Taste.com.au December 2021

Is it just me? Or is relishing the thought and the plan for Christmas almost as good as Christmas itself? This year, more than ever, I’m all about ramping up the good times, and slashing the fuss-time. I’m guessing you feel the same, especially if you’ve missed friends and family as much as I have. That’s why this issue is dedicated to making the festive season effortless. If it’s simple rock-star recipes you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. The jelly cheesecake trifle on our cover from resident rock star, Matt Preston, is an absolute must, and combines perfectly with the flavourpacked delights from Matt’s amazing new book – have a taste from page 60. And rock-star royalty is here, too, with brilliant dishes from Jane and Jimmy Barnes, page…

Tuscan salmon & risoni tray bake On the table in only 30 minutes. ★★★★★ Easy to make, tasted delicious. Good sized portions. @JANE BARTLEY OMG heavenly delicious...! Even my five-year-old loved it. Will make this again. @TANNIE_22 Roast chicken with pistachio stuffing Perfect idea for Christmas. ★★★★★ The stuffing is always the Last thing to be finished, but not this time... @CHRISTINEKIRSCH I’d never cooked a roast chicken before. I tried this on my family and it was so yummy! Everyone had seconds! @ELIZABETH86 Salted caramel cheesecake An easy no-bake dessert. ★★★★★ Loved it! Swapped the salted caramel for butterscotch caramel sauce. @NYSSALEA Made this last weekend. Not a crumb left. Several people asked for the recipe. It was a hit! @HARMONYPUFFIN SEND US YOUR PICS #cookedwithtaste tastemag@news.com.au…

The Christmas cover of taste is the most keenly discussed recipe of the year. This year was no different. The basics are simple – we want to give you something you’ll be excited to cook at the end of the working year. So what do you want? What recipe do you really need for your festive table? For starters, we know that December is the month most keenly associated with that delicious dessert double act of cheesecakes and trifle. Trifle recipes were actually our third-most searched recipe last December, and cheesecake is always a winner. Searches for them peak in December – trifle sits at fifth spot in our list of recipe searches and cheesecake sits at seventh overall in our list of Top 10 searches for the year on taste.com.au. However,…

The question about which dessert you’re making this Christmas just got easier – Matt’s cheesecake trifle can win you a smart Kenwood Cooking Chef XL and accompanying attachments. More than just a stand mixer – though it’s got bakers covered with mixing, whisking, kneading and proving capabilities – the Chef XL can also cook your meals. Functions include induction cooking, in-built scales and app connectivity. You’ll wonder how you got along without it. “Show me clean layers of jelly, biscuits and cheesecake, topped with billowing cream and coulis swirls.”matt preston CELEBRITY JUDGE SEND IN YOUR ENTRIES BY 26 DECEMBER KENWOOD two ways to enter email it: Send a photo of your creation, with your name, address and telephone number to us at tastecookandwin@news.com.au or share it: Post the photo on our Facebook page, or on Instagram or…

BRIGHT IDEA! Stand out from the crowd when you collect your coffee with one of these bold keep cups. Frank Green’s new neon collection is a collision of colour, sustainability and style. Think of it as the ultimate eco-friendly fashion accessory. These four wow colours come in a ceramic cup and bottle. From $44.95, see the range at frankgreen.com.au. top shelf taste Lift your game in the kitchen with a fab new range of cake mixes from delicious. Created by a team of professionals, with high-quality mixes and recipe videos, they’ll help you impress at Christmas. Our favourite is the decadent double choc mousse cake. SPIRIT RAISER The spoils of a cracker have come a long way from paper hats, trinkets and jokes. Fever-Tree’s boujie version (4-pack, $55) contain a surprise you definitely want to…