight from frozen if preferred.

Brakes has launched four new turkey products, including turkey breast with apple, cranberry and Port, and turkey

paupiette with vine fruit stuffing in Port jus. To spice up turkey dishes use Tilda's sauces to create dishes such as turkey korma; turkey jalfrezi or jambalaya.

Stuffing and gravy

Paxo is available in sage and onion, or parsley, thyme and lemon flavours. Try Knorr roast chicken flavour bouillon,

thickened with Knorr brown roux granules or Bisto gravy granules, available in original, chicken, onion, turkey and curry flavours. Major has a selection of 18 stock bases to create a rich turkey gravy.

One top tip is to add a splash of brandy or cream to any of the Knorr Jus gourmet gravy chicken, beef, lamb or veal varieties for an extra kick. It comes in a paste format that makes sauces in a couple of minutes.

Inspirational alternatives

Woodward advises chefs to give a twist to their Christmas menu. It suggests slowcooked braised beef in whisky and peppercorn sauce, or spiced shrimp and lemongrass skewer. Carte d'Or mango flavour coulis goes well with chicken and

prawns while the blackcurrant variety can be served with roast beef, steak or game. Ocean Spray cranberry sauces are great with chicken, ham, game and cheese. Try cranberry, tomato and brie tart.

Padley's sage and onion and cranberry and apple mini joints, made with chicken leg fillets, are a great accompaniment to crispy roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Knorr offers chefs a sous-vide system for dishes, including braised lamb knuckle, beef Bourguignon, chicken with wild

mushrooms, and ricotta cannelloni with spinach and goat's cheese. 3663 has a selection of new products in its frozen and fresh and chilled divisions. Dishes include Apetito's new steak and Stilton and chicken and asparagus rustic pies. Other new main courses include lamb shank dishes from Diversity, Loxtons' pork oysters with cranberry, leek and Stilton in Port wine sauce and Knorr pork forerib in orange

and cinnamon sauce. Children's choices include La Petite Maison mini stone-baked pizzas and mini-bruschettas; Goodlife cheddar, cream cheese and cranberry bites; and Scheff cranberry and brie wontons.

Seasonal beef and lamb

EBLEX suggests using a mixture of seasonings and herbs to create boneless rib of beef with thyme butter or seasonal fruits for roast rib of beef with kumquats and orange liqueur or try Moroccan-style roast lamb with pomegranates or festive beef poppadoms and coconut.

Bernard Matthews' fine dining range includes a variety of premium New Zealand lamb cuts that work perfectly with traditional festive accompaniments.

Try serving lamb dishes with horseradish creamed mashed potatoes, sautéed shredded brussel sprouts with pancetta

and Parmesan roast parsnips.

Vegetarian Christmas flair

The Vegetarian Society is offering a free recipe booklet, New Traditions, with ideas for a meat-free Christmas. Festive recipes include smoked bean curd medallions with

shiitake and walnut stuffing, sesame shredded brussel sprouts, Cider glazed root vegetables in a rich mulled wine reduction and lime and coriander puff pastry stars, deepfilled with cream cheese and a pea pesto.

Vegetarian dishes in Bernard Matthews fine dining range include field mushroom and Madeira Wellington, roast butternut squash, yellow pepper and sunflower seed strudel, and crisp filo pastry leaves filled with a Thai spiced yellow pepper and spring onion curry, topped with roasted

butternut squash and sunflower seeds.

Marlow Foods, makers of Quorn products, suggests Quorn pieces and vegetables in a puff pastry pillow with a creamy mustard sauce, or Quorn and cranberry parcels with brie and sesame seeds.

Brakes is offering mushroom, parsnip and cranberry rosti tart filled with sherry infused mushrooms and caramelised

onion, pear and fig cheesecake.

Cranks' stuffed vegetable range combines contemporary flavours and an authentic appearance with options including

half a fresh red pepper with a cheese risotto and fresh portobello mushroom stuffed with garlic cream cheese, topped

with a herb gratin.

Whipping out desserts

Alcohol-free Christmas puddings from Matthew Walker come in a standard range that can easily be steamed, boiled or

cooked in a pressure cooker. For something more up-market the company offers luxury Victorian Christmas pudding.

Brakes offers individual puddings with cider, sherry, fruit and peel or rich fruit covered with a creamy brandy custard.

Woodward has launched brandy au chocolat and Somerset Brie and spiced plum tart. While 3663 has added more than 20 new desserts, including Delafield's mini mince pies or the Handmade Cake Company's mincemeat and cranberry crumble slice. Other dessert choices include Speciality Desserts' chocolate and caramel nutcracker, Sidoli's cranberry and

pecan snowstorm, Alveston Kitchens' white chocolate and raspberry roulade and Indulgent Patisserie's rocky road pie.

Luxurious desserts from the Scholler Premium Fischer range include parfait caramel, Cassis Royale, raspberry and white chocolate bomb, and tartufo and ice nougat, which can all be served straight from the freezer.

Macphie offers a ready-to-use Crème Caramel, that can be used to make cranberry caramel ring, Pannacotta and Macphie Crème Brûlée.