Get festive with peaches, plums and nectarines
December 2022
The holiday season is finally here, and we are so ready for sun and fun. While we are going to make the most of our Instagram moments, this is also the time to really dig deep into our authentic connections with those in our in-person circles of family and friends who support us through thick and thin. There’s no better, more human way to do this than bringing our people, our tribe, around the table and the fire for special celebration meals.
What you want is a contemporary repertoire of fresh, easy recipes that bring together the sense of occasion, the goodness of seasonal produce and the urge to do something a little different and more exciting than last summer.
This year, celebrity chefs and popular cookbook authors, Mokgadi Itsweng and Jenny Morris have collaborated with Juicy Delicious to curate and compile an ultimate 2022 festive food menu for the holiday season. It’s a special collection that highlights the versatility of the season and South Africa’s bounty of peaches, nectarines and plums that are prized in overseas markets. From the freshest of salads to a redolent take on a classic, baked pudding, these recipes will inspire you to add unforgettable colour, texture, flavour, succulence and crispness to your festive meals.
Mokgadi says, “As the cook and host, it makes sense to take full advantage of what the generous South African summer has to offer. As a rule, I always advise people to make use of seasonal fruit and veg. They are affordable, at the peak of their taste profile and abundantly available. Actively look for innovative ways to add raw and fresh fruit to your salads for extra crunch, sweetness and celebratory flair. Stone fruit pairs amazingly well with a wide range of ingredients from cheeses to nuts and seeds. Fresh and raw suits the hot days and warm nights of summer so well. You can serve veg and fruit platters as pre-dinner snacks or starters and with dessert to accommodate those who are focused on healthy lifestyles.”
Jenny Morris has some smart tips on including fresh fruit in your table décor. She says:
· Use eucalyptus leaves to create a centrepiece down the middle of your table. Place nectarines and some brushed gold Christmas balls in between the leaves with a few candles.
· This is visually stunning – simply weave rosemary stalks on a round wooden board to create a wreath. Then arrange large purple-red plums in the wreath. Place a tall glass vase centre of the wreath and fill it with plums and water.
Explore the Juicy Delicious menu of 2022 festive recipes created by Jenny Morris and Mokgadi Itsweng:
NECTARINE AND SORGHUM SALAD by Mokgadi
MOROCCAN LAMB STUFFED PEACHES AND NECTARINES by Jenny
ROASTED PEACH GAZPACHO by Mokgadi
BACON AND NECTARINE STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS by Jenny
GAMMON STEAKS WITH GINGERED CLING PEACH SALSA by Jenny
ORIENTAL SEARED TUNA SALAD WITH PLUMS by Jenny
FESTIVE PEACH ROULADE by Jenny
PEACH UPSIDE DOWN CAKE by Mokgadi
PLUMLICIOUS CHRISTMAS PARCELS by Jenny
Follow @juicydelicioussa on Instagram or visit www.juicydelicious.co.za