Asda Magazine - Nov Dec - Christmas 2023

PUT ON A SHOW THIS M A Gseason AZINE Everything you need to wow friends and family this festive

MAGAZINE

200+ IN CR ED IB LE ID EA S

Fo od , fas hio n, gif ts an d so mu ch mo re!

Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced R

Christmas dinner inspiration for everyone

Glitz and glamour for true party perfection

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Delicious canapés for every occasion

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Festive homeware and gifting

Plus meet our new Chief Quality Officer on page 134

Hello Merry Christmas!

Wrapping paper

(3.5m) £1.50 (see page 68)

Christmas is all about spending time with people you love, but also eating delicious food, right? Our Christmas range is incredible and so tasty. We’ve had some extra help this year to bring you the best of the best – and we’re so excited to introduce our new Chief Quality Officer. Hear from Mr Bublé himself on page 134…

We’ve jam-packed this issue full of products to help you shop and get ready for the festive season – from sorting out what’s on your Christmas Day menu, to kitting out the family in matching pjs and our top picks of fizz and wine for celebrations.

We’ve even got your Secret Santa gift sorted, too!

Looking for recipe inspiration? Our collection of mouthwatering ideas using some of our new Christmas products, are guaranteed to impress guests. If you’re short on time, don’t worry, we have showstoppers in our range this year that are ready to go straight in the oven or onto the table – check out our Ruby Drenched Port Sirloin Beef and our amazing stack of profiteroles or the Extra Special Chocolate and Honeycomb Avalanche Dessert. We really have got all you want for Christmas (and more!) in this issue. How do you choose what makes the cut? Happy planning!

Have a very magical Christmas…

Paper Curling Ribbon

£1 (6-pack)

Have you seen our Christmas advert yet?

Head to our YouTube channel and check it out

Jessica Timms | Asda Magazine Editor asdamagazineeditor@asda.co.uk

Editor’s picks…

Cool Christmas décor

From classic, to Scandi or cool colours, choose something new to style up your home. Page 38

Party pleasers

Be prepared for those last-minute visitors with our ready-to-go goodies. Page 32

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. Photographs show serving suggestions.

So much to choose from Find everything you need to dish up a delicious lunch for you and your guests. Page 86

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 3

CONTENTS Prep time Get ahead of the game

Food & drink 10 STIR IT UP Start the season as you mean to go on with Stir Up Sunday 20 MINCE PIES FOR EVERYONE! Tuck into this seasonal staple.

Brandy cream, anyone?

32 HOST WITH THE MOST Prepare to feed your guests with gourmet goodies 45 ALL THE TRIMMINGS Big day side dishes you can make ahead and freeze

Home 38 DECK THE HALLS Your December interior design makeover awaits...

64 SEASON’S TREATINGS Enjoy a little of the sweet stuff – go on, it’s a celebration!

66 BRING A BOTTLE Time to stock up your wine cellar for all those special meals

Gifting 13 PINCH, PUNCH Make sure you don’t miss a moment with our Christmas calendar countdown

73 CHRISTMAS EVE EATS Enjoy fuss-free night-before nibbles – you’re welcome!

Fashion 27 GLAM SQUAD Get the party started with our showstopping styles 36 JUMP AROUND Seasonally stylish knits to bring the cosies to all occasions 70 PYJAMA PARTY! Dress the family in coordinated pjs for a festive photo opp

24 SECRET SANTA 26 gift ideas for £10 and under

68 ALL WRAPPED UP Pretty up your pressie giving with gift bags, tags, ribbons and bows 76 MAGIC IS IN THE AIR Kids will be full of wonder when they open their Christmas Eve box

49 JUST FOR YOU A bumper selection of goodies to inspire your gifting 56 GIFTS WITH A TWIST Gorgeous presents to bake and buy 63 SUGAR & SPICE Baking up a storm? Make sure you’ve got the Christmasthemed cookware to go with it

AWARD WINNERS

GET IN TOUCH

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Look out for our award-winning and taste approved products throughout this special magazine.

asdamagazineeditor@asda.co.uk Call Asda on 0800 952 0101 Write to the Editor: Asda Magazine, Asda House, South Bank, Great Wilson Street, Leeds LS11 5AD.

Cooked up any of our recipes? Enjoyed some of our fantastic products? Let us know and share your pictures – we’d love to hear from you.

Asda Asda Asda Asda

Asda Rewards: App, mobile data, compatible device and registration required. Selected stores and products. Subject to availability. Asda Pounds must be spent at Asda instore or online.

Excludes George.com. Exclusions apply. Full terms and conditions at asda.com/rewards. Prices throughout Asda Magazine are correct at the time of print.

It’s party time Drinks

PARTY ON 125 Dazzling homemade cocktails to toast the year’s end

Food 131 HELLO 2024...

Sharing platters and canapés to surprise and delight

Extra treats

Stacey Solomon 55 STACEY’S COSY CHRISTMAS Beautiful items from our style guru’s festive range

Tastemakers

Christmas Day Breakfast 77 START THE DAY Rise and shine with quick, delicious dishes

Starters

Desserts 103 WHAT’S FOR PUD? End your meal with a ‘Wow!’

Grazing

82 LET’S BEGIN Make seafood the star of the show

113 FANCY A NIBBLE? Create the ultimate grazing platter

Mains 86 LUNCH IS SERVED From recipes to ready-mades, enjoy our Christmas lunch inspiration to suit all traditions

Earn pounds, not points with Asda Rewards!

Leftovers 118 THE FEAST CONTINUES Delish dishes for Boxing Day

Search for Asda Rewards in the App Store (Apple devices) or Google Play (Android). Or just scan this QR code.

8 OUR SIGNATURE FLAVOUR Find out what it is – you’re going to love it 22 NICE AS PIE Meet the maker of these classic mince pies 84 THE FISH’S TALE Love fish? Our pastrami-spiced salmon producer agrees 98 PRIME TIME Our ruby port sirloin is hard to beat – find out why 116 THE BIG CHEESE This marbled fromage will become a fave – it’s so tasty 128 SMOOTH OPERATORS You’ll crave this tipple from our cream liqueur creators

CHRISTMAS DELIVERY SLOTS Christmas delivery slots and fresh turkey pre-ordering are both available from now! Don’t miss out if you want to get ahead of the game.

Book early as delivery slots are subject to availability.

See page 7 for fresh turkey ordering details.

27 exclusive recipes Delicious dishes and drinks to enjoy throughout the festive season

10 • Apricot and almond Christmas cake 45 • Mulled wine red cabbage • Morello cherry, cranberry and port sauce • Garlic butter parsnips • Spinach and hazelnut stuffing • Slow-roasted shallot gravy 56 • Star biscuit tree • Stripy marshmallows • Marmalade chocolate truffles 77 • Crumpet tray bake • Loaded breakfast brioche • Eggs royale 86 • Roast turkey with a glaze and Extra Special stuffing • Brussels sprout and chestnut gratin • Herb-salted roasties 103 • Dark chocolate mousse pots with poached pears • White chocolate and cherry pandoro Christmas trees • Baked Alaska 118 • Leftover turkey platter • Indian spiced leftover roasties and brussels sprouts • Christmas vegetable and blue cheese strudel • Epic fridge-raid sandwich • Winter slaw 125 • Sloe gin spritz • Tiramisu-tini • Cranberry ginger fizz • Citrus punch

Good to know We love bringing you varied, balanced and great-value recipes. Here’s what you need to know for your Christmas guide

Our recipes

All our recipes are specially created with you in mind. We work with our chefs, nutrition team and leading recipe developers to create meal ideas that are easy, affordable and nutritious. Plus, we test every recipe carefully so you can trust they’ll work for you and your family. We promise to: • Provide budget-friendly recipes to help you feed your family.

• Ensure meals are nutritionally balanced, and use everyday ingredients.

• Help you to reduce your food waste by using ingredients smartly and providing leftovers ideas.

Eggs

The eggs in our recipes are always medium-sized, unless otherwise stated.

Recipe key facts

All our recipes include key facts on servings, prep time and our unique ‘faff factor’, a guide to how much skill and effort is involved in a recipe.

Serves 4 Typical serve size based on adult portions Ready in 35 mins Includes prep and cooking time = easy Faff factor From easy peasy to ‘brace yourself’ cooking

Nutritional information All our recipes are reviewed by a registered nutritionist and information is shown in a ‘traffic light’ label. Green is low, while red shows a high percentage of an adult’s recommended daily intake, and amber is somewhere in the middle. The recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 for

women and 2,500 for men.

All our recipes should be enjoyed as part of a varied diet and active lifestyle.

We’ve included other handy hints throughout the magazine to highlight ingredients and recipes with special features.

For recipes to suit specific diets, look out for these, which refer to the dish as a whole: V Vegetarian

MF Milk-free

VE Vegan

LF

GF Gluten-free

EF Egg-free

DF Dairy-free

d Freezable

Lactose-free

These icons exclude optional serving suggestions.

Always check the individual packet labels if cooking for someone with dietary requirements or allergies.

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of your 5-a-day

Shows how many portions of fruit and veg are in a recipe.

Each 300g portion contains Energy 2,659kJ 632kcal 32%

Fat 19g Med 27%

Sat Fat 8.4g High 42%

Sugars 7.2g Low 8%

Salt 1.6g Med 1.6%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 550kJ/130kcals

Fresh turkeys to pre-order We have a huge range of Christmas products for you to choose from this year. Twelve of our fresh turkeys and poultry are available to pre-order. So why not cross one thing off your festive checklist and get your meat main delivered ready for the ‘Big Day’? Christmas slots are already open.

Pre-order items must be added to your order by 14 December. You can add the rest of your Christmas shop up to 11pm the night before your delivery or collection.

To see the turkeys that are available to pre-order, like this

Look out for these symbols

Ways to shop IN STORE Find your nearest Asda at storelocator. asda.com.

SCAN & GO Contactless payment and less checkout time – use a scanner or smartphone.

Extra Special Double Stuffed Turkey (see page 90) and for more details on how to order, use the QR code below, or visit Asda.com/turkeypreorder Look out for this symbol in the magazine to see what you can pre-order.

Use this QR code to find out how to pre-order a turkey this Christmas.

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Shows serving suggestions.

HOME DELIVERIES Shop online and choose a home delivery slot.

CLICK & COLLECT Shop online and pick up from one of over 450 UK locations.

The Asda Magazine team Editor Jessica Timms Content Planner Nancy Stockdale Content Co-ordinators Natalie Graham, Charlotte Woodhead Senior Content Manager Jenni Bass

Editor Alex Drew Consultant Editor Rebecca Denne Art Directors Clare Watters, Helen Richardson Editorial Director Dan Linstead Food Editor Clare Knivett Design Director Will Slater Art Editors Kit Cheung, Laura Phillips Chief Sub Editor Katriel Costello Writer/Sub Editor Louisa Streeting Client Director Clair Atkins Account Director Kayleigh Varnam Account Manager Maria Rees Workflow Manager Lisa Houghton With thanks to: Rachel Beckwith, Sarah Birks, Lou Cassell, Beth Emery, Adam Hylands, Caroline Morrish, Miriam Nice, Edd Wood Asda Magazine is published by Our Media, an Immediate Group company, in partnership with Asda. Print sourced by HH Associates. While every care is taken in compiling the contents of this magazine, the proprietors assume no responsibility in effects arising therefrom. No part of the contents may be reproduced without prior permission.

Publication live from 7 November.

Prices correct at the time of print.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 7

Our signature flavour:

Brown butter and spiced dark rum Find out about our specially created Christmas taste sensation from Jonathan Moore, our Senior Director of Food Innovation and Trends

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hen you’re tucking into your first mince pie, carving your Christmas turkey or enjoying just one more pig in its blanket, Jonathan Moore, Asda’s Senior Director of Food Innovation and Trends, can rest assured that his handiwork is done. After months in the making, Jonathan and his team are extremely proud of the Christmas range they’ve developed this year. Here, he shares what it takes to create a signature flavour that you’ll utterly adore…

What a fantastic job title, Jonathan…

Yes, thank you! I’ve been in this role at Asda for 18 months and, before that, I worked with other retailers here in the UK and in the Middle East. I also used to work as a sous chef in a Michelin star restaurant and owned a trend consultancy for six years, travelling around the world and meeting lots of interesting people.

So tell us about this year’s signature flavour for Christmas…

There’s been a lot of work to get to our Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum signature flavour for this season. We spent a great deal of time future-gazing and looking at trends, not just in the culinary world but across things like mixology. When you look at brown butter, it’s something that’s being used a lot in fine dining, so we wanted to explore it. It’s often used in classical French cookery, both in patisserie and savoury dishes such as

pan-fried skate with capers. It really elevates a dish, balancing out the top notes and bringing a rich, nutty finish. It was when I was walking my dog one day that I had the idea of pairing it with a spirit. So the team and I brainstormed and looked at what trends we were seeing in the mixology world and that’s when we had our lightbulb moment: Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum. The rum brings hints of lime, cinnamon and pepper, which work well with the richness of some of our products.

When did you start working on the concept?

In the role of innovation, we never really stop. It’s not ‘ok, it’s nine o’clock on a Monday and we’re going to talk about Christmas’.

It doesn’t work like that. I’m a great believer that when you’re not thinking, you might come up with your best idea. But to put it into perspective, in July we started conjuring up ideas for next Christmas!

So how are you using the signature flavour across some of the products this Christmas?

Well, we sense checked how the flavours would marry up with a variety of products – everything from our turkey and pigs in blankets to mince pies and shortbread. We know that a lot of people are used to cooking for two or four guests but, at Christmas, 16 people can turn up so it’s important that we’re always thinking about what our customers want to cook and that our dishes remain traditional but have a funky twist. One of my favourites is our Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Stollen Wreath.

‘One of my favourites is our Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Stollen Wreath. I’ll be buying some for Christmas’ 8 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Rum Melt-in-the-Middle Pudding V £9/500g The fruit is macerated in the spiced rum and it eats beautifully – I like to warm it in the oven for about five minutes before serving.

I’ll definitely be buying some for Christmas.

What’s your favourite part of your role?

Tasting all those products is really exciting as it’s a culmination of lots of work that people have done. We stay really close to the process; every Wednesday we have tastings where I meet with the product developers and give feedback, signing off products alongside the Senior Director of New Product Development.

It might be that we need more rum in a product or the fruit needs to be macerated for longer. We work really hard to make sure that the final product is the best it can be and that it ties back to our original idea.

To take something from a concept to a product stage reminds me of my cheffing days when everything comes together at the pass and you feel that adrenaline rush.

The only difference is in a restaurant you’re maybe doing 30 covers, but in store you’re reaching thousands of people.

It’s a great feeling.

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores.

Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply.

Delivery/collection slots subject to availability.

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale.

You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Recipe: Miriam Nice, Food styling: Jack Sargeson, Props: Faye Wears

WORDS REBECCA DENNE MAIN PHOTOGRAPH MYLES NEW

O U R S I G N ATU R E F L AVO U R

Extra Special Brown Butter and Rum Mince Pies (6 -pack)

Recipe: Miriam Nice, Food styling: Lizzie Harris, Props: Faye Wears

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Look out for our signature flavour products

Jonathan’s top picks So many to choose from… Here are some treats with that special flavouring

Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Rum Fudge V £2/150g

Extra Special Dark Rum and Brown Butter Flavour Spiced Mincemeat V £2/411g

Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Shortbread £4/150g

Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Rum Melt-in-the-Middle Pudding, £1.80/100g; Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Rum Fudge, £1.33/100g; Extra Special Brown Butter Flavour Mincemeat, 49p/100g; Extra Special Spiced Rum and Brown Butter Flavour Stollen Wreath, £8 (serves 10); Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Shortbread, £2.67/100g.

Extra Special Spiced Rum and Brown Butter Flavour Stollen Wreath V £8 each (serves 10) ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 9

Stir it up

Stay ahead of the game by making your Christmas cake on 26 November – Stir Up Sunday. All the family can join in…

RECIPE LIBERT Y MENDEZ PHOTOGRAPHS MYLES NEW

Citrus boost

If you’d like to tone down the alcohol content, replace the amaretto with another seasonal flavour, like orange juice.

Create a snowy topping with coconut

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hen it comes to Christmas traditions, the old ones really are the best. Putting up the tree, wrapping presents and, of course, making the cake…

That’s where Stir Up Sunday – a custom that has been bringing families together since Victorian times – comes in to its own.

On the last Sunday before Advent (this year, 26 November) family members gather and put all the ingredients for the Christmas pudding into a bowl. Each person individually gives the rich, magical mixture a good stir. Nowadays, this convention has been broadened and many people mix up their Christmas cake or whatever confection they choose.

It’s a super-fun way to kick-start the festive season with your loved ones. And, while everyone is taking their turn to stir, they can make a Christmas wish – what will yours be? Enjoy our deliciously decadent snow-scene cake – can you smell the amaretto already?

Make it with...

Extra Special Brandy Soaked Mixed Fruit £3.75/800g

10 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

GET AHEAD

Something we made earlier…

Apricot and almond Christmas cake Load your cake up with match-made-in-heaven ingredients for full-on festive flavours.

Serves 24 | Ready in 3 hrs, plus cooling time Faff factor | V d • 250g unsalted butter, roughly chopped, plus extra for greasing • 350g light brown sugar • 2 lemons, zest and juice • 200ml amaretto • 800g Asda Extra Special Brandy Soaked Mixed Fruit • 200g dried apricots, roughly chopped • 100g glacé cherries, halved • 4 eggs • 100g ground almonds • 300g plain flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 1 tsp ground ginger • 100g flaked almonds, toasted • 150g pecans, toasted and roughly chopped • 500g marzipan • icing sugar, to dust For the royal icing • 120g egg whites (we used Two Chicks Liquid Egg White) • 800g icing sugar, sieved • 1 tsp liquid glucose • 1 tsp lemon juice

Food styling: Lizzie Harris, Props: Sarah Birks

To decorate • 50g desiccated coconut • 5 sprigs fresh rosemary 1 Grease and line a 23cm loosebottom round cake tin on the base and around the sides. Put the butter, sugar, lemon zest, juice and amaretto into a large saucepan and heat over a medium heat until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.

2 Tip in the mixed fruit, apricots and glacé cherries and stir to coat. Cook for 5 mins until the fruit is starting to soften. Take off the heat, pour into a large bowl and leave to cool slightly for 15 mins, stirring occasionally.

3 Heat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan/ gas 3. Stir the eggs into the mixture and then add the ground almonds, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, flaked almonds and pecans.

Stir until everything is combined.

Tip into the lined tin and smooth over the top so it’s level. Bake for 1 hr and then turn the oven down to 150°C/130°C fan/gas 2 and bake for another 1 hr until the cake is dark golden brown and a skewer inserted comes out clean. You can cover with foil if it starts to brown too much during cooking.

4 Leave to cool completely in the tin.

If making it on Stir up Sunday, keep it in the tin covered in clingfilm and, every week for 6 weeks, remove the clingfilm and pour over 2 tbsp of amaretto. This step is optional, and you can use an alternative such as orange juice, if you prefer.

5 To decorate, remove the cake from the tin and place on a board or plate.

Dust the work surface with icing sugar and roll out the marzipan in a large circle to cover the cake, around 5mm thick. Cover and trim the excess.

6 To make the royal icing, put the egg whites in the bowl of a freestanding mixer (or use a large bowl and an electric hand whisk). Whisk the egg whites until frothy then start slowly adding the icing sugar a spoonful at a time, whisking well after each addition. Once all the icing sugar has been incorporated, add the glucose syrup and lemon juice and keep whisking until the icing is really thick.

Use a palette knife to spread the icing over the marzipan-topped cake, smoothing the sides and top. Keep the icing you’re not using covered with a damp tea towel. While the icing is still wet, cover the top and sides of the cake with the desiccated coconut.

7 Use a cocktail stick to press 5 holes into the top of the sponge, where the rosemary trees will go. Trim the leaves off the bottom of a rosemary sprig and place into the cake. Repeat 4 more times until you have all 5 trees in place. To finish, sieve some extra icing sugar over the rosemary to look like snow-covered trees.

Cook’s tips: • You can substitute the amaretto for brandy if you prefer, but we chose amaretto as the beautiful almond flavouring enhances the marzipan.

• We used pecans because of their crunch and toasty nutty flavour, but you can use any other nut such as walnuts or pistachios.

• This cake is freezable, un-iced, for up to 3 months.

Enjoy a selection of other treats, including some from our OMV! and Free From ranges.

Extra Special Rich Fruit Cake V £7/800g

Iced Fruit Cake V £6.50/907g

OMV! Iced Christmas Cake Slices VE £2.50/205g (4-pack)

Free From Christmas Pudding GF MF £3.50/400g Try with some Christmas cake – honestly, it’s a game changer.

Extra Special Tuxford & Tebbutt Potted Blue Stilton with Spiced Apple and Port Compote V £5/270g

Each 145g portion contains Energy 2,396kJ 573kcal 29%

Fat 21.9g High 31%

Sat Fat 7.7g High 39%

Sugars 65.8g High 73%

Salt 0.17g Low 3%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 1,653kJ/395kcals

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Rich Fruit Cake, 87p/100g; Iced Fruit Cake, 72p/100g; OMV! Iced Christmas Cake Slices, 63p a slice (4-pack); Free From Christmas Pudding, 88p/100g; Extra Special Tuxford & Tebbutt Potted Blue Stilton with Spiced Apple and Port Compote, £1.85/100g; Extra Special Free From 6 Month Matured Luxury Christmas Pudding, 94p/100g. Extra Special Brandy Soaked Mixed Fruit 47p/100g

Extra Special Free From 6-Month Matured Luxury Christmas Pudding V GF MF £3.75/400g ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 11

*

C O U NTD OW N TO C H R I S TM A S

Pinch,

punch…

It’s 1 December and the countdown is on… Get in the Christmas spirit and keep that festive feeling going with some treats – for you!

WORDS REBECCA DENNE

FIRM FAVOURITE D o n ’t m is s o u t!

Don’t wait un til December to get your favour ite advent cale ndar…

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All things nice

Get crafty in the kitchen with this gingerbread construction. Then snap off a corner for a quick nibble – no-one will notice…

Gingerbread House Kit £4

Numbers game

Is it even Christmas without opening up an advent calendar every morning? Who says they're just for kids – not us.

OMV! Advent Calendar

£4/93g V VE ; Lindt Lindor Advent Calendar £12/300g

Images: Steve Sayers, Getty

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Asda Tangy & Juicy Sweetclems 600g

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Toasty toes

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The first satsuma or clementine in December is always the juiciest, and zestiest, and really sums up Christmas. These orange globes are bursting with flavour and ready for snacking and stocking-filling alike.

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Get suited and booted for all those seasonal parties with a cheeky pair of festive partaaaay socks – because who doesn’t love a pair or two at Christmas? They’re the perfect Secret Santa gift, too.

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Green Christmas Candy Cane Socks Pattern £2

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

OMV! Advent Calendar, £4.30/100g; Lindt Lindor Advent Calendar, £4/100g.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 13

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Give away, or keep for yourself…

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Disney Dumbo Bauble £6

Sweet like chocolate

Love a choc or two? Then prepare to fall for our dreamy, melt-in-the-mouth morsels with almond nougat and a creamy, salted caramel centre…

Hug in a mug

All the sweet smells and flavours of gooey, caramel-covered waffles. Top with whipped cream for an extra treat. Caramel Waffle Latte £2.75/126g

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Shaken and stirred

If you don’t want to faff about with cold brew, vodka and shakers, don’t worry, we’ve done all the hard work.

This smooth, readyto-drink cocktail is a mix of triple-distilled vodka, rich Arabica cold brew coffee liqueur, Madagascan vanilla caramel and a pinch of sea salt.

Drinks are served!

Extra Special Swiss Chocolate Truffles V £6/254g

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Flipping marvellous

Get Christmas Day off to a tasty start with these more-ish little pancakes and their festive colours – kids will love them. The question is, what will you put on yours?

Christmas Pancakes £1.20 (5-pack)

Extra Special Salted Caramel Espresso Martini° £8/70cl

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Jump to it

The most wonderful time of the year?

Why, 8 December, of course, Christmas Jumper Day. Make sure you look the part with a new one.

Christmas Jumpers £20

(left), £22 (right)

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SEASON S SEASON’S GREETINGS Welcome guests and be the envy of the neighbours with this chic and simple statement wreath. Classic faux festive red berries and fir cones make it oh-- so beautiful, oh plus it comes ready-- to ready to--hang on the door.

Red Berry Wreath* £18

Scent of the season

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Settling down with a good book, with the fairy lights on and the scent of a candle in the room is one of winter’s little pleasures, isn’t it? This multi-wick candle is infused with seasonal spices and red fruit fragrances. Spiced Berries

and Pomegranate Scented Candle** £5

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Photographs: Dave Caudrey, Jonathan Gregson

Get decked out

Decorating the tree is one of the most exciting times of the year, particularly when you have some fancy new baubles to hang…

C O U NTD OW N TO C H RAI S DV TM EA NT S

Radiant Rudolph

Rudolph has got himself a disco makeover this year. Bring a flash of sparkle to any room with this stylish deer ornament that’ll catch everyone’s attention – you’ll want to keep him on display all year round.

Christmas Glitter Stag Ornament £10 (37.5cm high)

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Light up

It’s not Christmas until you’ve got your tree up, if you ask us. Pop on a good film, make a batch of hot chocolate and have fun adorning yours with all your favourite tinsel and baubles. This one is ready-lit, so no need to untangle those lights from last year. Phew!

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Green Warm Pre-Lit Christmas Tree £25

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Cosy up

Bloomin’ lovely

Bring the outside in with this cute snowflake cushion from the At Home with Stacey Solomon range, exclusive to George Home. It’s the perfect festive flourish for your sofa, bed or kid’s room. Stacey Solomon Snowflake Cushion† £18

It may be small, but this miniature rose will make a big impact on any room.

Available in festive white and red, it comes in its own colourful ceramic pot.

Christmas Rose £8

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Go crackers

Stock up on plenty of crackers – they’re not just for Christmas, but Boxing Day and New Year’s parties, too. Hat-wearing is, of course, mandatory.

Triangle Santa and Reindeer Crackers £8 (6-pack)

Musical Crackers

£6 (8-pack)

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores.

Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/ collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Salted Caramel Espresso Martini, £8/70cl; Caramel Waffle Latte, £2.18/100g; Christmas Pancakes, 24p each (5-pack); Extra Special Swiss Chocolate Truffles, £2.36/100g. *Available 27 November. **Available 18 December. †Available 11 December. °Available 7 November.

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FESTIVE FELLOW This little guy really is bringing his Christmas A-game. Pop ‘Santa Gnome’ on the doorstep or in the window to spread some joy to passersby – smiles guaranteed.

Large Christmas Gnome £25

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 15

C O U NTD OW N TO C H R I S TM A S

19

Add a dollop of crème fraîche – heaven!

th

21

st

Give in to temptation

Christmas is all about treating yourself. This sumptuous Fennel, Beetroot and Citrus Smoked Salmon is garnished with lemon and dill. A luxurious and delish dish, it’s just what you deserve…

Fennel, Beetroot and Citrus Smoked Salmon* DF

£4.50/100g

23rd

Go nuts for nibbles

Afternoon tree, anyone?

‘Shall we put a few nibbles out?’ Absolutely.

These super-tasty snacks are too good to save for best, you’ll find it hard to stop munching.

Cosies on, cuppa in hand and a little moment of peace with a sweet treat.

Yes please!

Christmas TreeShaped Loaf Cakes V £1.40 each

24

th Top of the pops Our award-winning fizz is a must-pour this Christmas and is particularly good with seafood. Pale gold with notes of pear, apple and light roasted hazelnut.

Extra Special Crémant d’Alsace Brut £12/75cl

th

IN THE RED These jazzy, scarlet Christmas kitchen lines will make some of the more mundane chores fun.

Baking Paper Sheets £2; Bin Bags £1; Food and Freezer Bags £1

22

Photographs: Gavin Roberts, Jonathan Gregson, Dave Caudrey

20

Asda Rosemary, Sea Salt and Olive Oil Nut Mix V £2/150g

nd

Don’t loathe it – love it!

Our favourite green grouch may not like to smile, but that’s just what you’ll be doing when you see Illumination and Universal Pictures’ The Grinch, based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved, classic story. The cynical grump goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous spirit – a fun film for the whole family.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch DVD £5

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Crémant d’Alsace Brut, £12/75cl; Christmas Tree-Shaped Loaf Cakes, £1.40 each; Fennel, Beetroot and Citrus Smoked Salmon, £4.50/100g; Asda Rosemary, Sea Salt and Olive Oil Nut Mix, £1.33/100g. *Available from 14 December. **Available 18 December.

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

P R O M O T I O N F LO W E R S

Festive flowers

Need a thoughtful gift for your co-worker or want to bring some floral magic to your own home? Mark the occasion with our Christmas bouquets

Photography: Gavin Roberts, Styling: Harriet Jones

F

rom twinkling trees to dashing holly wreaths, Christmas isn’t complete without the holiday’s traditional greenery. This year, add our festive bouquets to your shopping list.

We offer great quality blooms selected from the growers around the world at prices that work well with your Christmas budget.

Our fresh flowers are the perfect way to spread seasonal cheer – as a gift for those hard-to-buy-for people, or when you need something special to give at short notice. Bring out everyone’s favourite warming winter reds with our Season’s Greetings arrangement, which features a seasonal mix of chrysanthemums and carnations.

Or choose a showstopping combination

of deep purple and whites with our Silent Night bouquet – an ideal table centrepiece.

You can make it an even more memorable occasion with flowers from our Extra Special range. Our Joyful bouquet has all the delight of a white Christmas with snowy chrysanthemums, roses, clusters of alstroemeria and a scattering of gold sparkle, too. Asda’s Christmas flowers range is available from 7 December.

Asda Season’s Greetings £6 Asda Silent Night £6 Asda Extra Special Joyful £18

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 19

Mince pies for everyone!

Will you go for classic, signature flavour, crumble topped, Free From or vegan for your mince pie moment?

PHOTOGRAPHY STEVE SAYERS

Extra Special Classic Mince Pie V

(6 -pack)

Extra Special St-Rémi® XO Brandy Butter V

£2.65/200g

V

Shallow Mince Pie

£1.50 (4 -pack)

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

20 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Extra Special Brown Butter and Rum Mince Pie V

(6 -pack)

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

MINCE PIES

‘The spiced rum brings hints of lime, cinnamon and pepper, which work well with the richness of the mincemeat’

What will you try?

No one misses out with our incredible range of mince pies…

Jonathan Moore, Asda Senior Director of Food Innovation

Extra Special Toffee Apple Spiced Crumble Tarts V £2.50 (6-pack)

Free From Frangipane Topped Mince Pies V GF DF MF £2.25 (4-pack)

Extra Special Luxury Mini Mince Pies V (9-pack)

Extra Special Chocolate and Cherry Crumble Mince Pie

V

VE GF DF MF

£2 (4-pack)

(6 -pack)

Food styling: Anna Shepherd

V

Free From Mince Pies

OMV! Merrily Vegan Mince Pies V

Extra Special Brandy Butter Cream, £1.33/100g; Shallow Mince Pie, 37.5p per pie (4-pack); Extra Special Toffee Apple Spiced Crumble Tarts, 47p each (6-pack); Free From Frangipane Topped Mince Pies, 56p per pie (4-pack); Free From Mince Pies, 50p per pie (4-pack); OMV! Merrily Vegan Mince Pies, 24p per pie (6-pack).

VE

£1.45 (6-pack)

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 21

Meet the tastemakers

Nice as pie

It’s the true sign that Christmas is here: the smell of mince pies warming in the oven. This year, Bells of Lazonby brings you the Extra Special Brown Butter and Rum Mince Pie WORDS REBECCA DENNE PHOTOGRAPHS JO CRAWFORD

N

ot sure when you should be eating your first mince pie? Ask Ionela Nandra, a Development Technologist and Product Developer at Cumbria-based bakery, Bells of Lazonby. ‘As soon as the adverts come on the telly, ideally – but you definitely can’t go past the first of December without having a mince pie!’

For Ionela, she’s sampling mince pies all year round. ‘We work on concepts about 18 months ahead,’ she explains. With the team she’s responsible for a host of bakery products you can see in store, including Free From cakes, slices and tarts as well as cereals.

Located in the picturesque surrounds of the Lake District – apparently there are more sheep than people! – the team has quality, integrity and care at its core.

‘We’re a family business, founded in 1946 by the late Mr John Bell,’ says Ionela.

‘He was a war veteran and, when he returned, he came to Lazonby where he bought a house with a flour mill attached to it. He started making bread and cakes, which he sold to local families and small businesses. We’ve grown a lot in the last 75 years and remain 100% family-owned. We now have two bakeries on site and supply products across the country. We’ve even started exporting ‘free-from’ products to Australia.’

But it’s the Extra Special Brown Butter and Rum Mince Pies that we’ve got our eye on. The award-winning team at Bells of Lazonby has been busy crafting the

recipe and will be producing a belt-busting 1.2 million of them this year in the lead-up to Christmas (not to mention the other nine mince pie products they supply to Asda).

Quite impressive for a humble village bakery with a team of just 350 people, many of whom are from the local surrounding villages.

Full of flavour

The Brown Butter and Rum Mince Pies incorporate Asda’s signature flavour this year and Bells of Lazonby has created a mince pie they describe as extremely unique and flavourful. ‘It’s definitely elevated,’ says Ionela. ‘Using the brown butter (or beurre noisette) is something that a lot of independent artisan places are doing right now. It brings a really quality, nutty flavour

‘It’s the unique fermentation of Jamaican rum combined with the brown butter that creates a really well-rounded and intense flavour’ 22 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

and aroma, as well as a different texture compared to your standard mince pie,’ she adds.

The pastry is made in huge 250kg mixers, using both normal butter and brown butter, creating a truly rich and indulgent pie. After mixing to exactly the right consistency at exactly the right temperature, the pie cases are filled generously with a Jamaican rum-laced spiced fruit and citrus peel mincemeat. You can almost smell the festive flavours. Ionela explains the process: ‘We mix the rum in with the mincemeat and it’s the unique fermentation of Jamaican rum combined with the brown butter that creates a really well-rounded and intense flavour.’

Don’t forget the cream!

And when it comes to serving up your mince pies, keeping it simple is the key, says Ionela.

‘I’d definitely warm them up. The heat brings out all of those natural flavours from the mincemeat and the rum – the aroma just adds to the Christmas spirit, doesn’t it?’ she says.

‘Oh, and a good dollop of thick cream – it’s Christmas, after all!

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability.

TA S T E M A K E R S

Extra Special Brown Butter and Rum Mince Pies V

Inset mince pie image: Myles New

Enjoy our signature flavour – these pies are filled with a Jamaican rum-laced, spiced vine fruit, and citrus peel mincemeat, and encased in pastry enriched with brown butter for a unique nutty flavour. (6 -pack)

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 23

In the pink Miniatures for a lover of this fine botanical drink. The Pink Gin Collection V £10 (4 x 5cl)

Moisturising magic A ‘luscious lips explorer kit’ with three different lip balms. Vaseline Botanical Bliss Gift Set £8

And relax…

Unwind with soothing oils.

Calm Chamomile and Jasmine Diffuser Set £3*

Shhh…

Feel-good read A warm and funny festive romance.

The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan £5.50

All

It’s Secret Santa time, and you need some inspiration. We’re here to help with a spot-on selection of r de un or gifts that are all a tenner or under…

£10

Sipping sensation A creamy delight with rich flavours.

Extra Special Chocolate Orange Flavour Cream Liqueur** £8/70cl

Cosy times This cuddlesome hottie will keep out those winter chills.

Reindeer Hot Water Bottle £8

Pop on your peepers Festive face furniture that’s a prescription for fun.

Red Santa Novelty Glasses £1

Splish splash For that lovely little mermaid in your life. Disney Princess Aquarium Bath Set £8

24 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Something in the air Christmas-themed oils to bring the festive feels. Trio of Bright Essential Oils £4

Biscuit bonanza A classic gift from the Highlands – tuck in. Marvellous All-Butter Shortbread Biscuits V £4.75/500g

Cheese please Bring on the crackers! Jingle the Reindeer Caramelised Onion Cheddar Truckle £2.50/200g

What a joy Not all Christmas decs need to be shiny.

This joyful, fluffy trio will be welcome in any home.

Pom Pom Letter Baubles £2 each

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability.

George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. Extra Special Chocolate Orange Flavour Cream Liqueur, £11.43/lt.

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

FOR * 3 2 on

S E C R E T S A N TA

selected gifts

Dark delights A ‘merrily vegan’ box of chocs that everyone will love. OMV! Dark Choc and Honeycomb Cake Pop Bites V VE £4/180g

Bring on the fizz Make splash-time a blast with this kissably cute set of bath bombs.

Bath Bae Fizzer Set £5 3 FOR 2*

Hands on heaven A beautifully scented selection of creams. Natures Remedy Hand Cream Collection £6 3 FOR 2*

Greatest of all…

Special toiletries for the hero in your life. Lynx Africa Duo Gift Set £5 3 FOR 2*

Essential essences Sophisticated scents of Antique Rose will soothe you through the day… Luxury Reed Diffuser £10

Chill, shake and serve Carefully crafted Caribbean vibes in a bottle. Extra Special Strawberry Daiquiri £8/70cl

Get a grip A finger-flexing gift for a puzzle fiend. Christmas Character Rubik’s Cube £1

Twinkle, twinkle A different festive fellow on each cuddly side. Nutcracker Shaped Christmas Cushion £8

It’s a lovely day…

Whether you love a pint or not, they’re winners…

Guinness Socks (in Gift Box) £7

Jazz up the bubbles Raspberry flavour Bellini mixer anyone? Champagne & Prosecco Toppers £5 (4 x 5cl)

Polar delight This little vegan fella will bring a smile to your face… Free From White Chocolate Polar Bear V VE GF DF MF £3.50/85g

Get the glow Gentle fragrances for a cosy Christmas atmosphere.

Winter Forest Candle £5

Pack it in A specially wrapped pampering set. Bayliss & Harding Keepsake Boxes and Toiletries £10

Marvellous All-Butter Shortbread Biscuits, 95p/100g; Jingle the Reindeer Caramelised Onion Cheddar Truckle, £1.25/100g; OMV! Dark Choc & Honeycomb Cake Pop Bites, £2.22/100g; The Pink Gin Collection, £37.50/75cl; Extra Special Strawberry Daiquiri, £11.43/lt; Free From White Chocolate Polar Bear, £4.12/!00g; Champagne and Prosecco Toppers, £1.25 each/4x5cl. *Part of 3 for 2 offer, subject to availability, CHEAPEST ITEMFREE FREE .**Available 7 November.

CHEAPEST ITEM

Clean and bright This friendly fellow will make washing your hands a joy every time.

Gingerbread Soap Dispenser £4

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 25

C H R I S T M A S PA R T Y W E A R

Glam squad There’s no better time to be in your sparkling best than at a Christmas party. Choose one of our glittering outfits and get ready to dazzle

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. Photography is for illustrative purposes only. Available in store and online.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 27

Let’s talk classic

Everyone should have a little black party outfit, and this satin slip and skirt is light and stlylish – perfect for some serious moves on the dance floor.

Black Satin Lace Cami £13 (sizes 8–24) Black Satin Skirt £16 (sizes 8–24) Black Strapped Sandals £20 (sizes UK 3–9)

28 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

C H R I S T M A S PA R T Y W E A R

Sparkle up

Nothing says ‘It’s party time’ more than a dash of glitter – so choose an outfit that twinkles and strike a pose.

Don’t forget to practise that look in front of the mirror…

Brown Crew Neck Jumper £12 (sizes S–3XL) Short Sequinned Dress £30 (sizes 8–24) Tuxedo Jacket Blazer £30 (sizes 36R–50R) Tuxedo Trousers £20 (sizes 28R–44R) Pink Satin Three-Piece Suit (sizes 6–24): Blazer £32, Corset £12.50, Trousers £18

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. Photography is for illustrative purposes only. Available in store and online.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 29

Gather round

Long pleats are bang on-trend. The style is comfortable, feminine and flattering for every shape.

Wear with high heels or comfy ballet flats.

Silky Pleated Purple Dress £28 (sizes 8–24) Plisse Tiered Black Maxi Dress* £28 (sizes 8–24) 30 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. Photography is for illustrative purposes only. Available in store and online. *Only available on George.com.

C H R I S T M A S PA R T Y W E A R

Looking sharp

Don’t think a trouser suit is just for the office – oh no.

Match a shimmering striped two-piece with a lace bodysuit and spangly shoes and you’re ready to wow.

Trouser Suit (sizes 6–24): Blazer £32, Trousers £18 Lace Bodysuit £16 (sizes start from 32B) Silver Glitter Platform Heels £20 (sizes UK 3– 7)

Product name, £xx; Product name, £xx; Product name, £xx; Product name, £xx; Product name

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 31

* 2 3

F OR te d on selec arty p d chille foo d

Host with the most

When someone drops by at Christmas, you want them to feel welcome. Make sure you have a great selection of drinks and bites to offer them – ’tis the season to be merry after all!

PHOTOGRAPHS JONATHAN GREGSON

Spice it up

Treat guests to more than the traditional festive flavours with snacks heated up with Indian and Middle Eastern spices.

Asda Harissa Mixed Nuts V £2/150g Turkey Curry Party Mix V £1.10/150g Extra Special Pork, Turkey, Bacon and Cranberry Rolls

£5/47g (9-pack) 3 FOR 2*

Extra Special Spanish Olives with Truffle Cheese V £2.50/150g 3 FOR 2* Extra Special Hand-Cooked Crisps (turkey stuffing flavour) £1.35/150g

32 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores.

Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply.

Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

PA R T Y F O O D

SMALL PLATES: Guests can enjoy anibble while having a drink…

Cracking centrepiece

This standout pie is great with cheese, pickles and chutneys for a festive-style ploughman’s lunch.

Food styling: Jake Fenton, Props: Max Robinson

Extra Special Cranberry-Topped Pork Pie £5.50/455g 3 FOR 2*

Extra Special Duck Croquettes with Sour Cherry and Hoisin Dip** £5.50/240g 3 FOR 2*

Baking Lubborn British Brie with Apple, Plum and Cinnamon Glaze £4/250g

Harissa Mixed Nuts, £1.33/100g; Extra Special Spanish Olives with Truffle Cheese, £1.67/100g; Turkey Curry Party Mix, 73p/100g; Extra Special Pork, Turkey, Bacon and Cranberry Rolls, 56p each; Extra Special Hand-Cooked Crisps (turkey stuffing flavour), 90p/100g; Extra Special Cranberry-Topped Pork, £1.21/100g; Extra Special Duck Croquettes with Sour Cherry and Hoisin Dip £2.29/100g; Baking Lubborn British Brie with Apple, Plum and Cinnamon Glaze, £1.60/100g. *Part of 3 for 2 offer, subject to availability, CHEAPEST FREE . **Available from 7 December.

CHEAPEST ITEM FREE

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 33

PA R T Y F O O D

Be prepared Make sure you have a good variety of drinks to serve your guests.

Alcohol-Free Guinness

£10 (10-pack X 440ml)

2£16*

forselected

on d iders an beers, c holic o non-alc drinks

Baking Cambozola with Cranberry Glaze V £3.70/170g

Brew Dog AlcoholFree Mixed Pack £10 (8-pack X 330ml)

Clean Co Clean G Non-Alcoholic Crisp Dry Botanical Spirit £16/70cl

Extra Special Brussels Pâté with Cranberry & Crème de Cassis** £3.50/200g Extra Special Non Alcoholic Rhubarb & Ginger Botanical Drink £10/70cl

Gordon’s Alcohol Free £15/70cl

Caleño® Dark & Spicy Non-Alcoholic Spirit £13/50cl

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Special Edition Fine Sparkling Nozeco Alcohol Free £3.50/75cl

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Baking Cambozola with Cranberry Glaze, £2.18/100g; Extra Special Brussels Pâté with Cranberry & Crème de Cassis, £1.75/100g; Alcohol-Free Guinness, £2.27/lt; Brew Dog Alcohol-Free Mixed Pack, £3.79/lt; Clean Co Clean G Non-Alcoholic Crisp Dry Botanical Spirit, £17.14/lt; Gordon’s Alcohol-Free, £21.43/lt; Extra Special Non Alcoholic Rhubarb & Ginger Botanical Drink, £14.29/lt; Caleño® Dark & Spicy Non-Alcoholic Spirit, £26/lt; Special Edition Fine Sparkling Nozeco Alcohol-Free £3.50/75cl. *In England and Northern Ireland only. **Available from 23 November.

UNWRAP CHRISTMAS

CHEER

Discover the Castello® range this Christmas, available in the cheese aisle

From the left: Pink and White Christmas Jumper – Girls’ £12/£14/£16

Let It Snow Fairisle Jumper – Unisex £18

Reindeer Pocket Cardigan – Girls’

£10/£12/£14 (ages 4 years up to 14 years)

(ages 4 up to 14 years)

£10/£12/£14 (ages 12 months up to 8 years)

(men’s sizes S/M/L/XL)

Santa Ho Ho Ho Jumper – Boys’

Christmas Polo Shirt

Boys’ £6/£7/£8 (ages 12 months up to 7 years)

Fun Fairisle Jumper

– Women’s £20 (sizes S/M/L)

p m u J around around

Decisions, decisions… What Christmas jumper will you go for this year? Get the whole family involved – we have plenty for you all to choose from 36 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

FASHIO N F EST I V E J UM PERS

Have a laugh… … with this jolly fellow.

Need a hug?

You know this guy….

Woof!

Christmas walk anyone?

£18 (sizes S–3XL)

£20 (sizes S–3XL)

£22 (sizes S/M/L)

Santa Ho Ho Ho

Elf OMG! Santa

Elf Doggy

Kids love getting ‘knitted out’ too

All the motifs Stand out from the crowd…

£25 (sizes S/M/L)

Get stripy For the cutest kids this holiday.

Kids’ Fairisles: Both £12/£14/£16 (ages 4 years up to 14 years)

Christmas all over Red and green – so classic.

Sing-along Time for a Christmas tune.

Cosy up Buttoned up in Crimbo snugness.

£20 (sizes S–3XL)

£20 (sizes S/M/L)

£20 (sizes S–3XL)

Sophisticated Bring out the bling!

Grey Sparkle Jumper

Merry•Xmas

Green Fa La La

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. Photography is for illustrative purposes only. Available in store and online.

Christmas Fairisle £20 (sizes S–3XL)

Christmas Cardi

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 37

DECK the

HALLS Decorating the house is a magical time for the whole family. Choose from a wide range of themes to suit your style perfectly

WORDS LOU CASSELL

Cute slogan cushions bring the fun

38 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability.

Online products, delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. **Striped Baubles, £8/4-pack, online only.

G E T T H E LO O K

Left: Striped Bedding Set (double) £12; ‘Making Spirits Bright’ Green Cushion £10 Below: Green Bedding Set (double) £16; Candy Cane Cushion £8; Candy Cane Throw £15; Happy Holi-yays Candle £5

Colour pop If traditional just isn’t you, embrace some full-on brights this Christmas with our selection of colourful home décor. Mix and match baubles, textiles and playful room accessories in every colour of the rainbow, plus a sprinkling of glitter here and there for a fun and modern festive look – with just a hint of kitsch. Choose spaces with a neutral background that will let those brilliantly bright bits really pop. And don’t just stop with the living areas, why not give your bedroom the full festive treatment, too, with bold striped bedding sets and quirky decorations that will make Santa smile.

Left: ‘Merry and Bright’ Pink Cushion £9; Pink and Red Striped Cushion £10; Striped Letter Mug £3.50 each; Small Coloured Fir Trees £6; Stegosaurus Decoration £8; Ho Ho Ho Candle £5; Candy Cane Cushion £8; 5ft Light Up Christmas Tree £25; ‘Good times’ Wreath Cushion £10

Pink Stag Decoration £18

Coloured Pom Pom Christmas Tree £10

Polaroid Camera Bauble £4

Pom Pom Snowflake Tree Topper £8

Striped Baubles

£8 (4-pack)**

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 39

Scandi The calming, pared-back ambience of Scandi styling is oh-so appealing for those who like an understated Christmas vibe. Get totally hyggey with it and set the scene with soft textured cushions, throws and subtle lighting with accessories in gentle shades of white, beige and fawn. Wood and natural fibres complement the look, including elements of nature and the forest from twinkly wooden houses, to snowflakes and tree-themed decorations and fabrics.

Right: Bouclé White Cushion £12; Squirrel Cushion £7; Ski Scene Cushion £12; Wooden Christmas Tree £10; Small Green Fir Tree £3 Below: Wooden Candelabra £15; Christmas Tree Waffle Bedding Set (double) £16*; Festive Wooden House £7

Natural materials are very Scandi

White Christmas Tree Decoration £7 (4-pack, assorted colours)

Wooden Snowflake Tree Decorations £6 (3-pack) 40 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Ceramic House Candle Holder £3

Novelty

G E T T H E LO O K

Bring the Christmas party to your little one’s bedroom this year by adding all the magic and fun of the festive fair to their own space. Go big with oversized decorations, cuddlies and cushions – does that mean a Christmas pudding door stop?

Oh yes it does! Make up the bed with a colourful, festive-themed duvet cover and pillows for the cutest seasonal sleeps. Plus, you can even deck out the room with some Christmas lights, to be switched on at bedtime and guaranteed to make them jump into bed with glee.

Left: Large Dinosaur £25; Kids’ Christmas Bedding Set from £10; Dog Christmas Throw £6; Christmas Pudding Door Stop £15; Dog Tree Shaped Cushion £10 Musical T-Rex Stocking £12

Santa Bauble £4

Traditional Like a glass of sherry and a mince pie, some festive pairings are loved for good reason.

And these colours and textures just say ‘Christmas’ – red, green and white are the traditional tones of the season and bring cosy festive feelings all round, especially when paired with some knitted and tartan textures and winter foliage. The classic look wouldn’t be complete without stockings hanging in front of the fire and the warm glow of some scented candles. And why not add some extra throws and huggable cushions with a cheeky Christmas message for snuggle-up times with extra festive twinkle.

Above: Water Hyacinth Table £32; Winter Spice Candle £5 Above right: Knitted Festive Fairisle Throw £18; Tartan Cushions £10 each; Snuggle Season Cushion £10; Ho Ho Ho Cushion £8

Merry Christmas Sign Decoration £1.50

Berries Bouquet Decoration £3

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Online products, delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only.

Santa Gonk Baubles 75p each

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 41

G E T T H E LO O K

Balloons at Christmas?

Yes please!

7ft Pre-Lit White Tree £75; Grey Cushions £12 each; Silver Classic Decoration Kit (including silver

curtain, balloons, hanging twirls) £12;

Glitter Ball £20 (large), £10 (small); Clear Ribbed Hurricane Glass £10

Silver Star Tree Topper £4

Disco Polar Bear £15

Silver Disco Ball from

Silver Disco £10

Going white with your centrepiece tree is a bold, modern statement and provides the perfect focus for glimmering silver decorations. Dazzle your guests, and create a look with maximum impact, with a disco ball (or two or three) hung in the room or nestled near the tree, plus silver cushions and tableware. Silver strand curtains make an easy, impactful backdrop, then add some extra shimmer with metallic balloons, lighting pieces and candles. Import some frosty friends from the ice caps, such as our lovable polar bear, then get dancing…

Silver Glitzy Reindeer Decoration £10; Iridescent Ribbed Coupes £16 (4-pack); Bar Light £22; Snowflake Dinner Set £22; Large Silver Santa Decoration £40 42 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

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Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Online products, delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only.

Ask the expert

Do you have a festive décor dilemma? Don’t worry, we’ve teamed up with interiors expert Cinead Mcternan from YourHomeStyle.uk for some advice on adding a dash of panache to your home this season

Mantel magic

I normally put cards on the mantelpiece.

How can I make this look more stylish?

Jasmine from Glasgow We get it – you want to create that ‘mantel moment’ when people walk in to your living room. A full mantelpiece makeover is what you need, Jasmine. Here, we’re not just relying on a classy foliage swag to adorn your fireplace… We’ve created

an eye-catching wintry scene by swapping out the painting that usually hangs here for a stylish wreath with used decorative trees and a lantern to enhance the ensemble. You can add twinkling fairy lights too for wow factor. If you can’t find a matching garland and wreath to suit your look, no problem. Combine two garlands and embellish your wreath with berries and a little clip-on feathered friend, or two, for a customised look that will be a talking point, for sure.

Wreath (wall and mantel) £8; White Tree Décor £5; Green Tree Décor £3; Ceramic LED House £3; Bird Clip-On Decoration (3-pack) £2

Stylish stairs

Styling: Hannah Tribe, Thea Jefferies, Photography: Dave Caudrey

I’d like to jazz up my stairway for Christmas, but not in a traditional way – can you help?

Alison from Portsmouth Great idea Alison, this is such a focal point – it’s often the first thing anyone sees when they come through the door. Bring a modern touch with our colourful crocheted or fluffy pom pom garlands. Weave your decorations around the bannisters and handrail, and bingo – a modern twist on traditional foraged foliage swags. Add a few showstopping tassels to embellish the streamers and some bright, hanging, honeycomb paper decorations and you’ll be sure to impress your visitors. Go for it!

Honeycomb Paper Decorations (pack of 13) £4; Small Pink Christmas Tree £6; Mini Snow Trees (8-pack) £5; Small Pom Pom Streamer £15; Crocheted Chain Streamer £15; Hanging Pom Pom Decoration £2 ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 43

GET AHEAD

All the trimmings Try these awesome accompaniments to the main event. Make them ahead of time, pop in the freezer and tick them off your list – job done RECIPES GABRIELL A ENGLISH PHOTOGRAPHS MYLES NEW

Mulled wine red cabbage

Transform these vibrant leaves, along with warming spices and a hint of sweetness and sharpness, into a scrumptious side dish.

Serves 8 | Ready in 1 hr 5 mins Faff factor | V GF EF d your vof5-a-day

• 15g butter • 2 x 480g packs Asda Shredded Red Cabbage • 1 red onion, thinly sliced • 250ml Asda Mulled Wine • 2 red apples, such as Royal Gala, quartered, cored and thinly sliced • 2 star anise • 1 cinnamon stick • 2 bay leaves • pinch of freshly grated nutmeg • 6 cloves • 4 tbsp red wine vinegar • 30g soft light brown sugar

1 Heat the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat.

Once melted add the red cabbage and onion, season with salt and black pepper and cook, stirring regularly, for about 8–10 mins until the vegetables are starting to soften.

2 Add the remaining ingredients with 100ml water, season with salt and pepper if needed and bring to a simmer. Cover the saucepan with a lid, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 15 mins. Remove the lid and simmer for a further 30–35 mins until the cabbage and apple are cooked through and the liquid has reduced.

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3 Remove the star anise, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and cloves before serving.

FREEZING: This freezes really well in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating until piping hot – you may need to add a splash of water. It will defrost faster if stored in a few smaller, shallow containers rather than a single large one.

Each 187g portion contains Energy 571kJ 137kcal 7%

Fat 2.2g Low 3%

Sat Fat 1.1g Low 6%

Sugars 16.5g Med 18%

Salt 0.11g Low 2%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 305kJ/73kcals

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 45

Make it with...

Morello cherry, cranberry and port sauce

Extra Special LBV Port

Red fruits are made into a sweet and sticky sauce, with just the right amount of tangy kick to work with a rich main.

V

£13/75cl

Serves 8–10 | Ready in 30 mins | Faff factor your V VE GF DF MF LF EF d | u of 5-a-day • 400g fresh cranberries • 350g Asda Frozen for Freshness Morello Cherries • 75ml Asda Extra Special Late Bottled Vintage Port • 2 clementines, zest and juice, plus extra zest to garnish • 150g light brown sugar • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon • ¼ tsp ground ginger • pinch of ground mixed spice 1 Add all of the ingredients to a large saucepan with a pinch of salt, cover with a lid and bring to a simmer over a medium-high heat.

Reduce the heat to medium-low, then simmer with the lid on for 5 mins. Remove the lid and continue to cook for a further 20 mins, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.

2 To make in advance, you can store this in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week and bring to room temperature before serving. Garnish with clementine zest before serving, if you like.

Crispy!

When the parsnips steam, it removes excess moisture – this will make them crispier, as will roasting them in low-sided trays.

Use leftovers as a relish for cold meats

FREEZING: You can freeze this for up to 3 months.

Defrost overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature before serving.

Each 90g portion contains Energy 441kJ 105kcal 5%

Fat 0.3g Low 0%

Sat Fat 0.0g Low 0%

Sugars 21.9g High 24%

Salt 0.02g Low 0%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 490kJ/117kcals

Garlic butter parsnips

Crisp, golden, fluffy parsnips will end up being the star of the show on the big day.

Serves 8–10 | Ready in 1 hr 20 mins, plus freezing time | Faff factor your V EF d | u of 5-a-day • 4 x 500g packs parsnips, peeled and cut into fingers about 2cm wide • 75g butter • 4 garlic cloves, crushed • 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, picked and finely chopped • 50g plain flour • 3 tbsp vegetable oil 1 Bring the parsnips to a boil in a large pan of salted water with a tight-fitting lid.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 4–5 mins, until starting to soften at the edges but still holding their shape. Drain really well in a colander and leave to steam for 5 mins.

2 Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over a medium-low heat.

Remove from the heat and stir through the garlic and rosemary. Line two low-sided baking trays with baking paper – ensure that they can fit in your freezer.

3 Return the parsnips to the pan and pour over the butter mixture and flour. Season generously. Cover with a lid and shake until evenly coated. To freeze, divide the

46 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

parsnips between the lined trays. Spread them out well so they don’t stick together in the freezer and see further freezing information below.

4 To cook the parsnips, preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas 6. Divide the oil between two wide, low-sided baking trays – not lined. Put the trays in the oven until the oil is really hot, about 10–15 mins. Add the frozen parsnips carefully and toss in the oil. Roast for 45–50 mins until golden and crispy. Turn the parsnips over halfway through.

FREEZING: If freezing, leave parboiled parsnips to cool on the lined trays then wrap the trays really well with clingfilm and freeze for up to 3 months. Once frozen you can transfer the parsnips to freezer bags so they take up less space.

Cook’s tip: Make a batch of these crispy ‘chips’ without adding the rosemary for herb-averse kids.

Each 157g portion contains Energy 1,018kJ 243kcal 12%

Fat 11.6g Med 17%

Sat Fat 4.6g Med 23%

Sugars 9.9g Med 11%

Salt 0.16g Low 3%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 649kJ/155kcals

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

GET AHEAD

Free from

Swap the butter for dairy-free spread and the hard cheese for a vegan alternative or make breadcrumbs from gluten-free bread.

Slow-roasted shallot gravy

Sweet and herby little onions form a flavoursome base for this get-ahead gravy.

Serves 8–10, makes about 1.2 litres Ready in 1 hr 50 mins | Faff factor V

EF

d

• 2 x 300g packs Asda Naturally Sweet Shallots, halved and peeled • 6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked and roughly chopped • 40g butter, chopped • 40g plain flour • 200ml red wine • 1.5 litres vegetable stock, use 2 stock pots • 2 tsp Asda Redcurrant Jelly

Spinach and hazelnut stuffing

What’s Christmas without stuffing? These savoury nuggets are flavoursome, yet light – if you have any left over, pop them in a sandwich for a Boxing Day bite.

Serves 8–10, makes 16 balls Ready in 1 hr (1 hr 15 mins if cooking from frozen), plus freezing time Faff factor | V d

Food styling: Lizzie Harris, Props: Sarah Birks

• 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 onions, finely chopped • 300g frozen spinach, defrosted • 150g fresh white breadcrumbs • 75g chopped hazelnuts • 1 lemon, zest only • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 2 tsp dried sage • pinch of freshly ground nutmeg • 25g Just Essentials by Asda Hard Cheese, finely grated • 2 eggs, beaten 1 Heat the oil in a small saucepan over a medium heat until melted, then add the onion with a pinch of salt and cook over a medium-low heat, stirring regularly, for 8–10 mins until softened and translucent.

Set aside to cool slightly.

2 Drain the spinach really well, pat dry with kitchen paper to remove as much moisture as possible, then finely chop and add to a large bowl. Add the cooked onion along with the breadcrumbs, hazelnuts, lemon zest,

garlic, sage, ground nutmeg, cheese and eggs, then season generously with salt and pepper and mix together really well.

3 If cooking straight away, preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 4. Line one large or two smaller flat baking trays with greaseproof paper (if freezing in advance, make sure the trays can fit in your freezer).

Divide the mixture into 24 balls and space them out well between the baking trays.

To cook, bake for 25–30 mins, turning halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.

FREEZING: Wrap the trays containing the uncooked stuffing balls in clingfilm, making sure you don’t squash them as you do so.

Once frozen solid you can transfer them to freezer bags so they take up less space.

Freeze for up to 3 months. To cook from frozen, follow the above method but cook for 40–45 mins, turning halfway through cooking.

Fat 8.2g Med 12%

Sat Fat 1.3g Med 7%

FREEZING: Freeze a batch of this gravy for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating until piping hot. You may need to add a splash of water to loosen the gravy.

Cook’s tip: To keep the gravy alcohol-free, skip the wine, increase the stock by 200ml, and add a splash of red wine vinegar.

Each 189g portion contains

Each 84g portion contains Energy 594kJ 142kcal 7%

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4.

Add the shallots, thyme and butter to a large high-sided roasting tin that is safe to go on the hob. Season with salt and pepper and roast for 1 hr 15 mins, stirring every 15 mins, until deeply golden brown and softened.

2 Once roasted, add the flour and mix together, then put the tray on the hob over a medium heat, stirring for 1–2 mins to cook the flour.

3 Gradually add the red wine, stirring to prevent lumps, then add the stock and redcurrant jelly.

Bring to a simmer then cook over a medium heat, stirring regularly, until thickened and the flavour has intensified – about 15–20 mins.

4 Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve as it is with pieces of the shallot in it, or blend until smooth with a stick blender or liquidiser.

5 To make in advance, you can keep this in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Sugars 2.5g Low 3%

Salt 0.24g Low 4%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 707kJ/169kcals

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Extra Special LBV Port £13/75cl

Energy 364kJ 87kcal 4%

Fat 4.0g Low 6%

Sat Fat 2.3g Low 12%

Sugars 3.0g Low 3%

Salt 1.02g Med 17%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 192kJ/46kcals

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 47

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

JUST FOR YOU… Struggling to find that special something for a certain someone?

Whatever they’re into, we have gorgeous gifts for everyone

Don’t forget your pets!

They’ll love a gift too.

FOR * 3 2 on selected gifting

For the…

ANIMAL LOVER

Fans of all things small and furry need look no further. From cute woodland-creature socks to a soft and snuggly penguin throw, we’ve got you covered. Make sure you get something for your pets – they like pressies too!

Clockwise from top left: Polar Bear Bauble £3; Beaded Bee Cushion £10; Bone Advent Treat Calendar £7; Fox Cosy Socks £4 (2-pack for kids, sizes 9-12, 12.5-3, 4-6.5); Natural Wood-Effect Elephant Bowl £15; Turkey Dog Pull Toy £5; Pet Cracker £2; Hedgehog Mug £3.50; Grey Penguin Throw £6; Festive Dog Bowl £5; Pampered Paws Treats Puzzle Game £8 3 FOR 2* ; Gold Bird £5; Cat Lover’s Puzzle Book £5 Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George. com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. *Part of 3 for 2 offer, subject to availability, CHEAPEST ITEM FREE FREE .

CHEAPEST ITEM

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 49

C H R I S TM A S G I F T S

FOR * 3 2 on selected gifting

WAS £30 NOW £15†

For the…

BEAUTY GURU

Clockwise from top left: Nip+Fab Set £13 3 FOR 2* ; Wahl Beard Trimmer with Wash and Oil £30; Lynx The Ultimate Collection Gift Set WAS £30 NOW £15; Cool Vibes Toiletry Bag £8 3 FOR 2* ; Rimmel Super Gel Venus Nail Polish £6.95; LED Cosmetic Mirror £9 3 FOR 2* ; Striped Fleece Dressing Gown £15 (sizes 4–6 up to 20–22); L’Oréal Lipstick £9.95; Frexinet Prosecco Pampering Set £12; Hot Air Styling Brush £10; Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow £10 50 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. delivery only. *Part of 3 for 2 offer, subject to availability, CHEAPEST ITEMFREE FREE . †Black Friday deal running from 1 November for 4 weeks.

CHEAPEST ITEM

Image: Getty

Anyone who loves a primp and a preen (or even just a smidgen of self-care) can get ready for their close-up with our beauty essentials. We’ve got goodies galore to choose from, whether they fancy a body treatment, hair or nail styling kit.

For the…

PARTY PLANNER If you find yourself shopping for a social butterfly, help them do what they do best with some shiny new additions to their hosting heroes. Pre-mixed passion fruit pina colada? Sure thing. Sophisticated glassware? Yes, please! Chocolate fountain? Do you even need to ask?

Clockwise from top left: Gold Metal Trim Drinks Trolley £35; Gold Star Tumblers £2 each; Green Fir Tree Decorations £4 (2-pack); Giles & Posner Chocolate Fountain £32**; Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Creams Tasting Selection £12; Extra Special Passion Fruit Pina Colada £8/70cl; Crimbo Bingo Crackers £5 (6-pack); After Dinner Games Book £5; Escape the Murder Express Book £5; Cocktail Making Set £12; Champagne 2023 Bauble £5; Guinness Hamper £12; ‘Be Our Guest’ A3 Print £8 If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

**Online only – on rollback to £25 between 1–30 November and 1 –31 January.

Extra Special Passion Fruit Pina Colada, £11.43/lt.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 51

C H R I S TM A S G I F T S

For the…

LITTLE STARS Is there anything better than that excited look as they open a present?

It’ll be smiles all round this Christmas morning with our selection of top toys, clothes, treats and games.

Clockwise from top left: Rudolf Plush Toy £4; Air Hockey Game £18; Reindeer Dress £10/£12/£14 (ages 12 months up to 8 years); Hapello Air Fryer £14; Disney Princess Magical Makeover Set £10; Barbie Scooter £25; Pink Dolls House £45; Paw Patrol Ho Ho Ho Top £7/£8/£9 (ages 12 months up to 7 years); A Christmasaurus Carol by Tom Fletcher £8; Pokemon Puzzles £4; Electronic Vtech Toddler Tech Laptop £28; Long Squish Cuddles £20 52 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

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Need Hi-res

For the…

KITCHEN WHIZZ Cooking up a storm just got even easier for the amateur chef in your life with our selection of cookwear, kitchen gadgets and storage solutions. There’s even a range of ‘so kitsch they’re cool’ Christmas tree decorations to choose from. You’re welcome!

Clockwise from top left: Giles & Posner Popcorn Maker £21; Coffee Maker Bauble £4; Almond Milk Bauble £3; Tree Toast Egg Bauble £1.50; Gino D’Acampo Air Fryer £47; At Home with Stacey ‘Gold’ Cutlery £12; The Hairy Bikers’ Everyday Winners £13; I’m only here for the food T-shirt £7 (sizes S–4XL); Blue Pan Set £60 (5-piece); Russell Hobbs Chalkboard Slow Cooker £27; How to Make Anything in an Air Fryer by Hayley Dean £11.50; Gino D’Acampo Baking Dish £47 ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 53

C H R I S TM A S G I F T S

FOR * 3 2 on selected gifting

For the…

INTERIOR DESIGNER Looking for both style and substance? No problem! Our chic selection of homewares can raise the look and feel of anyone’s home in a flash. Choose a statement piece to last or a seasonal accessory they’ll love.

Clockwise from top left: Stacey Solomon Natural Corn Husk Beaded Tray £12; Stacey Solomon Brushed Snowflake Tufted Throw (120x150cm) £20; ‘Every Moment’ Neon Light £40; Christmas Wreath £18; ‘Enjoy Santa’ Picture £10; Invigorate Candle £15; Tap and Tidy† by Stacey Solomon £8; Nature’s Remedy Pamper Pot £8 3 FOR 2* ; Nutcracker Cushion £7; Spiced Berries Pot Pourri £3; Green Beaded Mirror £14; White Ribbed and Speckled Vase £14 54 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only.

CHEAPEST ITEM †Available in 45 stores. *Part of 3 for 2 offer, subject to availability, CHEAPEST ITEMFREE FREE .

AT HOM E WITH STACE Y SOLOMON

Stacey’s

I

cosy

Christmas

really hope you enjoy my At Home with Stacey range at Asda – I absolutely love it.

I’m such a big kid when it comes to Christmas. One of my favourite things to do is put on a good movie with the family, get in our pjs and decorate the house together. I’d put the tree up in August if my husband, Joe, would let me… So you can imagine I was in my element creating these festive pieces, exclusively for Asda. I’m getting two of everything as they’ll make the best gifts, too.

Happy shopping and Merry Christmas, everyone!

Our fave style guru Stacey Solomon is delighted to show off some festive flourishes from her fab in-store range

Clockwise from top left: Mushroom Tree Decorations £6 (4-pack); Cream Felt Tree £8; Tufted Trees Cushion £11; Gold Stag £20; Ceramic Tree Tealight Holders £12 (large), £8 (small); Wreath with Bow and Bells £18 Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda. com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability.

George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 55

GIFTS with a TWIST BUY ME!

Who doesn’t love a foodie gift at Christmas? With plenty to pick up in store as well as our pressie ideas to make at home, you’re guaranteed to put a smile on someone’s face this year RECIPES ELSPETH ALLISON PHOTOGRAPHS MYLES NEW

MAKE ME!

BUY ME!

Extra Special Black Forest Stollen Bites V

£3 (9-pack)

Mulled Wine £3/75cl

BUY ME!

Fruit Pastilles

V £5/120g

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

56 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Food styling: Lizzie Harris, Props: Sarah Birks

MAKE ME!

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Extra Special LBV Port V

£13/75cl

MAKE ME!

BUY ME!

BUY ME!

BUY ME!

Extra Special Cheese Truckle Selection V £8/450g

Extra Special Brown Butter Spiced Dark Rum Fudge V £2/150g

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Black Forest Stollen Bites 33p per bite (9-pack); Extra Special Brown Butter Spiced Dark Rum Fudge £1.34/100g; Mulled Wine £3/75cl; Fruit Pastilles £4.17/100g; Extra Special Cheese Gifting Truckle Box £1.78/100g; Extra Special LBV Port £13/75cl

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 57

N E W Y E A R S E V E : C O C K TA I L S C H R I S TM A S G I F T S

The perfect centrepiece on a festive table

Star biscuit tree

Stripy marshmallows

These melt-in-the-mouth golden stars can be stacked and sprinkled with icing sugar to make a snowy festive centrepiece.

Makes 1 biscuit tree | Ready in 45 mins, plus cooling time | Faff factor | V • 100g unsalted butter, room temperature • 70g caster sugar • 2 tbsp Asda Gingerbread Flavoured Honey • 1 egg, beaten • 250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 1 tsp ground ginger • 50g icing sugar, sifted, plus extra for dusting 1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5.

Line two large baking trays with non-stick greaseproof paper.

2 Beat the butter, sugar and honey together with a pinch of salt in a large mixing bowl with an electric whisk for 3–4 mins, or by hand for 6–8 mins until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat again until combined. Tip in the flour and ground ginger and stir until a firm dough forms.

3 Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to 5mm thick. Use a variety of sizes of star cookie cutters to cut out roughly 30 biscuits. We made 9 x 12cm stars, 8 x 8cm stars, 7 x 4cm stars and 7 x 3cm tiny stars.

Reroll the dough and dust more flour as you cut the stars out.

4 Place on the baking trays, spacing the biscuits roughly 2cm apart. You will have to do a couple of batches. Bake for 8–10 mins until evenly baked and lightly golden.

Leave to cool on the tray for 5 mins before 58 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cook the remaining stars.

5 If you are giving the biscuits as a gift, keep them in an airtight container, or if assembling make a simple icing by whisking the icing sugar in a bowl with ½–1 tbsp water until smooth.

6 When ready to assemble the tree, spoon ¼ tsp icing on the base of a serving board or plate and place one of the large stars on top to stick, spooning another ¼ tsp of icing in the middle of the biscuit. Continue to layer up the biscuits, twisting each one when layering so that they are at different points. Start with the largest biscuits before using the remaining stars in decreasing size. Reserving 1 tiny star biscuit, dip the base vertically in the icing and place on the top of the tree, holding it in place for 30 secs to allow it to set in place.

7 Dust the tree with icing sugar and serve.

Cook’s tip: You can freeze the raw dough stars in a single layer on a flat baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. When fully frozen, transfer to a container or zip-lock bag and keep frozen for up to 3 months. To cook from frozen, add 1–2 mins to the cooking time.

Each 13g portion contains Energy 246kJ 59kcal 3%

Fat 2.4g High 3%

Sat Fat 1.5g High 8%

Sugars 3.0g High 3%

Salt 0.02g Low 0%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 1,891kJ/452kcals

Colourful, squidgy mouthfuls that are just as much fun to eat as they are to make.

Makes 50 marshmallows | Ready in 40 mins, plus setting time | Faff factor GF DF MF LF

• 30g icing sugar • 30g cornflour • 450g granulated sugar • 50g liquid glucose • 10 Dr. Oetker Platinum Grade Leaf Gelatine leaves • 2 large eggs, whites only • 1 tsp flavoured extract (either Asda Extra Special Sicilian Lemon Extract, Asda Extra Special American Peppermint Extract, Asda Extra Special Valencian Orange extract) • 1–2 tsp food colouring to match – yellow for lemon, green for peppermint and orange 1 Whisk together the icing sugar and cornflour in a small bowl. Dust half the mix over the base and sides of a 20x20cm square baking tin.

2 Combine the sugar and liquid glucose in a large saucepan along with 200ml water. Place the pan over a medium-low heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Turn the heat up and bring to a vigorous boil until the syrup reaches 120°C on a sugar thermometer. Do not stir the sugar at this point.

3 Add the gelatine leaves with 120ml water to a small saucepan over a low heat. Stir until the leaves have dissolved. Remove from the heat.

4 Place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Marmalade chocolate truffles

Sophisticated dark chocs with a zesty orange tang. Make plenty of gift bags of these decadent delights as everyone will want some…

Makes 24 truffles Ready in 30 mins, plus chilling time Faff factor | V GF EF • 300g Asda Extra Special Peruvian Dark Chocolate 70%, finely chopped • 150ml double cream • 20g unsalted butter • 2 tbsp Asda Shredless Orange Marmalade • 2 oranges, zest only 1 Put 200g of the dark chocolate into a heatproof mixing bowl. Heat the double cream in a small saucepan over a medium heat until just simmering and then remove from the heat. Add the butter and marmalade; stir until melted.

2 Pour the cream over the chocolate, with a pinch of salt. Whisk until the chocolate is melted, smooth and glossy. Transfer to a shallow 20x15cm dish. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hr.

3 Melt the remaining chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Remove the bowl and set aside.

stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Check the temperature of the sugar syrup with a sugar thermometer. When it is at 120°C turn the mixer to high to beat the eggs to stiff peaks. When the syrup reaches 125°C remove the pan from the heat. While the mixer is still whisking, slowly and carefully pour the sugar syrup down the inside of the bowl, whisking until the egg whites become thick and glossy. Once the syrup has all been added, turn the mixer speed to medium.

Slowly pour the gelatine mix down the inside of the bowl. This will loosen but will thicken up again. Whisk on high for 10 mins, until thick, glossy and doubled in size.

5 Spoon half of the marshmallow mix into the baking tin. With a palette knife create a smooth, even layer. Turn the mixer back on to a low speed and add your chosen extract and food colouring. Beat for another 2 mins.

6 Pour the coloured marshmallow over the top of the white marshmallow and gently use a clean palette knife to create a smooth finish.

Dust the remaining cornflour mix over the top.

Leave to set at room temperature for 4 hrs.

7 Use a butter knife to loosen the edges of the marshmallow away from the tray. Turn out onto a large board and cut into equal-sized cubes with a lightly greased sharp knife. Toss in the excess cornflour mix from the tray. They will keep in an airtight container for 2 weeks.

Line a large baking tray with non-stick greaseproof paper.

4 Fill a mug with boiling water and dip in a couple of teaspoons. Use two hot tsps to scoop and shape the truffle mix into 24 small balls.

5 Using a fork, carefully dip each ball into the melted chocolate to cover. Place onto the lined tray. Grate over the orange zest and chill in the fridge until set. Wrap up into parcels of greaseproof paper and place in an airtight container until you’re ready to gift wrap, or put straight into gift boxes/cellophane wraps.

Leftovers tip: You can keep the truffles in the fridge for up to 2 weeks – if you can resist eating them, that is.

Each 21g portion contains Energy 463kJ 111kcal 6%

Fat 9.1g High 13%

Sat Fat 5.5g High 28%

Sugars 4.6g Med 5%

Salt 0.01g Low 0%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 2,205kJ/527kcals

Mix it up

This makes 1 batch of flavoured and coloured marshmallows. Switch it up by using different food colourings and flavour extracts.

Each 10g portion contains Energy 189kJ 45kcal 2%

Fat 0.0g Low 0%

Sat Fat 0.0g Low 0%

Sugars 9.8g High 11%

Salt 0.02g Low 0%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 1,887kJ/451kcals

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 59

C H R I S TM A S G I F T S

Gift set sums…

If you’re stuck on how to gather together some goodies as a present for someone, we’re here to help…

+

+ Extra Special Shiraz Barossa Valley V

Extra Special Brie De Meaux

WAS £8.75 NOW £8/75cl

Extra Special Winter Blend Roast and Ground Coffee £3.50/227g

+ Extra Special Cherry and Chocolate Panettone

Extra Special Belgian Hot Chocolate Gift Tin V

Extra Special Blonde Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur*

+

£8/70cl

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Smoked Gin Glasses £7 (2-pack)

=

Set of Three Scented Candles

on page 58

+

Best for…

£3.50

Make your own marshmallows

£5/133g

=

Best for…

Gingerbread Mug

V £2/100g

+

=

Best for…

Extra Special Caramelised Onion Chutney V £2.15/320g

£3.25/165g

+

=

Best for…

the festive foodie who likes to enjoy the indulgent flavours of Christmas. This fine wine, creamy cheese and tangy chutney work together well or on their own.

the afternoon treat indulger – a slice of seasonal fruity cake and a smooth cup of coffee, served in your new favourite festive mug. Now that’s Christmas o’clock!

someone with a sweet tooth. This little combo is the perfect ‘me time’ gift. Picture the scene with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and stunning sweet treats enjoyed by candlelight.

£6 (3-pack)

+

Extra Special Belgian Chocolate Wreath

the chocoholic.

They’ll be in absolute heaven when sipping this silky liqueur and snacking on a luxurious choc wreath.

£3/90g

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/ collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Shiraz Barossa Valley 2021 WAS £8.75 NOW £8/75cl; Extra Special Brie De Meaux £1.97/100g; Extra Special Caramelised Onion Chutney 67.2p/100g; Extra Special Winter Blend Roast and Ground Coffee £1.54/100g; Extra Special Cherry and Chocolate Panettone £2/100g; Extra Special Belgian Hot Chocolate Gift Tin £3.76/100g; Extra Special Blonde Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur £11.43/lt; Extra Special Belgian Chocolate Wreath £3.33/100g.*Available from 7 November.

FIND ME IN THE FREEZER

æ æ F æ b æ æ æ æ

INGREDIENTS • 125g Unsalted butter (softened)

9H .!$! 0 0$! +2!* 0+ 877Ê L" * 9?7Ê O # / ) .' ;M * (%*! 8 '%*# 0. 5/ 3%0$ '%*# , . $)!*0H

! 99<# %((%*#0+*b/ *.!R *! %#$0 Muscovado Sugar ! 997# %(2!. ,++* $%0! /0!. 1# .

• 1 Medium egg • 1 tsp Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract • 220g Allinson’s Self Raising Flour • 0.5 tsp Salt ! 877# $+ +( 0! $%,/ L3! 1/! )%(' $+ +( 0!M

8H * +3( .! ) 0+#!0$!. 0$! 100!. * /1# ./ 1*0%( , (! * S 1""5H 0$! !## * 2 *%(( !40. 0O )%4%*# 0+#!0$!. 3!((H :H %"0 %* 0$! S +1. * / (0O 0$!* )%4 1*0%( /+"0 +1#$ "+.)/H 0%. %* 0$! $+ +( 0! $%,/H ;H .! ' +"" 3 (*10 /%6! ,%! !/ +" +1#$ * .+(( %*0+ ((/H ( ! +* 0$! '%*# 0. 5/ (! 2%*# /, ! !03!!* 0$!) / 0$!5 3%(( /,.! +10 1.%*# '%*#H <H '! "+. >F97 )%*10!/O 0$! (+*#!. 0$! .1* $%!. 0$! ++'%!H ! 2! 0+ ++( +* 0$! 0. 5/ "+. 97 )%*10!/ 0$!* 0. */"!. +*0+ 3%.! . ' 0+ ++( +),(!0!(5H

*%(( !40. 0 !*$ * !/ 0$! S 2+1. +" $+ +( 0! * 3%(( !(!2 0! 5+1. $.%/0) / '!/D

æ æ

Time 27 mins Serves 24

æ

Sugar & spice

If you’re preparing to bake up a seasonal storm, bring extra magic to the kitchen with these fantastically festive goodies

Mix it up Stir and whisk with three Christmassy pieces of kit.

Gingerbread Utensils £2.50 each

Cookie crockery Serve teatime biscuits and nibbles in style.

Gingerbread Plate £6.50

Cute as candy They’ll be queueing up to dry the dishes. Gingerbread Tea Towel Set (3) £4

Pop a pinny on Keep clothes clean and dial up the baking fun factor.

Santa’s Little Helper Apron £3

Store your fave bakes Perfect for mince pies and more…

The Nightmare Before Christmas Cake Tins £8.50 (2-pack)

All set Serve up some festive spirit with these cute plates and bowls. 12-piece Gingerbread Dinner Set £20

Take your pick Small and big hands will happily dip in for a Christmas candy…

Snowman Sweetie Jar £7

I N S P I R AT I O N

Cool as you like A bag of squidgy mouthfuls – yum.

Festive Snowman Mallow Mix £2/120g

Jolly holly days Spruce up ice cream and waffles with a simple shake.

Holly & Berry Sprinkles £1.10/55g

It’s a toss-up Enjoy the flipside of crêpe cooking. The Nightmare Before Christmas Pancake Pan £10

By the spoon Add some fun to getting ingredients spot on. Gingerbread Measuring Spoons £3.50

Terrific toppers Christmas-ify your cupcakes in a faff-free flash. Festive Cake Decorations £1.50 (16-pack)

Shape shifters Little ones will love making festive shaped biscuits – and eating them! Cookie Cutters £1

Raise the roof The perfect home for all your seasonal sweet treats.

Gingerbread Cookie Jar £13

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. Festive Snowman Mallow Mix, £1.67/100g; Holly & Berry Sprinkles, £2/100g; Festive Cake Decorations 9.4p each (16-pack).

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 63

SEASON’S TREATINGS You know when you just fancy a little something sweet?

We’ve got you covered…

PHOTOGRAPHS STEVE SAYERS

A vegan choc bar that everyone will love

Extra Special Almond Stollen Loaf V £7.50 (serves 10)

Large Candy Cane**

V 90p/80g

Dome Chocolates V £5/105g

64 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

Large Candy Cane, £1.13/100g; Small Candy Cane Bag, 63p/100g; Dome Chocolates, £4.76/100g; Stollen Loaf, £7.50 serves 10.

SWEET STUFF

Jingle all the way

We can’t get enough of this friendly reindeer – can you?

Jingle the Reindeer Chocolate Swiss Roll V £6.50 each Chocolate Coins V

Small coins 75p/75g; Large coins £1/50g

Merry Munch Mix* £2.25/200g

This sweet and savoury mix is a real crowd pleaser

Small Candy Cane Bag** V

MF

Milk Chocolate Jingle the Reindeer V £2.50/150g

90p/144g

Jingle the Reindeer Chocolate Mini Rolls V £2.50 (5-pack)

Extra Special Macarons £4.50 (box of 10)

Food styling: Anna Shepherd

Jingle the Reindeer Chocolate Cake V £12 each

OMV! Espresso Martini Flavour Loaded Choc Bar V VE MF £3/110g

Chocolate Coins – Small coins, 75p/75g; Large coins, £1/50g; Merry Munch Mix, £1.13/100g; Extra Special Macarons, 45p each; OMV! Espresso Martini Flavour Loaded Choc Bar, £2.73/100g; Jingle the Reindeer Chocolate Swiss Roll, £6.50 each; Milk Chocolate Jingle the Reindeer, £2.33/100g; Jingle the Reindeer Chocolate Mini Rolls, 50p each (5-pack); Jingle the Reindeer Chocolate Cake, £12 each; Free From Jingle the Reindeer Lolly, £3.33/100g. *Available 18 December. **Available 27 November.

Free From Jingle the Reindeer Lolly VE DF MF £1/30g ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 65

Bring a bottle… …but which one? If you find it stressful choosing wine for the big day, or to take to a party, we’re here to help. Take your pick of our favourites from this season’s selection, with notes from wine expert Clive Donaldson PHOTOGRAPH MYLES NEW

The showstopper

Vintage Champagnes are the best wines of that year, developing and building fabulous complexity over time. This 2014 wine is perfect now with red apple, citrus flavours and a biscuity finish. Pop a cork at midnight and see in the New Year in style, or pour a glass and raise a toast any time. Serve lightly chilled, on its own or with smoked salmon.

Extra Special Louis Bernard Vintage Champagne Brut

The party fave

This stand-out, stylish green apple and pear-flavoured Prosecco is from Asolo in Italy, which has protected DOCG status. This means wines produced there are done so to a controlled, ‘superior’ standard. The area’s cooler climate gives this Prosecco a crisper, more refreshing character than some others. It’s great with spicy party foods.

The Christmas classic

Treat your guests to this special Chablis from Burgundy in the Northeast of France.

It has plenty of lovely mineral and citrus notes.

Chilled right down, it’s the perfect match for poached or smoked salmon.

Extra Special Chablis WAS £14 NOW £13/75cl

The main match

This velvety-textured Mâcon-Villages from top Burgundy producer, Louis Jadot, is rich with white peach, apple and lemon notes and a creamy finish on the palate.

Served lightly chilled, it has the weight to pair well with turkey and all the trimmings.

Louis Jadot Mâcon Villages £12.50/75cl

The crowd pleaser A modern classic, this refreshing Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is packed with vibrant passion fruit and grapefruit flavours.

When nice and cold, this easy-drinking party wine will be loved by everyone.

Extra Special Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Awatere £10.75/75cl

Frozen Lily Asolo Prosecco £12/75cl

WAS £28 NOW £23/75cl

66 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photograph shows serving suggestions.

WINE

Clive Donaldson has studied winemaking in Australia and worked in all areas of the wine industry. His skills include hand-selecting fine wines and building best-selling brands.

Now, he is our wine expert and creates top-class bespoke wines for us.

Styling: Lizzie Harris, Props: Sarah Birks

The happy medium

This demi-sec Chenin Blanc from one of the most famous villages in the Loire Valley is a gently honeyed wine with flavours of baked apple, mango and citrus.

The touch of rounded sweetness makes this a brilliant match for a festive cheeseboard, fruity desserts or a Boxing Day turkey curry.

Extra Special Vouvray £8/75cl

The all-rounder

Rosso di Montalcino is like a super-charged Chianti packed with red cherries, cranberries and herbs.

Intense flavour but medium body make it a great alternative to Pinot Noir.

Italian wines are made for food, and this would go well with both turkey and red meats as well as leftover cold cuts.

Extra Special Rosso de Montalcino £18/75cl

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale.

You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

The special treat Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the top wine from France’s Rhone valley.

It comes rich with red cherry fruit, a velvetiness, and a gently spicy finish.

Smooth and generous, it’s a great choice for pork or red meats.

Extra Special Châteauneufdu-Pape (red) WAS £19.75 NOW £18/75cl

The savvy shopper

Pinot Noir is the perfect red grape to go with turkey, ham and all the trimmings.

Chile makes some of the best-value examples of this difficult-to-grow grape and this is a great choice.

Sourced from the cool coastal region of Leyda, this silky red wine is laced with red cherry, vanilla and allspice notes.

Extra Special Valle de Leyda Pinot Noir

£8/75cl

Extra Special Louis Bernard Vintage Champagne Brut, WAS £28 NOW £23/75cl; Frozen Lily Asolo Prosecco £12/75cl; Extra Special Chablis, WAS £14 NOW £13/75cl; Louis Jadot Mâcon Villages, £12.50/75cl; Extra Special Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Awatere, £10.75/75cl; Extra Special Vouvray, £8/75cl; Extra Special Rosso de Montalcino, £18/75cl; Extra Special Châteauneuf-du-Pape (red), WAS £19.75 NOW £18/75cl; Extra Special Valle de Leyda Pinot Noir, £8/75cl; Extra Special Uco Valley Malbec, £12/75cl.

The robust red

The Uco Valley is a cool, higher altitude valley within Mendoza with a reputation for producing a more sophisticated and refined Malbec. This wine almost has a touch of Bordeaux about it, with fine tannins, intense black fruit flavours and a hint of oak. It’s a wonderful partner for red meat Christmas centrepieces like a beef Wellington.

Extra Special Uco Valley Malbec £12/75cl

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 67

All wrapped up

When it comes to presents, what’s on the inside is important but the packaging can be a bit special too… Look out for our stunning ranges – you can get sets of gift bags, and wrapping sets that include papers, labels and ribbons PHOTOGRAPHS DAVE CAUDREY AND GAVIN ROBERTS

The Striped Range

Recycle me You can put me in your recycling bin.

What’s your style?

Modern and bright, traditional, cute or Disney-themed – there’s something for every wrapper.

Gift Wrap Set with Bows, Ribbons, Tags £4 Across all ranges

These prices apply to all ranges, except where a specific item is highlighted.

Wrapping paper (3.5m) £1.50 Bows and Ribbons Accessories Pack £1 Sticker Labels (75-pack) £1

68 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Gift Bags small, 80p; medium, 90p; large, £1 Gift Tags (4-pack) 50p; (8-pack) £1 Gift Boxes from £2

Money Wallet (4-pack) £1; Paper Curling Ribbon (6-pack) £1

Paper Bows (24-pack) £1

CHRISTMAS WRAPPING

The Disney Range

The Wholesome Luxury Range

Including Disney100, Princesses and Lilo and Stitch

The Red Range

The Silver Range

8m Red Star Wrap (8m) £1 Striped Tissue Paper (5-pack) £1 Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 69

a m a P yj Pa r t y !

Enjoy that special ‘snuggle moment’ when you’re all cosied up in your matching Christmas pjs

Mens’ Socks

£7 (3-pack)

Christmas Kids’ Socks £4 (5-pack)

Tartan Nightwear: Kids’ Pyjama Set £10 (ages 18 months up to 14 years) Adult tops £10, bottoms £8 (ages 4–6 up to 20–22, XS–2XL) Baby Pyjama Set £9 (ages 0–3 months up to 2–3 years) Baby Dressing Gown £8 (ages 0–3 months up to 2–3 years) 70 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Reindeer Slipper Socks Men’s £7,

Women’s £7, Kids’ £5

FASHION PJS

Left: Bright Slogan Pyjamas: Mens’ £12.50 (sizes XS–2XL) Ladies’ £12.50

(sizes 4–6 up to 20–22) Kids’ £8 (ages 18 months up to 14 years) Baby £7 (ages 0–3 months up to 18–24 months)

Below: Star Pyjamas: Ladies’ £22 (sizes 4–6

up to 20–22) Girls’ £12 (ages 18 months up to 14 years)

Quilted Dressing Gown £35

(sizes XS–XL)

Check Nightwear: Mens’ Pyjamas £18

(sizes XS–2XL) Boys’ Pyjamas £12 (ages 18 months up to 14 years) Dressing Gown £28 (sizes S–XL)

Ready for action

Get together in your pjs for a movie night this Christmas.

Don’t forget the dog!

BBC Children In Need Asda Better Starts Charity Pyjamas*: Adults’ £14 (sizes: women’s 4–6 up to 20–22, men’s XS–2XL)

Kids’ £10 (ages 2–3 years up to 13–14 years) Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. *A minimum of 10% of the price of this product will benefit BBC Children in Need (charity number 802052 in England & Wales and SC039557 in Scotland).

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 71

FASHI O N PJS

Disney100 Velour Nightwear: Snuggle Hoodie £22 (sizes S–L) Mens’ Pyjamas £18 (sizes XS–2XL) Kids’ Pyjamas £12 (ages 2 years

up to 12 years)

Disney100 Bauble Wreath £12

Disney100 Bauble £3

Disney100 Trinket Box £5

Disney100 Projection Light £12

Disney100 Collectable To Infinity And… Kids’ T-shirt £5/£6/£7 (ages up to 8 years)

Disney dreaming

As Disney celebrates 100 years, we keep on loving all those adorable characters, wherever they appear – who is your favourite?

Disney100 Dog Hoodie £8

Disney100 Christmas Eve Box £3

Disney100 Calendar £12

Disney100 Mug £3 72 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Disney100 Mickey Mouse Beanie £7 (ages 4-8 years and 8-12 years)

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply.

Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. © Disney © Disney•Pixar © & ™ Lucasfilm LTD © Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

C H R I S TM A S E V E

Festive Antipasti Grazing Board†

3 FOR2*

A selection of olives, cheeses and sliced continental salamis with a special Christmas tree template to help you to create the perfect shaped platter. £5/270g

on selected chilled part y food

3 FOR 2°

Christmas Eve eats The big day is almost here – and with a packed schedule of festivities to prep for, make the night before Christmas easy peasy with our mouthwatering ideas w PHOTOGRAPHS MIKE ENGLISH Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Festive Antipasti Grazing Board £1.85/100g. †Image shown uses two grazing platters, and rosemary is not included. °Part of 3 for 2 offer, CHEAPEST ITEM FREE FREE .

CHEAPEST ITEM

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

*

R3 4FO selected on

frozen lines

Extra Special Yorkshire Black Ham Joint** DF

£15 (1kg)

Extra Special Hog Roast Yule Log £8/500g 3 FOR 2°

OMV! Bao Bun Selection

Extra Special Mediterranean Grazing Platter £8/460g 3 FOR 2°

£3.50/240g 3 FOR 2°

Chilli Cheese Bites† d V £2/240g 4 FOR 3*

Duck Spring Rolls† d VE DF MF £2.50/216g

4 FOR 3*

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

74 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Yorkshire Black Ham Joint, £15 (kg); OMV! Bao Bun Selection, £1.46/100g; Chilli Cheese Bites, 84p/100g; Extra Special Hog Roast Yule Log, £16/kg; Extra Special Mediterranean Grazing Platter, £1.74/100g; Duck Spring Rolls, £1.16/100g; Extra Special Sancerre, £15.50/75cl; Sticky Chicken Skewers, £1.39/100g.

C H R I S TM A S E V E

Extra Special Sancerre

£15.50/75cl

Sticky Chicken Skewers†

d £2.50/180g

Tandoori Chicken Thigh Bites† d £2.50/240g 4 FOR 3*

4 FOR 3*

Decorate this pizza

Food styling: Kate Gilhooly, Props: Tabitha Hawkins

Get the kids involved – they’ll love it!

F OR ° 3 2 o

n selected chilled part y food

*4 for 3 offer on selected lines, CHEAPEST FREE . **Available CHEAPEST ITEM ITEM FREE online and in store 7 December. †Available from 12 December. °Part of 3 for 2 offer, subject to availability, CHEAPEST ITEMFREE FREE .

CHEAPEST ITEM ^Available from 27 November.

Christmas Tree Cheese Meltdown Pizza^ V £3/359g; Christmas Dinner Pizza with Turkey, Stuffing, Pigs in Blankets and Cranberry Sauce^ £4.75/570.5g Tandoori Chicken Thigh Bites, £1.04/100g; Christmas Tree Cheese Meltdown Pizza, 84p/100g; Christmas Dinner Pizza with Turkey, Stuffing, Pigs in Blankets and Cranberry Sauce, 83p/100g.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 75

C H R I S TM A S E V E B OX

Help is on the way…

Santa’s Little Helper Elf Christmas Pyjamas* £8/£9/£10/£11 (ages 18 months up to 14 years)

Bedtime stories A seasonal story for sleepy time.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore £4

Christmas Eve Box £2; Jingle the Reindeer Chocolate Marshmallow Lolly £1/45g; Snowman Plush £4; Santa Tumbler with Straw £2; Novelty Christmas Tree Glasses £1; Rubik’s Cube £1; Wrapping paper – see page 68

Magic is in the air…

When kids dive into their Christmas Eve Thirsty work boxes, what fabulous goodies will they find?

It’s a joy staying hydrated with

this cute festive flask. Christmas Milk Bottle with Straw £1.50

Take a break A happy new home for hot choccy, complete with woodland friends.

Christmas Mug £1.50

Doodle away Everything a child could need for a seasonal scribble.

Disney Stitch Stationery Set £6

Come on down!

Sprinkle this and it will glow, then reindeers will know where to go!

Magical Reindeer Dust £1

Snoozy style Christmas Pyjamas* (2-pack) £14/£16/£18 (ages 18 months up to 10 years)

Join the dots A handy distraction while they wait for Santa to arrive.

Festive Activity Pack £3

Let’s get together!

Kids love to have friends – these Christmas chums are winners.

Small Soft Toys £1.50 (each)

Opening time A colourful festive box, perfect for little pressies for little people.

Christmas Eve Box £2

Time to unwind Who needs technology when you can spin these little beauties for fun? Christmas Yo-Yos £1 (each)

Wakey, WAKEY! A funny, heart-warming, magical read. The Boy Who Slept Through Christmas by Matt Lucas £7

Welcome…

Be it snacks for Santa or carrots for Rudolph, serve them up in style. Christmas Eve Box Plate £3

76 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. George.com – delivery charge may apply. UK delivery only. Jingle the Reindeer Chocolate Marshmallow Lolly, £2.22/100g. *Available until 25 November.

Main image: Steve Sayers

Say ‘cheese’!

Have fun with festive photo opps.

Strike a pose, people… Christmas Photo Props (8-pack) £1.50

Make it with...

Jingle the Reindeer Crumpets*

£1.25 (6-pack)

Start the day Rise and shine with scrumptious breakfast dishes that’ll get your Christmas Day off to a smashing start RECIPES SARAH COOK PHOTOGRAPHS JONATHAN GREGSON

Crumpet traybake We’re loving Jingle the Reindeer in this all-in-one veggie bake. It’s all made in one tray, so minimal washing up – win, win!

Serves 4 | Ready in 25–30 mins your Faff factor | V | v of5-a-day • 250g Asda Extra Special Baby Portabello Mushrooms • 2 tsp olive oil • 30g salted butter, softened • 4 Asda Jingle the Reindeer Crumpets* • 2 x 225g packs cherry tomatoes on the vine • 4 eggs • 60g wild rocket

1 Heat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas 7.

Add the mushrooms to your largest baking tray, about 25 x 35cm, crowding them together at one end. Drizzle with the oil, season and bake for 10 mins.

2 Spread the softened butter on the crumpets, top side only.

3 After the mushrooms have cooked for the first 10 mins, add the tomato vines and crumpets to the tray. Move about the mushrooms now so they are evenly spread across the tray and you have spaces to add your eggs. Bake for another 4 mins.

4 Quickly crack the eggs into the spaces on the tray, season everything and cook for 5–8 mins until the egg whites are set and yolks cooked to your liking. As you serve the mushrooms, tomatoes, eggs and buttery baked crumpets onto serving plates, add a handful of rocket leaves for a bit of festive greenery.

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. *Available from 18 December. Jingle the Reindeer Crumpets, 21p each (6-pack).

Cook’s tip: To make it meaty, start with a pack of 8 sausages, roasting on the tray for 12 mins before you add the mushrooms and continue from there.

Leftovers tip: The roasted mushrooms and tomatoes make a great addition to a hearty salad. Warm your favourite microwave pouch of mixed grains, stir through the mushrooms and tomatoes, followed by any leftover rocket leaves.

Each 279g portion contains Energy 1,261kJ 301kcal 15%

Fat 13.7g Med 20%

Sat Fat 5.9g Med 30%

Sugars 7.0g Low 8%

Salt 1.06g Med 18%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 452kJ/108kcals

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 77

Loaded breakfast brioche

Feed a crowd with an indulgent, French-toasty bake that can be assembled the night before.

Serves 8 | Ready in 1 hr, plus 1 hr or overnight soaking | Faff factor

Golden

The syrup is great drizzled on ice cream, with warm mince pies and custard, or even a dash in a glass of cava for a festive fizz twist.

• 5 eggs • 225ml milk • 150ml double cream • 2 tbsp icing sugar, plus 2 tsp for sprinkling • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 1 tsp butter, softened for greasing • 250g blueberries • Asda Extra Special All Butter Brioche Loaf (400g) • 8 rashers Asda Extra Special Winter Spiced Dry Cured Bacon†

1 To make the syrup, put all of the ingredients into a small saucepan and warm over a low heat. Once the marmalade has just about melted (mash any lumps with a fork if needed), increase the heat until the syrup is gently bubbling and then cook for 2 mins more.

2 In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, 2 tbsp icing sugar and vanilla with a pinch of salt until well combined. Use a little butter to grease a baking dish, about 20 x 30cm. Tip in half of the blueberries.

3 Slice the brioche loaf into 16 slices. Brush half of the brioche slices with some of the cooling syrup on one side, then sandwich with the remaining brioche slices. Dip each sandwich into the egg mixture until well soaked, before putting into the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches, slightly overlapping the slices in the dish. Pour any remaining egg mixture over the top and scatter with the remaining blueberries. Leave to soak while you heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4, or leave overnight in the fridge. Cool the syrup completely, but store at room temperature.

4 Bake for 22–25 mins until the egg mixture is set, the brioche puffed up and the top golden and crisp. Line a large baking tray with foil and lay out the bacon rashers.

5 When the brioche bake is ready, cover loosely with foil to keep warm and set aside., Heat the grill to high then grill the bacon for about 3–5 mins on each side until crispy.

6 The bitter orange syrup should be runny like honey – if it is a little thick, warm gently to loosen. Mix the remaining 2 tsp of icing sugar with half ½ tsp cinnamon. Serve the brioche bake dusted with the cinnamon sugar and topped with crispy bacon. Drizzle each portion with ½ tbsp of syrup and serve.

Cut into slices so kids can pick up to eat

Each 196g portion contains Energy 2,075kJ 496kcal 25%

Fat 27.0g High 39%

Sat Fat 14.3g High 72%

Sugars 26.3g Med 29%

Salt 1.18g Med 20%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 1,059kJ/253kcals

78 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Leftovers tip: Dust fingers of brioche in icing sugar and briefly bake in a hot oven or air fryer until crispy. Dip into chocolate sauce or eat with ice cream for a quick pudding.

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/ smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

Food styling: Jake Fenton, Props: Max Robinson

For the bitter orange and cinnamon syrup • 225g marmalade • 2 satsumas (or clementines), 1 zested and both juiced • ¼ tsp cinnamon, plus ½ tsp extra for sprinkling

C H R I S T M A S B R E A K FA S T

Get toasty

Munching the numbers

+ Extra Special Mild and Delicate Scottish Smoked Salmon DF

£4.50* °/100g

+ Asda 6 Medium Free Range Eggs

Toast and jam.

Simple is best sometimes – yes?

+ The Bakery at Asda Muffins V

=

Schwartz Hollandaise Sauce Mix 95p**/25g

Extra Special Mimosa Marmalade V £1.75/340g

EGGS ROYALE

For an easy festive breakfast with a touch of luxe, you can’t go wrong with eggs royale. Poach the fresh eggs one at a time in a large pan of gently simmering water, cooking for 3–4 mins and removing each with a slotted spoon when ready. While the muffins are toasting, mix up the hollandaise sauce according to packet instructions. Layer up the muffins, smoked salmon, eggs and sauce, and enjoy with a glass of Buck’s Fizz.

Extra Special Cherry and Amaretto Jam V £1.90/340g

Extra Special Blackcurrant Conserve V £2.20/370g

Enjoy notes of chocolate, nut and vanilla

Extra Special Winter Edition Coffee Pods V

Extra Special Mild and Delicate Scottish Smoked Salmon, £4.50/100g. Schwartz Hollandaise Sauce Mix, £3.80/100g. Extra Special Mimosa Marmalade, 51p/100g; Extra Special Cherry and Amaretto Jam, 56p/100g; Extra Special Blackcurrant Conserve, 59p/100g; Extra Special Winter Edition Coffee Pods, 26p per pod (8-pack). †Available from 23 November. °Available from 14 December. *2 for£8. **4 for £2.50.

VE

£2.60 (10-pack)

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 79

WARBUR WA ARBUR R OF O SEEDS S & GRAINS

Find the theone onethat’s that’s right rightfor foryou you

Off to a good start…

P R O M OT I O N S TA R T E R S

Push the boat out this year with one of our showstopping starters – they’re seriously special

Y

Photograph: Melissa Reynolds-James, Food styling: Rosie French, Props: Sarah Birks

ou’ve peeled the spuds, stuffed the turkey and laid the table. Let’s face it, the last thing you want to trouble yourself with is whipping up Marie Rose sauce or making a festive pâté. The good news is that we’ve done all the hard work and created some extra special starters to see your festive feast off with a bang.

For real wow-factor, opt for our awardwinning Extra Special Luxury Seafood Platter, bursting with wild-caught, roasted Scottish langoustines, Madagascan tiger crevettes, easypeel prawns and rope-farmed mussels from Bantry Bay, Ireland.

The lemon mayonnaise adds a dash of sharpness. For an equally delicious start to your meal, our Extra Special Layered Prawn Cocktail has juicy prawns in a delicate charred tomato Marie Rose sauce, infused with cognac.

After a classic dish? Our Extra Special Duck Parfait, made from

British duck livers and duck fat blended with cream, brown butter and port, and with a topping made with apple jelly, spiced rum and vanilla, will become a festive fave – on Boxing Day, too! Our easy-to-serve Extra Special Chicken and Duck Liver Pâté with Truffle Flavour Topping is perfect to kick off proceedings – serve with warm toast triangles.

Who’s to know you didn’t make them all yourself…

Extra Special Duck Parfait** £4/185g

â

Extra Special Lobster and Prawn Cocktail with Campfire Charred Tomato Marie Rose Sauce*

£8/200g

Extra Special Chicken and Duck Liver Pâté with Truffle Flavour Topping** £4/200g Extra Special Luxury Seafood Platter* If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

£18/329g

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Extra Special Luxury Seafood Platter, £5.47/100g; Extra Special Lobster and Prawn Cocktail with Campfire Charred Tomato Marie Rose Sauce, £4/100g; Extra Special Duck Parfait, £2.16/100g; Extra Special Chicken and Duck Liver Pâté with Truffle Flavour Topping, £2/100g. *Available from 19 December. **Available from 23 November.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 81

LET’S BEGIN Tease the tastebuds with our luxurious, ready-prepped fish dishes as an elegant opener to your Christmas lunch PHOTOGRAPHS MYLES NEW

Scallop and Prawn Gratin° £4/152g

Extra Special Mild and Delicate Smoked Salmon† £4.50* †/100g 82 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

C H R I S T M A S S TA R TE R S

Smoked Salmon and Beetroot Terrine Wreath† £12/500g

Extra Special Lobster and Prawn Cocktail with Campfire Charred Tomato Marie Rose Sauce° £8/200g

‘It’s got a bit more flavour to it than smoked salmon. It’s punchy, it’s decadent…’

Food styling: Joss Herd, Props: Sarah Birks

Paul Terris, Senior Development Manager at Sofina Foods

How is this delicious salmon made?

See page 84

Extra Special Lobster Tails with Thermidor° £15/230g

Extra Special Cured Salmon Finished in a Signature Spice Blend £5* †/100g

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Asda Scallop & Prawn Gratin, £2.63/100g; Extra Special Mild and Delicate Smoked Salmon, £4.50 100g; Smoked Salmon and Beetroot Terrine Wreath, £24/kg; Extra Special Lobster & Prawn Cocktail with Campfire Charred Tomato Marie Rose Sauce, £4/100g; Extra Special Lobster Tails with Thermidor, £6.52/100g; Extra Special Cured Salmon Finished in a Signature Spice Blend, £5/100g. *2 for £8. †Available from 14 December. °Available from 19 December.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 83

Meet the tastemakers

The fish’s tale If the salmon on your plate is the very best it can be, Paul Terris probably has something to do with it. But what is the cured salmon/New York connection? The seafood champion explains all WORDS REBECCA DENNE PHOTOGRAPHS RAY SMITH

t’s actually cured, not smoked,’ Paul Terris, Senior Development Manager at Sofina Foods, explains, as we go deeper into the process of readying one of Asda’s hero products this Christmas – the Extra Special Cured Salmon Finished in a Signature Spice Blend.

Paul is part of a team in the seafood division at Sofina Foods (encompassing household name Young’s Seafood) that develops and launches new products.

‘We actually produce all of Asda’s hot and cold smoked salmon and supply a lot of its mackerel and other raw fish, too – it is one of our biggest customers,’ he shares.

After his 11 years at the business, you can see that Paul knows a thing or two about curing and smoking fish and is passionate about the process. ‘All our salmon is from approved farms in Scotland. We take it in as a whole salmon, so then we fillet it on site and next it is cured,’ Paul says.

New York style

But it’s the next stage that provides the fish with its extremely unique, slightly sweet flavour that makes it so special for Christmas, Paul explains: ‘We sprinkle it with the signature pastrami blend, which we make on site. It’s got about 15 ingredients in it including black pepper, smoked paprika, star anise, garlic, ginger and cinnamon,’ he says.

Much like Asda’s other suppliers, Paul and the team went through several rounds of careful honing, all to ensure the flavour was spot on and that it didn’t overpower the delicate salmon. ‘When we were developing the product for Asda, we could see the rise of New York-style cuisine, so things like pastrami and Reubens** were becoming very popular, and we thought that this combination would work really well to create something that tastes extra special with fish.

We did try it using smoked salmon but the 84 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

flavours were far too heavy, hence the curing,’ Paul says. It’s after the seasoning that the product is sliced and packed ready for your Christmas Day feast. ‘The spice blend does something to the salmon and makes it almost bright orangey-pink – it looks very vibrant on the plate,’ he says.

Star salmon

So if you’re a smoked salmon connoisseur, why does the Extra Special Cured Salmon Finished in a Signature Spice Blend deserve a space at your festive spread, we ask Paul: ‘It’s got a bit more flavour to it than smoked salmon. It’s punchy, it’s decadent, it’s quite in-your-face, almost, while still allowing the

salmon to be the star. That is always the aim with how we treat any products – the fish needs to remain the hero and the flavours are there to support it,’ he says.

For the big day, Paul recommends kicking off your meal in style with a simple starter where the salmon can really shine: ‘You have to have a seafood starter at Christmas. It’s a great product to get people talking and it’s easy to prepare.

Because of all the flavours, just serve with some freshly sliced buttered bread – you can play on the pastrami theme and use rye bread if you like – a few salad leaves and a good squeeze of lemon. I’ll definitely be having some!’

‘The spice blend does something to the salmon so that it’s almost bright orangey pink – it looks very vibrant on the plate’ Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Extra Special Cured Salmon Finished in a Signature Spice Blend, £5/100g. *2 for £8. †Available from 14 December. **A sandwich made with rye bread, filled usually with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and a dressing and served hot.

Inset photograph right, top: Myles New, Food styling: Joss Herd, Props: Sarah Birks

I

‘

TA S T E M A K E R S

Extra Special Cured Salmon Finished in a Signature Spice Blend

Our Scottish salmon is cured with a traditional mix of salt and sugar then finished with our aromatic signature spice blend, including hints of cracked black pepper, smoked paprika, star anise, cinnamon and ginger. £5*†/100g

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 85

LUNCH is served It’s the biggie… but there’s no need to panic. We’re making it oh-so simple for you with a trio of festive recipes, plus a host of restaurant-worthy ready-mades. Feasting has never been so fun RECIPES MADDIE RIX PHOTOGRAPHS MYLES NEW

Extra Special Free Range Norfolk Slate Traditional Heritage Breed Turkey** £10/kg

86 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Free Range Norfolk Slate Traditional Heritage Breed Turkey, £10/kg; Extra Special British Pork Sausage Meat, 81p/100g; Extra Special North Canterbury Pinot Noir, £10.25/75cl. *Available from 23 November. **Available from 19 December.

Make it with...

C H R I S T M A S LU N C H

Clementine glazed turkey and Extra Special stuffing

Our delicious heritage breed turkey will be even better when you add this super-tasty stuffing. Keep the breast meat moist too with a buttery, syrupy coating.

Extra Special Cranberry and Clementine Stuffing Mix

V

110g 2 FOR £3

Extra Special British Pork Sausage Meat*

£3.25/400g 2 FOR £5

Time for extras?

Leftovers can be even better than the main event. Try our delicious leftover turkey recipes on page 118….

Serves 8, plus leftovers | Ready in 3 hrs 50/4 hrs 10† mins (includes 20 mins for prepping bird and making stuffing, 3 hrs 30/50† cooking the bird), plus 45 mins resting | Faff factor | EF • 1 Asda Extra Special Heritage Breed Slate Turkey 5–5.5 kg •2 onions, skin on, roughly chopped • 2 carrots, roughly chopped •2 sticks of celery, roughly chopped • 1 tbsp olive oil •2 –3 Extra Special ClemenGold Easy Peelers, plus extra for stuffing (optional) •6 bay leaves, plus extra for stuffing (optional) • 1 bunch fresh thyme •2 x 110g packs Asda Extra Special Cranberry and Clementine Stuffing Mix •4 00g pack Asda Extra Special Sausage Meat •5 0g macadamia nuts, roughly chopped • 1 00g butter, plus extra for greasing • 2 tbsp honey 1 Remove the turkey from the fridge 1 hr before cooking. Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5.

2 Add the onions, carrots and celery to a large roasting tray. Place the turkey on top, rubbing all over with 1 tbsp of olive oil and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Cut 1 clementine in half and place inside the main turkey cavity along with 2 bay leaves and half the thyme.

3 In a large bowl, mix the stuffing mix with 340ml of boiling water. Let the mixture sit for a few mins then add the sausage meat, and pick and add the remaining thyme leaves. Roughly chop the macadamia nuts and add most of them to the bowl. Scrunch the mixture together with your hands until well combined. Add around 300g to the neck cavity, pulling the skin over and securing it in place. Place the remainder of the stuffing (around 600g) in a 20cm buttered baking dish, scattering over the remaining nuts. Decorate with some

extra fresh clementine slices and bay leaves if you like.

4 Cover the whole turkey and tray with a double piece of kitchen foil. Roast for 40 mins per kilo, basting every 40 mins with the juices that have collected in the roasting tray.

5 For the glaze, place a small saucepan over a low heat and add the butter until it melts. Tear in the remaining bay leaves, then zest and juice the remaining clementines – you need about 50ml juice – into the saucepan. Add the honey and heat gently until thick and glossy.

Turn off the heat and leave it to steep.

6 When you have 1 hr left for your turkey, remove the foil and cook for 30 mins until golden. Remove the bay leaves from the glaze and baste the bird generously with the glaze for the final 30 mins of cooking. Remove the bird from the tray and place on a large platter.

Spoon and brush over any remaining glaze. Cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for 45 mins.

7 Cook the extra stuffing in the oven for 45 mins until cooked through and crisp on top.

8 Carve the turkey. Spoon over any glaze that collects on the serving platter.

Serve with the extra stuffing and your choice of gravy and sides.

Cooks tip: Try boiling up your turkey carcass with some vegetables for an incredible, flavourful broth.

Each 479g portion contains Energy 3,868kJ 924kcal 46%

Fat 52.7g High 75%

Sat Fat 18.7g High 94%

Sugars 13.9g Low 15%

Salt 0.96g Low 16%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 808kJ/193kcals

The perfect pairing

This Burgundian-styled Pinot Noir from North Canterbury New Zealand is packed with dark cherry fruit with touches of nutmeg, clove and allspice. It would go brilliantly with roast turkey and spicy stuffing and sausages.

Extra Special North Canterbury Pinot Noir £10.25/75cl If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

†Depending on whether 5kg or 5.5kg bird

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 87

Brussels sprout and chestnut gratin

An impressive, yet easy-to-put-together veg dish with a golden cheesy-crust.

The perfect festive side.

Serves 8 | Ready in 35 mins Faff factor |d • 2 x 320g packs of Asda Brussels Sprouts and Chestnuts • 1 tsp olive oil • 3 echalion shallots, finely chopped • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 1 tbsp plain flour • 500ml whole milk • 1 heaped tsp wholegrain mustard • 100g Gruyère cheese, grated • 100g sourdough bread • nutmeg, for grating

Loving the topping

Use this cheesy gratin sauce and topping on other veg, like broccoli and cauliflower.

It’s a winner with kids, too.

1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/ gas 7. Remove the sprouts and chestnuts from their packaging and add them to a 30cm ovenproof dish, separating the knobs of butter that come in the pack.

Season with salt and pepper and drizzle a little olive oil over the top. Roast in the oven for 15 mins until softened and starting to crisp at the edges.

2 Place the knobs of butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, then add the shallots and 2 of the garlic cloves. Cook for 5 mins until softened, then add the flour and stir over the heat for a minute or so, then gradually add the milk, stirring all the time. Stir in the mustard and a good grating of nutmeg, then bring up to a simmer and cook for 5 mins until thickened and coating the back of your spoon. Stir most of the grated cheese into the sauce.

Pour the sauce over the roasted sprouts and chestnuts.

3 Place the remaining 1 garlic clove in a food processor along with the bread and a good grating of nutmeg, then blend to rough breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over the sprouts along with the remaining cheese and bake in the oven for a further 20 mins until bubbling and golden.

Cook’s tip: Feel free to swap in another cheese from your Christmas cheeseboard – use whatever you fancy – just make sure it’s a good ‘melter’. If you want to make this gratin even more decadent, add a handful of fine breadcrumbs and a few sprigs of thyme to the topping before the final bake.

Leftovers tip: Try tossing your favourite cooked pasta with any leftover sprout gratin for a really quick and tasty dinner.

Each 156g portion contains Energy 1,209kJ 289kcal 14%

Fat 9.5g Med 14%

Sat Fat 5.5g Med 28%

Sugars 8.0g Med 9%

Salt 0.56g Med %

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 561kJ/134kcals

88 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

Extra Special Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, WAS £22.95 NOW £20.50/75cl.

C H R I S T M A S LU N C H

Herb-salted roasties

The ultimate roast potatoes? We think so.

Serves 8 | Ready in 1 hr 30 mins Faff factor | GF DF MF LF EF • 2kg Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and left whole or halved for larger ones • 1 garlic bulb, halved • 2 tbsp goose fat • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves finely chopped • 2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves finely chopped • 2 tsp sea salt

Add whole thyme sprigs for an extra herby flavour

1 Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas 7.

Add the potatoes and the halved bulb of garlic to a large pan of salted water. Bring up to the boil and cook for 10 mins.

2 Drain the potatoes into a colander and leave them to steam and dry out for at least 10 mins.

Shake the potatoes in the colander to ‘chuff’ up the edges – this will give you maximum surface area and make them ultra crispy. Add the goose fat and olive oil to a large baking tray and place in the oven for a few minutes to heat up.

3 To make the herb salt, add the chopped herbs and salt to a small bowl and stir to combine. Put the garlic bulb to one side for now, then lightly season the potatoes and add to the tray of hot fat, turning them over carefully with a spoon so they are well coated.

4 Roast the potatoes in the hot oven for 45–50 mins, until golden and crisp. Remove the tray and add the boiled garlic bulb. Return to the oven for a further 10–15 mins until the potatoes are a deep golden colour.

5 Sprinkle with the herb salt and the cooked garlic bulb, squeezing out the cloves.

Cook’s tip: You can parboil your potatoes the night before to save you time on Christmas Day. Just pop them in the fridge overnight.

Leftovers tip: Smash up leftover roast potatoes, frying and topping with a poached egg to make a decadent Boxing Day hash breakfast. See page 118 for more great leftovers recipes.

Each 159g portion contains Energy 978kJ 234kcal 12%

Fat 6.2g Low 9%

Sat Fat 1.4g Low 7%

Sugars 1.7g Low 2%

Salt 1.24g Low 21%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 615kJ/147kcals

Food styling: Joss Herd, Props: Sarah Birks

A versatile classic

Drinking this renowned white French wine is one of life’s great delights.

It’s a special wine for a special day – so splash out and enjoy.

Extra Special Châteauneufdu-Pape Blanc If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

WAS £22.95 NOW £20.50/75cl

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 89

Extra Special Turkey Gravy** £3/450g

Extra Special Cranberry Sauce with Ruby Port £2.50/270g

Extra Special Heritage Breed Slate Turkey with Signature Spice and Brown Butter Stuffing and Smoked Bacon* £25/kg Extra Special Sourdough Bread Sauce** V £2.50/270g

Extra Special Double Stuffed Turkey with Pork, Sage and Onion and Festive Fig Stuffing, Topped with Applewood and Cherrywood Smoked Bacon* GF £25/1.35kg 90 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Available to

Pre--order Pre Turn to page 7 for all the details

Extra Special Slow-Cooked Turkey with Signature Spice and Brown Butter Stuffing** £15/910g Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Stuffing Wreath, Brûléed Pigs in Blankets† £8/621g

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores.

Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply.

Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

C H R I S T M A S LU N C H

Available to

Pre--order Pre Turn to page 7 for all the details

Chicken Breast Wreath with Pork, Sage and Onion Stuffing, Wrapped in Bacon* £15 (1kg)

Available to

Pre--order Pre Turn to page 7 for all the details

Chicken Parcel with Redcurrant and Cranberry Stuffing, Wrapped in Smoked Bacon** £14/950g

Vegan main

Image right: Melissa Reynolds-James, Food styling: Rosie French, Props: Sarah Birks

Enjoy a blend of pumpkin and sunflower seeds and a clementine and maple glaze – yum!

OMV! Festive Butternut and Chestnut Roast d VE £3.50/445g

OMV! Cranberry and Orange Stuffing Balls† VE GF DF MF £3/300g; OMV! Sage and Onion Stuffing Balls† VE GF DF MF £3/350g OMV! Whole No Turkey† VE DF MF £6/520g

Extra Special Cranberry Sauce with Ruby Port, 93p/100g; Extra Special Turkey Gravy, 66p/100g; Heritage Breed Slate Turkey with Signature Spice and Brown Butter Stuffing and Smoked Bacon, £25/kg; Extra Special Sourdough Bread Sauce, 92p/100g; Extra Special Double Stuffed Turkey with Pork, Sage and Onion and Festive Fig Stuffings, Topped with Applewood and Cherrywood Smoked Bacon, £18.52/kg; Extra Special Slow-Cooked Turkey with Signature Spice and Brown Butter Stuffing, £16.48/kg; Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Stuffing Wreath with Brûléed Pigs in Blankets, £12.80/kg; Chicken Breast Wreath with Pork, Sage and Onion Stuffing, Wrapped in Bacon, £15 (kg); Chicken Parcel with Redcurrant and Cranberry Stuffing, Wrapped in Smoked Bacon, £14.74/kg; OMV! Festive Butternut and Chestnut Roast, 79p/100g; OMV! Cranberry and Orange Stuffing Balls, £1/100g; OMV! Sage and Onion Stuffing Balls, 86p/100g; OMV! Whole No Turkey, £11.53/kg. *Available from 19 December. **Available from 23 November. †Available from 14 December.

‘We soak the joint in a ruby port for nine days – this allows the flavours to permeate and give a succulent texture’ Simon Benning, New Product Development Manager at ABP Beef

Extra Special Ruby Port Drenched Beef Sirloin*

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

92 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

GF £40/1.32kg (See how this super-tasty beef joint is made on page 98)

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

C H R I S T M A S LU N C H

Food styling: Joss Herd, Props: Sarah Birks

Extra Special Beef Fillet Wellington* £40 (1kg)

Extra Special Fillet of Beef* 1.1kg Extra Special Ruby Port Drenched Beef Sirloin, £30.30/kg; Extra Special Beef Fillet Wellington,* £40 (kg); *Available from 19 December.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 93

Extra Special Parsnips with Orange Blossom Honey d V £2.85/600g

Extra Special Truffle and Parmesan Pigs in Blankets† GF £4/210g

Crackling Pork Belly Roast with a Caramelised Leek and Apple Stuffing* £9/kg

Hog Roast* £14/1.7kg

Extra Special Jingle the Reindeer Stuffing† GF £4/220g

94 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. *Available from 19 December. †Available from 14 December.

C H R I S T M A S LU N C H

Extra Special Porchetta Joint*

Expertly hand-butchered Yorkshire-bred pork, rolled with the traditional seasoning of fennel, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and lemon zest, and hand-scored for a winning crispy crackling. £9/kg

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Extra Special Truffle and Parmesan Pigs in Blankets, £1.90/100g; Extra Special Parsnips with Orange Blossom Honey, 48p/100g; Crackling Pork Belly Roast with a Caramelised Leek and Apple Stuffing, £9/kg; Hog Roast, £8.23/kg; Jingle the Reindeer Stuffing, £1.81/100g; Extra Special Porchetta Joint, £9/kg.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 95

Salmon Wellington with Festive Stuffing* Butter-enriched pastry encases a delicate salmon fillet that is topped with a festive fruit stuffing. £19/980g

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

96 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. *Available from 19 December. †Available from 14 December.

C H R I S T M A S LU N C H

Food styling: Joss Herd, Props: Sarah Birks

Extra Special Whole Lemon Sole* £15/kg

Alaskan Salmon Side† £10/600g Salmon Wellington with Festive Stuffing, £19.38/kg; Extra Special Whole Lemon Sole, £15/kg; Alaskan Salmon Side, £16.66/kg; Extra Special Sundried Tomato Stuffed Monkfish, £33.96/kg.

Extra Special Sundried Tomato Stuffed Monkfish* £18/530g

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 97

Meet the tastemakers

Prime time Enjoy a chef-style family feast this year with a top-quality, Ruby Port Drenched Sirloin joint, thanks to Simon Benning who is passionate about all things beef WORDS REBECCA DENNE PHOTOGRAPHS MARK WILLIAMSON

I

Succulent sensation

This year, Simon and the team have created a jewel in the crown when it comes to your festive table – the oh-so succulent Ruby Port Drenched Sirloin. Listening to the care and knowledge behind making this the best it can be is enough to get the taste buds going.

‘Obviously, we start off with a really good piece of British sirloin beef. Part of our

vision was to trim it so it mimics a yule log, so we do that after its 21-day maturation,’ explains Simon.

The key to the tender meat and the flavour that’s captured in each sirloin is the next step: drenching. ‘We soak the joint in a ruby port for nine days and this allows the flavours to permeate and give a succulent texture, too,’ says Simon. And if that doesn’t sound enough to get a prime joint ready for roasting, a dried red wine powder is blended with herbs and spices and added to the mix.

‘The sirloin is then put in a small vacuum, which gently massages the meat to take up all that liquid and flavour,’ Simon explains.

It’s a technique that makes total sense when explained by an expert and one Simon says he hasn’t seen used on beef before, but it works

‘You’ll get a luscious, shiny glaze on the meat – but allow the beef to rest before serving with the remaining sauce’ 98 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

magnificently and results in an extremely tender, fully flavoured piece of meat.

Ready to roast

In terms of prepping it for the big day, most of the heavy lifting has been done by Simon and the team. ‘The key is getting the joint to room temperature before cooking it and starting with a very hot oven, which almost sears the meat to keep all that flavour in before turning the oven very low to gradually cook the meat,’ he explains. The joint also comes with a rich finishing sauce made with beef stock, red wine, sage, thyme, and seasoning. ‘Pop half of this on the joint 10 minutes before it’s ready to come out of the oven and you’ll get a luscious, shiny glaze on the meat – but make sure you allow the beef to rest before serving with the remaining sauce. It gives the meat a chance to relax so you get the most succulent slices, whether that’s for Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year,’ Simon advises.

So will chef Simon be carving up a Ruby Port Drenched Sirloin this year? ‘I’m not really into turkey to be honest but my family is, so I’ll be cooking both – this and game pie are two dishes I just can’t resist!’

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Ruby Port Drenched Sirloin, £30.30/kg. *Available from 19 December.

Photography inset top right: Myles New, Food styling: Joss Herd, Props: Sarah Birks

‘

’m a chef by trade and started working in restaurants in 1985 before moving into product development in 1997,’ says Simon Benning, New Product Development Manager at ABP Beef. Just hearing him talk about what he and the team do, the skills involved and the time it takes to bring a new product to market, is a joy.

He’s a man who cares about taking the best produce and creating something truly restaurant-worthy by celebrating classical techniques and all the while keeping in mind the ease of cooking in the home kitchen, particularly during the festive chaos.

‘I use my cheffing background when developing concepts with the team – it’s a chance to be creative, which is something I loved about being in a pressurised kitchen.

Think about ingredients like truffle or miso – who would have thought five years ago that they’d be everyday ingredients now? But we like to push the boundaries and get those umami flavours when we’re developing new dishes. Ultimately, though, we want to create something we know customers will enjoy,’ he tells us.

TA S T E M A K E R S

Extra Special Ruby Port Drenched Sirloin* GF A luxurious option for your Christmas dinner centrepiece.

Our 21-day matured sirloin is soaked in Ruby port for nine days and accompanied with a port drizzling sauce for extra juiciness. £40/1.32kg

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 99

Roast with most the

Rustle up our Extra Special Welsh Lamb for Sunday lunch or a tasty alternative festive main

W

e all know that the best Sunday roasts are centred around one key ingredient: a delicious, succulent piece of meat. And there’s none more succulent than our limited edition Extra Special Welsh Lamb Half Leg with Ruby Port, Shallot and Roasted Garlic Jus. Tender meat cooked to perfection with a carefully balanced jus is the ideal crowd-pleaser for those chilly

days when you want something delicious – and special – to savour. What’s more, you don’t even have to leave your house for restaurant quality flavours without the fuss or the hefty bill. And because the festive season can mean lots of juggling in the kitchen, we’ve made sure that this is super faff-free; just pop it in the oven and you and your guests can sit back and relax.

You’re welcome!

100 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda. com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability.

Extra Special Welsh Lamb Half Leg with Ruby Port, Shallot and Roasted Garlic Jus GF

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Photograph: Charlotte Tolhurst, Food styling: Iona Blackshaw, Props: Jaine Bevan

P R O M OT I O N L A M B

IT’S SHOWTIME

LET’S COOK

CHRISTMAS DESERVES LURPAK

®

CHRISTMAS DESSERTS

WHAT’S FOR PUD? Feast your eyes on a medley of decadent delights that bring all the Christmas feels, and more… Bake some yourself or buy ready-made – whatever you choose, rich, indulgent dreamy desserts will be yours RECIPES MIRIAM NICE PHOTOGRAPHS MYLES NEW

The ‘wow’ factor

Make everyone go ‘Oooooh!’ with a grand finale of a dessert that has a bit of theatre. Stunning.

Extra Special Chocolate and Honeycomb Avalanche Dessert

A salted caramel semifreddo filled with salted caramel sauce and milk chocolate shavings.

Topped with Belgian chocolate sauce and honeycomb pieces. Once defrosted, simply remove the collar from the sauce and wow your guests as the sauce floods the dessert. d £10/722g

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability.

Photographs show serving suggestions.Extra Special Chocolate and Honeycomb Avalanche Dessert, £1.38/100g.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 103

C H R I S TM A S D E S S E R T S

‘I can’t think of a better pud to finish off my Christmas meal – with that gooey centre!’

Jess Timms, Editor Asda Magazine

Add a drizzle of double cream – we dare you

Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Rum Melt-in-the-Middle Pudding V £9/500g 104 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores.

Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/ collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. *Available from 11 December. Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Rum Melt-in-the-Middle Pudding, £1.80/100g.

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

CHRISTMAS DESSERTS

Extra Special Jewel Topped Christmas Pudding V £12/800g

Extra Special Irish Cream Profiterole Stack* V

£15 (32-pack)

More luxurious desserts to try…

Food styling: Lizzie Harris and Jack Sargeson, Props: Faye Wears

With so many delicious ideas – what will you choose?

Extra Special Luxury Yule Log

Super Sherry Trifle

Terrific Toffee Bombe

Extra Special Maple and Pecan Meringue Roulade

V

£5 (serves 8)

V

£3/227g

£4.25/600g

d V £6/454g

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Jewel Topped Christmas Pudding, £1.50/100g; Extra Special Irish Cream Profiterole Stack, £15 (32-pack); Extra Special Luxury Yule Log, £5 (serves 8); Super Sherry Trifle, 71p/100g; Extra Special White Chocolate and Raspberry Roulade, £1.10/100g; Extra Special Maple and Pecan Meringue Roulade, £1.32/100g; Terrific Toffee Bombe, £1.32/100g; Chocolate Orange Bombe, £1.32/100g.

Extra Special White Chocolate and Raspberry Roulade d V £5/454g

Chocolate Orange Bombe V

£3/227g

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 105

Make it with...

Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Shortbread £4/150g

Prepare each part separately & keep in the fridge

Want to make your own?

Using simple, but indulgent ingredients you can make some sensational puds in your own kitchen…

Dark chocolate mousse pots with poached pears Serves 8 | Ready in 1 hr, plus chilling time Faff factor | V For the poached pears • 8 small or 4 large pears, peeled, halved and cored (about 600g) • 1 cinnamon stick • 200g sugar For the chocolate mousse • 300g dark chocolate, chopped • 200ml warm water • 4 large eggs, whites only • 60g golden caster sugar • 100g crème fraîche To serve • 200g crème fraîche (optional) • 4 Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Shortbread 1 To poach the pears, put the peeled pears and cinnamon stick in a pan with the sugar and 500ml water. Heat gently over a low heat. Stir a few times to help the sugar dissolve. Cover and continue to heat gently until simmering, then cook for 20 mins or until tender. Check 106 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

occasionally that the pears are all submerged in the liquid; spoon over some of the poaching liquid to baste them if necessary.

2 Once cooked, remove from the heat and let everything cool. If needed, place a small bowl on top of the pears to weigh them down and keep them submerged as they cool. Once cold, transfer everything to the fridge until needed.

This can be done overnight.

3 Put the chocolate and water in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water and heat really gently, or using the microwave. Once melted remove from the heat (if on the hob) and stir until smooth. Leave to cool a little. While this cools, whisk the egg whites with electric beaters (or in a freestanding mixer with whisk attachment) until foamy and then start adding the sugar, a little at a time, whisking well after each addition. Once all the sugar has been added, keep whisking on a high speed until the mixture is really glossy and thick.

4 Mix the crème fraîche into the cooled melted chocolate mixture, then carefully fold in a heaped spoonful of the egg whites. Now fold the chocolate mixture into the remaining egg whites

until smooth but being careful not to knock out the air – try a silicone spatula or melt spoon.

5 Spoon or pour the mousse mixture into 8 glasses or small bowls. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hrs or overnight.

6 When you’re ready to serve, take the pears out of their poaching liquid, discard the cinnamon stick, and take the mousse pots out of the fridge. Top each mousse with a dollop of crème fraîche, if using, a crumbling of shortbread and the poached pear. For an extra optional flourish, heat some poaching liquid in a pan over a high heat until it has reduced to a thick syrup. Drizzle over the pears and serve.

Serving suggestions: Add some extra sparkle to these decadent desserts with edible glitter or some grated chocolate shavings.

Each 178g portion contains Energy 1,437kJ 344kcal 17%

Fat 19.4g Med 28%

Sat Fat 11.6g High 58%

Sugars 32.0g High 36%

Salt 0.11g Low 2%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 808kJ/193kcals

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Shortbread, £2.67/100g. Extra Special Mini Pandoro, £2.94/100g.

Food styling: Lizzie Harris and Jack Sargeson, Props: Faye Wears

A dream combo with a crunchy spiced biscuit topping. Pudding heaven…

Make it with...

Extra Special Mini Pandoro

Child’s play?

£2.50/85g

Be brave – when everything is ready, let the kids help you assemble these. Their lego skills might just come in handy!

White chocolate and cherry pandoro Christmas trees These stunning, edible, snowy ‘trees’ have a touch of festive magic about them.

Serves 8 | Ready in 1 hr Faff factor | V • 4 x 85g Asda Mini Pandoro Cakes • 75g white chocolate • 50g Asda Chopped Hazelnuts For the cherry compote • 100g Asda Frozen Morello Cherries • 25g sugar • ½ tsp lemon juice • 15ml brandy (optional) For the marsala mascarpone cream • 125ml double cream • 60g mascarpone • 20ml marsala • 10g icing sugar • ¼ tsp vanilla extract To garnish (optional) • 4 white chocolate stars • gold or silver edible glitter spray

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale.

You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

1 First make the compote so it has time to cool (this can be made a day ahead). Cook the cherries, sugar and lemon juice in a pan over a medium heat, stirring regularly. The cherries will begin to release a lot of juice and the sugar will dissolve. Once everything is simmering, keep cooking for 5–10 mins or until thick and glossy.

If you’re adding the brandy, cook the cherries down for another 1–2 mins until really thick, and then, off the heat, add the brandy and mix well.

To keep it less boozy don’t cook the cherries for the extra time.

2 Cut each pandoro horizontally into 3 equal pieces. Melt the white chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water.

3 Brush the melted chocolate all over the edges and sides of the bottom and top pandoro slices.

Place on a foil-lined tray. If the brush starts to drag crumbs, put more melted chocolate on it and apply by dabbing. While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle the surfaces with the chopped hazelnuts to cover and set aside to cool and set.

4 Meanwhile, make the mascarpone cream by putting the cream, mascarpone, marsala, icing

sugar and vanilla into a large bowl and mix until the cream is just starting to hold its shape, and everything is smooth and well combined – be careful not to overwhip. Transfer half to a piping bag fitted with a round nozzle.

5 To assemble, put the chocolate and nutcoated base layer onto a plate. Top with 8 piped little mounds of the cream, then top with a 1 tsp of the cherry compote. Lay the next slice of pandoro on top – this one should be the uncoated slice – top with cream and cherries as before.

6 Place the final chocolate and nut-coated slice on top. Decorate with white chocolate stars, edible glitter or your favourite cake decorations.

Place the sachet of icing sugar that comes with each pandoro into a fine sieve. Dust over each dessert for a snowy effect. Serve immediately.

Each 99g portion contains Energy 1,504kJ 359kcal 18%

Fat 26.5g High 38%

Sat Fat 14.6g High 73%

Sugars 14.3g High 16%

Salt 0.29g Low 5%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 1,519kJ/363kcals

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 107

Make it with...

C H R I S TM A S D E S S E R T S

Freezing fabulous

To get ahead, you can freeze the ice cream into the pudding basin up to a week in advance.

Extra Special Chocolate Orange Panettone

This delicious Italian cake adds a layer of texture and yummy flavour to this stunning dessert. £6/500g

Scan here for more delicious panettone recipes.

Baked Alaska

Treat your guests to a total showstopper.

Serves 8–10 | Ready in 1 hour 10 mins, plus freezing time | Faff factor | V d • 900ml tub Asda Really Creamy Triple Chocolate Ice Cream • 900ml tub Asda Really Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream • 120g slice Asda Extra Special Chocolate Orange Panettone (2cm thick, see method) For the chocolate orange sauce (optional) • 200g dark chocolate, chopped • 50g butter • 200ml milk • 1 orange, zest cut as a large strip with a peeler For the Italian meringue • 100g egg white • 200g white caster sugar • 75ml water • 1 orange, finely zested 1 Line a 1 litre pudding basin with clingfilm.

Beat the chocolate ice cream in a large bowl 108 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

until loosened but not melted (you could do this in a free-standing mixer with a paddle attachment, on a slow speed). Firmly press the ice cream into the base of the lined pudding basin.

2 Freeze for 20–30 mins or until firm. Do the same with the vanilla ice cream, spread onto the chocolate layer. Freeze for another 5–10 mins.

3 Cut a 2cm thick circle of panettone the same size as the top of the pudding basin. Put on top of the ice cream, pressing down just so it sticks in place. Cover with clingfilm and freeze until solid (2–3 hrs or overnight).

4 For the chocolate sauce (if using), put the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat the butter, milk and orange zest in a pan until the butter has melted and the mixture is simmering. Strain in half the hot milk mixture over the chocolate and discard the zest. Let it sit undisturbed for a minute or two then stir. Strain in the rest of the milk, stirring constantly until really smooth. Set aside until needed. This can be warmed through gently on the hob or in the microwave to serve.

5 When ready to serve, make the Italian meringue. Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl

or stand mixer until stiff. Put the sugar and water into a large pan and heat until the sugar has melted and the resulting syrup reaches 115°C–120°C on a cooking/sugar thermometer.

6 Carefully drizzle the hot syrup into the egg whites while still whisking, then continue to whisk for another 5 mins. The mixture should be fluffy and glossy. Allow to cool for 5–10 mins.

7 Remove the pudding basin from the freezer and turn it out, upside down on to a heatproof serving plate and peel away the clingfilm.

8 Cover the whole dessert with a thick layer of the Italian meringue. Use the end of a spoon to create swirls in a tight stirring motion in the meringue. Working quickly, create swirls all over the pudding. Use a cook’s blow torch over the meringue to give a golden toasty marshmallow finish then garnish with orange zest. Cut wedges to serve, adding the sauce if you like.

Each 184g portion contains Energy 1,655kJ 396kcal 20%

Fat 19.7g Med 28%

Sat Fat 12.7g High 64%

Sugars 37.5g High 42%

Salt 0.28g Low 5%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 900kJ/215kcals

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Chocolate Orange Panettone, £1.20/100g.

P R O M OT I O N WELLNESS

* 3onFsOeleRc2 te d

Make it a winter of health

vitamin lines

L

iving well needn’t cost the earth. Our new range of Verywell vitamins, minerals and supplements are hitting the shelves with a little festive cheer – they’re all currently 3 for 2*. So whether you’re stocking up on everyday essentials for your little ones, or perhaps treating yourself to some beauty supplements, get organised for 2024 – your future self will thank you for it. A much wider range is available in store.

Invest in your family’s wellbeing with these NEW vitamins

Verywell Liquid Collagen Sachets £18/14pc Containing 14 sachets – one a day for a fortnight – of forest fruit-flavoured marine collagen, which can help skin feel more plump and firm. A great addition to your routine.

3 FOR 2*

Verywell Beauty Night-Time Capsules £9/60pc 3 FOR 2*

£6/30pc 3 FOR 2* Help to support your wellbeing with these gummies containing 9 essential vitamins.

Photograph: Dave Caudrey

A great addition to your night-time routine, take these capsules before you go to bed.

Verywell Mixed Berry Multivitamin Gummies

CHEAPEST ITEM *Part of 3 for 2 offer across vitamins, subject to availability, CHEAPEST ITEM FREE FREE . Verywell Liquid Collagen Sachets, £1.29 per sachet; Verywell Beauty Night-Time Capsules, 15p per capsule; Verywell Mixed Berry Multivitamin Gummies, 20p per gummy.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 111

UNWRAP

CRUMBLY

Discover Castello® Tickler Extra Mature Cheddar this Christmas, available in the cheese aisle

GRAZING

FANCY A NIBBLE?

With artisan-style cheeseboards and antipasti platters to choose from, make sure your party-friendly selection is fit to burst with old favourites, new classics and zingy preserves PHOTOGRAPHS MIKE ENGLISH

z

Extra Special Speciality Cheeseboard £12/505g

Cheeses include Mon P’tit Brie, Belton Farm Vintage Red Fox, Belton Farm Vintage Cheddar, Tuxford & Tebbutt Leicester Gold Blue Cheese and Iberico Reserva

DeBortoli Botrytis Semillion £8/37.5cl; Extra Special Asti Sparkling Wine £7/75cl

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Speciality Cheeseboard, £2.38/100g; DeBortoli Botrytis Semillion, £16/75cl; Extra Special Asti Sparkling Wine, £7/75cl.

Extra Special Vintage Red Fox Red Leicester and Sweet Chilli Bake V £3.15/150g

Extra Special Langres

£3.40/180g

Soft Goat’s Cheese

Extra Special Red Fox

£2.40/125g

Extra Special Ossau-Iraty £3.50/180g

£2.50/200g

Extra Special Montagnolo Affiné German Cheese

Extra Special Nouvelle-Aquitaine Goat’s Milk Camembert

£2.50/120g

£4/180g

Extra Special Brie De Meaux £3.25/165g

Extra Special Stratford Blue® Layered with Quince Conserve V

£3.70/150g

114 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Soft Goat’s Cheese, £1.92/100g; Extra Special Stratford Blue® Layered with Quince Conserve, £2.47/100g; Extra Special Langres, £1.89/100g; Extra Special Red Fox, £1.25/100g; Extra Special Nouvelle-Aquitaine Goat’s Milk Camembert, £2.22/100g; Extra Special Vintage Red Fox Red Leicester and Sweet Chilli Bake, £2.10/100g; Extra Special Ossau-Iraty, £1.94/100g; Extra Special Montagnolo Affiné German Cheese, £2.08/100g; Extra Special Brie De Meaux, £1.97/100g.

GRAZING

Extra Special Italian Grazing Platter** £6/270g Includes Fennel Salami, 18-Month Matured Prosciutto Crudo, Spianata Piccante, Truffle Pecorino Cheese and Tarallini

Food styling: Kate Gilhooly, Props: Tabitha Hawkins

Serrano Ham Joint £35* †/2kg Extra Special Primitivo Puglia Red Wine £7.75/75cl

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Continental Meat Platter** £5/208g Includes Serrano Ham, Lomo Pork Loin, Coppa Nostrana, Salami Rustico, Spianata Piccante

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply.

Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Italian Grazing Platter, £2.22/100g; *Serrano Ham Joint, £17.50/kg, £5 Superstar Rewards; Extra Special Primitivo Puglia Red Wine, £7.75/75cl; Continental Meat Platter, £2.40/100g. †Available 31 October. **Available 23 November.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 115

Everyone loves it!

Peter’s colleague Louise Tomley enjoys some of the Melton Marble cheese on a cracker.

Tuxford & Tebbutt Melton Marble Blue Cheese V

This mellow veined cheese brings creamy, crumbly texture to the cheeseboard and it pairs well with grapes and chutneys. £2.70/220g

116 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

TA S T E M A K E R S

Meet the tastemakers

The big cheese No Christmas feast is complete without a decent cheeseboard.

Peter Hughes explains why his Melton Marble cheese for Asda should be taking pride of place in your selection

I

WORDS REBECCA DENNE PHOTOGRAPHS JESSE WILD

f Tuxford & Tebbutt’s Dairy Manager, Peter Hughes, was on Mastermind, we’d put money on his specialist subject being cheese. After 34 years in the industry, his knowledge is as strong as an aged Stilton®.

‘My very first day, I was making Red Leicester by hand and it really introduced me to how difficult and manual the dairy industry is,’ Peter shares as his face lights up. He heads up one of the country’s oldest creameries, Tuxford & Tebbutt, where award-winning cheese has been made since 1780.

‘I wanted to challenge myself to be one of the best Blue Stilton/Blue cheese makers, so I’d read up on the process and love seeing my cheeses right through from making to grading and then on to packing. There’s been a lot of refining along the way,’ he adds.

As much as Red Leicester is a staple for any cheese-lover, it’s something a little more special that Peter and the team have created exclusively for Asda this year. The Melton Marble Blue Cheese is a unique concept that Peter himself came up with. ‘It combines two cheeses: a traditional blue Stilton marbled with a Shropshire blue,’ Peter says.

The process for making the cheese takes just 10 weeks, which in the cheese world is quite short, Peter explains: ‘People think that because it’s got the blue mould it must take months and months, but it’s actually quite a short window. For the marbled blue, we make a batch of blue Stilton next to a batch of Shropshire blue. We fill each of our eight vats with about 10,000 litres of pasteurised milk before adding the starter culture,’ Peter says.

All blue

Blue mould is added to the vat at the very beginning of the ‘make’ process. This will create the blue mould veining in the cheese later during maturation. The only difference for the Shropshire blue is that a colouring is

added to the curds to create a beautifully vibrant orange colour, ready for ‘that marbling effect later in the process. After adding rennet and cutting the curds, the cheese is then transferred to a draining table where it’s left overnight. ‘Most cheese-making involves pressing the curds to get rid of that excess moisture, but we can’t do that with the marbled blue so it’s a more complex process that we have to manage carefully through time and temperature,’ he says.

After ensuring the acidity of the cheese is correct, it’s carefully salted to add flavour and preserve the curds before combining the two cheeses. There’s a lot of work done behind the scenes to ensure that the amount of moisture in the cheese is just right, too: ‘We have about 155 “recipes” for making cheese and controlling the moisture.

We can make adjustments to the recipes based on the percentage of fat and protein in the milk as well as the temperature it’s kept at to ensure it’s just right,’ says Peter.

The cheese is then stored for up to a week in a hoop before moving it to a cooler environment where it matures for the next

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Tuxford & Tebbutt Melton Marble Blue Cheese, £12.30/kg.

nine weeks and is turned regularly, pierced to encourage the mould, and graded for consistent quality before it’s packaged.

Cheese heaven

So, why is Peter backing his cheese to be a winner this Christmas?

‘It has a very creamy and crumbly texture and a well-rounded, mellow flavour with the two distinctive colours marbled together, so it’s very eye-catching. In fact, we’ve had a lot of people come to the dairy who say “I don’t like blue cheese” but we’ve introduced them to the Melton Marble and they’re total converts – it’s really heartwarming!’ he adds.

And when it comes to building the dream cheeseboard, Peter gives us his expert tips: ‘We always have a Christmas cheeseboard at home with lots of variety – Stilton, Cheddars and bries. The Melton Marble goes very well with fruity flavours, so we’ll definitely have some grapes, dates, apple and chutneys to serve, too. Put it this way, it won’t last long in our house – even my grandchildren are eating it now!’ Best get a few, then…

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 117

THE FEAST

continues…

The good food just keeps on coming…

Transform leftovers into something a bit special for Boxing Day and beyond RECIPES RACHEL BECKWITH PHOTOGRAPHS JONATHAN GREGSON

Switch it out

Not a sprout fan? Swap them for 180g spinach.

Add 2 mins before the potatoes are cooked, stirring enough to wilt the leaves.

118 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

See our spicy roasties recipe over the page

Leftover turkey platter

Liven up your turkey with this fresh and zesty bulgur wheat salad, full of colour and crunch.

Serves 8–10 | Ready in 25 mins Faff factor | EF • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • 125g spring onions, finely sliced • 1 garlic clove, crushed • pinch of chilli flakes (optional) • 300g bulgur wheat, rinsed and drained • 500–600g cooked turkey, shredded • 800ml hot chicken stock, made with 1 low-salt stock cube • 2 clementines, juice and zest, plus 1 extra cut into segments to garnish

• 30g pack fresh coriander, leaves and stalks chopped • 75g shelled pistachios, chopped • 200g pomegranate seeds For the harissa yoghurt • 150g Greek yoghurt • 1 tsp harissa paste

LE F TOV E R S

1 Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the spring onions and fry for 1 min, then add the garlic and chilli flakes, if using, and fry for a further 1 min.

2 Add the bulgur wheat to the pan and stir well to coat the grains in the oil. Scatter the shredded turkey over the top of the grains then pour over the hot stock. Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 10 mins.

3 Meanwhile, mix together the ingredients for the harissa yoghurt along with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.

4 Once the grains have cooked for 10 mins, add the clementine juice and zest into the pan along with a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Turn off the heat and cover the pan, either with a tight-fitting lid

or with kitchen foil. Leave to steam for 5 mins.

5 When ready to serve, tumble everything from the pan into a large mixing bowl and fluff up the grains with a fork. Add the coriander, pistachios and pomegranate seeds and mix well. Pile onto a serving platter, finishing with the clementine segments and the harissa yoghurt alongside.

Cook’s tip: This salad is equally delicious served warm or cold and will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Each 198g portion contains Energy 1,201kJ 287kcal 14%

Fat 11.1g Med 16%

Sat Fat 3.0g Low 15%

Sugars 6.3g Low 7%

Salt 0.20g Low 3%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 607kJ/145kcals

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 119

Indian spiced leftover roasties and brussels sprouts Earthy Indian spices with a chilli kick bring a new lease of life to Christmas veg.

Serves 8–10 | Ready in 40 mins Faff factor | EF • 3 tbsp vegetable oil • 450g cooked sprouts, halved (600g raw) • 1 onion, finely diced • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 3cm piece of fresh ginger (about 20g), grated • ½ red chilli, chopped, plus extra to garnish • 1 tbsp turmeric • 1 tbsp ground coriander • 1 tbsp cumin seeds • 900g cooked roast potatoes, halved

Christmas vegetable and blue cheese strudel

Layers of garlicky greens and cheesy root veg to cheer up any Boxing Day banquet.

Serves 6 | Ready in 35 mins, plus standing your Faff factor | V | u of5-a-day

For the spiced cranberry sauce • 150g Asda Cranberry Sauce • ½ tsp ground cinnamon • 1.5cm piece ginger (about 10g), grated • pinch of all spice 1 Add 1 tbsp oil to a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. When hot, add the sprouts along with some salt and pepper and fry for 10 mins, stirring, until crisp and golden. Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper. Set aside.

2 Return the pan to the heat with 1 tbsp oil.

Add the onion and soften over a medium heat for 5–8 mins. Add the garlic, ginger, chilli, turmeric, ground coriander and cumin seeds

• 4 sheets (75g) Asda Ready Rolled Filo Pastry • 125g chopped leafy greens such as kale or cavolo nero, stalks removed • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • ½ lemon, juice only

Swap the raw leafy greens for 100g cooked leftovers – try cabbage or shredded sprouts.

Stir-fry and cool in the same way.

Each 130g portion contains Fat 20.0g Med 29%

Sat Fat 10.9g High 55%

Sugars 4.7g Low 5%

Each 156g portion contains Energy 1,038kJ 248kcal 12%

Fat 9.5g Med 14%

Sat Fat 1.1g Low 6%

Sugars 10.0g Med 11%

Salt 0.03g Low 1%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 665kJ/159kcals

• 500g cooked root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips and swede, cut into 2cm cubes • 200g blue cheese, crumbled • 30g unsalted butter, melted • 1 egg, beaten, to glaze • 1 tsp each poppy and sesame seeds

Switch it out

Energy 1,218kJ 291kcal 15%

and fry for a further 1–2 mins, until fragrant.

If needed, add a splash of water to the pan.

3 Add the potatoes to the pan with the last 1 tbsp oil and turn up the heat to medium-high.

Add a pinch of salt and plenty of black pepper and cook for 8–10 mins, stirring, until crispy.

4 Meanwhile, mix together all the ingredients for the spiced cranberry sauce. Set aside.

5 To serve, return 2/3 of the sprouts to the pan.

Heat through, stirring, for 1 min. Pile into a serving dish with the remaining sprouts on top.

Serve alongside the spiced cranberry sauce.

Salt 0.85g Med 14%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 937kJ/224kcals

1 Remove the packet of filo pastry from the fridge 2 hrs before using.

2 Place the leafy greens in a colander, wash and drain slightly. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat, add the garlic and fry for 1 min. Add the greens with the water still clinging to the leaves. Add a pinch of salt and stir-fry for 2 mins, then add the lemon juice and fry for 30 secs more. Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper and allow to steam dry and cool.

3 When cool, gently squeeze the leafy greens to remove any excess water. In a bowl, lightly mash together the cooked root veg, blue cheese and greens to make the filling. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan/gas 5 and line a tray with a piece of baking paper.

4 When ready to assemble, take the filo pastry out of the packet and lay the sheets between two clean, slightly damp tea towels. Keep the pile of pastry sheets covered as you work.

Remove the first sheet and place it with the longest edge in front of you. Brush with melted butter, then place another sheet on top. Repeat for all the pastry sheets.

5 Tip the filling along the bottom third of the pastry, 10cm up from the long edge in front of you and out to 5cm in from the short edges. Use your hands to gently mould into a log shape.

Fold in the short edges of the pastry, brush with a little more butter, then roll up the strudel, ensuring the pastry encases all the filling.

Transfer to the lined baking tray. Brush the strudel with the egg and sprinkle with the seeds, then bake for 25–30 mins until golden and crisp.

6 Allow the strudel to sit for at least 10 mins before slicing with a serrated knife. Serve with salad and red cabbage slaw, if making.

Leftovers tip: Will keep in the fridge for 3 days, but best eaten fresh and crispy.

Make it with...

Great for a festive movie night supper

Asda Blackberry and Plum Chutney £2.15/285g

LE F TOV E R S

Winter slaw

Add braised red cabbage to crunchy sliced root veg with a zingy satay-style sauce.

Serves 8 | Ready in 10 mins your Faff factor | V EF | v of5-a-day • 100g pecans • 2 tsp maple syrup • 2 parsnips • 2 carrots • ¼ celeriac • 350–400g cooked red cabbage • 100g dates, chopped • rocket, to serve (optional) For the dressing • 1 lime, juice only

• 3 tbsp Asda 100% Crunchy Peanut Butter • 1 tsp reduced salt soy sauce • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp maple syrup • 3cm piece of fresh ginger (about 20g), grated • 1 garlic clove, grated • pinch of chilli flakes

1 Place a pan over a medium-high heat. Add the pecans and toast for 1–2 mins until starting to turn golden brown. Remove from the heat.

Add the maple syrup and a pinch of flaky sea salt. Stir before transferring to a chopping board.

Allow to cool slightly then chop and set aside.

2 Shred the carrot, parsnip and celeriac into ribbons and mix with the red cabbage in a large bowl along with some salt and pepper.

3 Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl along with 1 tbsp water to loosen. Pour the dressing over the ingredients in the large bowl then add the chopped pecans and toss everything together well. Serve straight away with some extra rocket, if liked, or keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Each 177g portion contains Energy 1,133kJ 271kcal 14%

Fat 15.6g Med 22%

Sat Fat 1.8g Low 9%

Sugars 20.4g Med 23%

Salt 0.34g Low 6%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 640kJ/153kcals

Epic fridge-raid sandwich

It’s the ultimate Boxing Day snack. Use whatever leftovers you have.

Quick to cook, it’ll be demolished just as swiftly!

Serves 2 | Ready in 10 mins Faff factor

Food styling: Jake Fenton, Props: Max Robinson

• 4 slices Asda Extra Special Sage, Onion and Cranberry Sourdough • 4 tbsp Asda Blackberry and Plum Chutney • 80g Asda Extra Special Brie De Meaux AOP, sliced • 2 large slices leftover ham (about 85g) • 40g watercress • ½ tbsp rapeseed oil 1 Add 2 tbsp chutney to a slice of sourdough, then add half the sliced brie.

Place a slice of ham on top, then half the watercress. Press down the remaining slice of bread on top.

2 Place a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat and add half the oil and allow to get hot. When hot, add the toastie to the pan and press down firmly with a fish slice or spatula. Toast for 2–3 mins each side until golden and crisp.

3 Assemble the second toastie in the same way and repeat the process. Serve straight away while the cheese is gooey and delicious.

Cook’s tip: A pinch of freshly ground black pepper and some leftover stuffing certainly wouldn’t go amiss if you wanted to add even more flavour.

Serving suggestion: Add a side salad with leftover honey-roasted carrots dressed in balsamic vinegar to feel a little more virtuous when devouring.

Each 214g portion contains Energy 2,131kJ 509kcal 25%

Fat 15.6g Med 22%

Sat Fat 8.3g High 42%

Sugars 24.0g Med 27%

Salt 2.48g High 41%

of your reference intake Typical energy value per 100g 996kJ/238kcals

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Asda Blackberry and Plum Chutney 75p/100.g

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 121

KEEP

SMILING Help your child get a sparkling smile and the skills to make sure it stays that way

Ad A Image: Getty

Introduce kids to characters from the Molarverse to help them understand more about dental health

A

the

ll kids deserve a bright smile and a bright future and, as routines return back to normal, taking care of oral health has never been more important.

Visiting a dentist regularly is crucial to ensure teeth are free from disease and good habits are reinforced. The recommendation is that all children should have their first check-up by the age of one. The great news is that NHS treatment is free for all children under the age of 18, and dental professionals in the UK are prioritising child patients1.

If you need help finding an NHS dentist in your area use the ‘find a dentist’ service from the NHS online2.

While visiting a dentist is important, the other crucial part is regular, good oral hygiene habits at home. There are plenty of ways mums and dads can ensure their children’s teeth are well looked after.

122 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

1 www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/dentistry/clinical-policies/dental-recall-priorities-for-children/; 2www.nhs.uk/servicesearch/find-a-dentist; †vs. a regular fluoride toothpaste; *At two weeks mineral change compared to regular fluoride toothpaste. **Colgate Brand, Toothpaste, UK, Dentist Survey 2021. To verify contact ukverification@colpal.com.

P R O M OT I O N D E N TA L H E A LT H

How to brush your teeth

Get tooth defending!

For parents, it’s vital to drum in messages about oral health care. Easier said than done, you might say, but once you’ve got your dental ‘MOT’ in place – no sweat. We’re talking ‘Motivation’, ‘Organisation’ and ‘Training’.

First off, let’s go to ‘Organisation’. Set up a little ‘station with a toothbrush (which should be changed every three months) and toothpaste. Colgate’s new Kids range includes Colgate® Little Smiles 3+ Years Toothpaste (75ml) and Colgate Big Kids’ Smiles 6+ Years Toothpaste (75ml). Both provide the Best-ever cavity protection for kids†, making enamel four times stronger* than it normally is. Now, let’s look at ‘Training’. Kids should brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and keep sugary snacks to a minimum.

And good form in the tooth-brushing department is also key – check out the handy guide on the right.

And finally, ‘Motivation’. How do you get kids to be consistent, and stick with it? Support from the friendly people at Colgate certainly helps. Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures campaign for global oral health education is set to reach a billion children worldwide and aims for nothing less than a zero cavity future.

In 2023, Colgate has teamed up exclusively with Asda to get the message out there with educational packs that are available to give out in schools, and dentist practices, or download online for free at ColgateBSBF. com. There’s lots of fun material, not least an opportunity for kids to explore the Molarverse... Here, they’ll meet a whole bunch of cute characters – like Chompers and Toofus – who will teach them all the important messages about dental health care as they battle with the Duke of Decay, so they can be a Bright Smiles hero, too!

Set up your children’s dental ‘MOT’, get them to enjoy some ‘Adventures in the Molar System’ and their pearly whites will be shining bright for Christmas as they develop good habits for life.

Outside

Place brush at angle along outer gumline. Wiggle gently back and forth.

Repeat for each tooth.

Inside

Brush inside surface of each tooth using wiggling technique in step 1.

Way in the back

Brush the chewing surface of each tooth.

Oral Health Hero Tips • Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste!

• Remember to brush all top and bottom teeth!

• Limit sugary snacks and drinks • Visit your dentist regularly • Change your toothbrush every three months • Remember to turn off the water while brushing!

Behind the front teeth

Use the tip of toothbrush to brush behind each front tooth, top and bottom.

Smile and save

Use the coupon below to get savings on both Colgate Little Smiles 3+ Years toothpaste and Colgate Total Kids 7–12 Years Mild Mint Toothpaste. And use the QR code on pack to find a sing-along video that will make brushing teeth so much fun.

Scan here for a sing-along video and find out about ‘Smile O’clock’ in a short film that will make brushing teeth lots of fun.

Tongue

Don’t forget to brush your tongue.

Coupon

Please cut out and hand in at your local store to get your discounted toothpaste. See terms and conditions below.

50p off

This coupon can be used as partial payment at any Asda store.

Valid for use in store until 31 December 2023.

Hand this coupon over to the Asda checkout operator to redeem 50p against Colgate® 3+ toothpaste or Colgate® Kids toothpaste for Kids 7–12. Smudged or unclear barcodes are unable to be scanned at the till. This coupon can be used once at its face value in store only. Only one coupon per transaction, offer is subject to availability. Valid in the UK, not redeemable through Asda.com. Valid for use in the store until 31 December 2023. This coupon has no cash value. No NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 123 change given. Copied, damaged or defaced coupons will not be accepted. This coupon is and shall remain the property of Asda Stores Limited andASDA is not for.COM resale or|publication.

Toffifee brings all your favourites together!

NEW YEAR’S EVE DRINKS

PARTY ON

Make your New Year’s Eve go off with a bang by mixing up quirky and refreshing cocktails. Don’t forget some moreish festive nibbles, too RECIPES MIRIAM NICE PHOTOGRAPHS MYLES NEW

SLOE GIN SPRITZ

TIRAMISUTINI

CITRUS PUNCH If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale.

You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply.

Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Hand-Cooked Crisps (pigs in blankets flavour), 90p/100g; Mixed Olives, £1.07/100g; Pumpkin Spiced Fruit and Nut Mix £1.33/100g.

Extra Special Hand-Cooked Crisps (pigs in blankets flavour)

£1.35/150g

Mixed Olives £3/280g Asda Pumpkin Spiced Fruit and Nut Mix V £2/150g

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 125

The Distiller Sloe Gin* V

£15/70cl

Extra Special Espresso Martini Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur* V £8/70cl

(See page 128 to find out how this liqueur is made)

Sloe gin spritz

Tiramisu-tini

Serves 1 | Ready in 10 mins, plus cooling time | Faff factor

Serves 1 | Ready in 5 mins | Faff factor

Put 100g golden caster sugar, 100ml water and 50g Asda Frozen Black Forest or Summer Fruits and a cinnamon stick (optional) in a saucepan. Heat gently until simmering, allowing the fruit to defrost and the sugar to dissolve. Leave to cool then strain.

This syrup keeps for 2–3 days in the fridge. Next, pour 25ml Asda The Distiller Sloe Gin, 25ml berry syrup, the 75ml Prosecco and 50ml soda water into an ice-filled wine glass. Stir and garnish with a wedge of clementine.

Shake 35ml brandy, 25ml Extra Special Chocolate Espresso Martini Cream Liqueur and 25ml double cream together with a handful of ice cubes in a cocktail shaker until very cold. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Put the glass onto a plate or board so you can dust the whole surface of the top of the drink with 1 tsp cocoa powder. Serve immediately.

Cook’s tip: If the sloe gin you’re using is quite spiced, skip the cinnamon stick. Stud the wedge of clementine with cloves for an extra festive twist.

Leftovers tip: Drizzle a little of the berry syrup over chocolate sponge or cupcakes before icing to keep them moist. You could also use it to add a fruity flavour to sparkling water for a grown-up style soft drink, or stir into freshly boiled water for a festive herbal tea.

126 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

A heavenly, velvety concoction that is a dessert and cocktail all in one.

Cook’s tip: Use a fine strainer to transfer your clever concoction into the glass so you ensure the finished drink is free of ice chips.

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

The Distiller Sloe Gin, £21.43/lt; Extra Special Chocolate Espresso Martini Cream Liqueur, £11.43/lt; Asda Extra Special Non-Alcoholic Premium Botanical Drink, £14.29/lt; Asda Extra Special Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, £28.57/lt. *Available from 7 November.

Styling: Lizzie Harris, Props: Sarah Birks

Mix fruity syrup with fizz and a festive liquor for a warming winner.

NEW YEAR’S EVE DRINKS

A refreshing, fruity tipple that’s alcohol free

Extra Special Non-Alcoholic Premium Botanical Drink V

£10/70cl

Extra Special Blended Malt Scotch Whisky V

£20/70cl

Cranberry ginger fizz

Citrus punch

Serves 1 | Ready in 5 mins | Faff factor

Serves 6 | Ready in 10 mins | Faff factor

Tip 100g white caster sugar into a saucepan. Add 100ml water, 2 slices of fresh ginger and a strip of clementine peel. Bring to a simmer so the sugar dissolves.

Leave the syrup to cool, strain and set aside. Pour 50ml Extra Special Non Alcoholic Premium Botanical Drink into a tall glass. Add 25ml cranberry juice and 25ml ginger syrup. Stir then add a handful of ice and top with 100–150ml sparkling water. Garnish with 2–3 frozen cranberries or frozen redcurrants if you like.

Mix the finely grated zest of 1 lemon with 50g golden caster sugar. Leave it to sit, covered, for at least 1 hr (or overnight). Pour 100ml lemon juice and 250ml clementine juice (7–8 clementines) into a jug with the lemon sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar then strain into a punch bowl. Add 250ml Asda Extra Special Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (Rum Cask Finish), along with 300ml sparkling water, a handful of ice cubes, 1 sliced lemon and a few rosemary sprigs.

Serve in ice-filled tumblers. with extra lemon peel twists if liked.

This refreshing, vibrant pink tipple isn’t too sweet and is alcohol free.

Cook’s tip: If you have it, you can use 25ml syrup from a jar of stem ginger instead of making the ginger syrup from scratch.

Leftovers tip: Use the leftover clementine fruit chopped in a fruit salad. Also, with cream, add to porridge as a topping. Sprinkle with lots of cinnamon and some chopped dates, too.

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Hot-toddy-style flavours are lifted with juicy citrus and a fizzy finish.

Cook’s tip: The lemon sugar really brings this drink together so it’s worth making if you have the time.

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 127

Extra Special Espresso Martini Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur* V

Cold Brew South American Arabica coffee is combined with triple distilled vodka, double cream, cocoa bean extract and sugar syrup. Shake over ice for 30 seconds and pour into a chilled Martini glass for a luxurious crema foam top. £8/70cl

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

TA S T E M A K E R S

Meet the tastemakers

Smooth operators

Our Extra Special Cream Liqueurs are made with cosy evenings in mind. Look out for the new flavour range hitting the shelves this Christmas, thanks to Harry Appleby and Jowita Waitz WORDS REBECCA DENNE PHOTOGRAPHS JOANNE CRAWFORD

C

‘

reamy, chocolatey and smooth’.

Three deliciously tempting words that Harry Appleby, National Account Manager at ICB, uses to describe the latest Extra Special Cream Liqueur launching in time for Christmas. Harry and the team at drinks company ICB have the task of creating around 20 spirits, liqueurs and speciality drinks for Asda, each with their own flavour and serving style, but all delivering on quality, drinkability and bang for buck.

‘We started working with Asda on our range of Extra Special Cream Liqueurs in April 2022,’ says Harry, who brings nearly a decade of experience in this space. He previously worked in the dairy and soft drinks industries, although he admits that his favourite so far is spirits, and after trying the liqueurs we can see why.

‘It’s probably the most innovative role I’ve had. You get to think outside the box and put your stamp on things. It gives you the opportunity to create a truly bespoke product that you know customers will love, which is something I really enjoy,’ he explains.

Sipping sensations

In September 2022, the team launched the award-winning Extra Special Caramel Blonde Cream Liqueur and the Extra Special Chocolate Orange Cream Liqueur, both absolute must-tries this Christmas – if you haven’t already. ‘They completely surpassed our expectations and all the feedback we’ve had from customers has been great – not only on flavour but also the fact that it’s such a good price. It makes me very proud,’ Harry says.

With the success of these two dreamy liqueurs under their belt, a third – the Extra Special Chocolate Espresso Martini Cream Liqueur, which launched this September – is your must-sip this season, according to Liquid Development Manager Jowita Waitz who has

been working in the drinks industry since 2007.

‘A lot goes into developing a product like this – we look at what’s working well in other spirit categories, what the customers want and, of course, market trends. We know that espresso martinis are a favourite at the moment and have already created the ready-to-drink Asda Salted Caramel Espresso Martinis that customers absolutely love, so creating a cream liqueur take on it seemed like a no-brainer. It’s also first to market, which is always exciting,’ she adds.

So from coming up with the idea, to us cracking open a bottle on Christmas Eve, what are the stages along the way? ‘Well, we actually started working on the liqueur back in March,’ Harry shares. ‘Jowita and our liquid development team came up with around five samples, which we took to a sampling session with Asda. Each sample had slightly different flavours – different strength levels of chocolate or coffee, or varying thickness of the liqueur, for example. We then took the feedback away and made any tweaks we needed to,’ he adds.

Velvety indulgence

With the finished product ready to go, notes of chocolate, coffee and hazelnut are what makes this a real winner says Jowita. ‘Making the

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Extra Special Espresso Martini Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur, £11.43/lt. *Available from 7 November.

liqueur is the most complex but exciting part for me. Besides using the best quality double cream base, which on its own tastes like a liquid vanilla ice cream, we use 100% Arabica coffee infusion – sourced mainly from South America – and a rich cocoa extract, to deliver the most satisfying combination of flavour and texture in a glass. It’s indulgent and velvety, which is exactly what we’re after,’ she adds.

Because of the rich taste and consistency, Jowita suggests it’s even more than a special Christmas tipple: ‘The liqueur is delicious as it is as a 50ml measure over ice, but it’s also excellent in a tiramisu instead of using coffee and marsala wine, or a splash in buttercream frosting adds a tasty twist,’ she says.

After months in the making, seeing a new product like this hit the shelves is the icing on the Christmas cake for Harry: ‘When I go in store or see it on the TV, it’s the most satisfying part of my job. It just puts into perspective how much hard work has gone into producing something of such high quality – I’ll definitely be having some over Christmas. I love espresso martinis, and I love chocolate and cream, so putting that all into one bottle is pure perfection. Just be warned, it’s very moreish!’

Harry adds. Cheers to that…

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 129

NEW YEAR’S EVE FOOD

Hello 2024…

Welcome the New Year in style with canapés, nibbles, sharing boards – the full shebang. Choose from a huge selection of goodies and dig in with your guests PHOTOGRAPHS MIKE ENGLISH

Extra Special Truffle Ham Joint† £15/1kg

3 FOR2*

on selected chilled party food

Extra Special Mushroom and Truffle Arancini** V £5/300g

OMV! Brie Wedges with Chilli Jam°

3 FOR 2*

VE DF MF

£3/232g

Extra Special Iberico Cebo Ham** £4/60g

Extra Special Venison Lollipops with Blackberry and Sloe Gin Dip** . £5.50/1.90g 3 FOR 2*

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Truffle Ham Joint, £15/kg; Extra Special Venison Lollipops with Blackberry and Sloe Gin Dip, £2.89/100g; Extra Special Mushroom and Truffle Arancini, £1.67/100g; Extra Special Iberico Cebo, £6.67/100g; OMV! Brie Wedges with Chilli Jam, £1.29/100g. *3 for 2 on selected lines, CHEAPEST ITEMFREE FREE . **Available from 7 December. †Available from 23 November. °Available from 14 December.

CHEAPEST ITEM

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 131

NEW YEAR’S EVE FOOD

FOR 2 3 on selected

*

Extra Special Miso and Yuzu Pulled Pork Bao Bun Kit** £5.50/320g 3 FOR 2*

Extra Special Black Tiger Prawn Tempura** £5.50/240g (8-pack) 3 FOR 2*

Charcuterie Cones £6/250g 3 FOR 2*

Extra Special Camembert and Cranberry Savoury Profiteroles** V £5.50/160g 3 FOR 2*

132 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions. Extra Special Miso and Yuzu Pulled Pork Bao Bun Kit, £171/100g; Extra Special Black Tiger Prawn Tempura, £2.29/100g; Charcuterie Cones, £2.40/100g; Extra Special Camembert and Cranberry Savoury Profiteroles, £3.44/100g.

Food styling: Kate Gilhooly, Props: Tabitha Hawkins

chilled party food

Oriental Money Bag Selection

d V VE DF MF £2/180g

F OR † 4 on sele 3

4 FOR 3†

cted frozen lines

Jingle the Reindeer Chicken Nuggets° £3.50/350g 3 FOR 2*

Mini Beef Burgers° £5/264g (8-pack) 3 FOR 2*

Popcorn Chicken Bites d £2/240g

4 FOR 3†

Mini Ham and Cheese Toasties° £3.50/157g 3 FOR 2*

Mini Hot Dogs° £5/240g (8-pack) 3 FOR 2*

Extra Special Mini Cottage Pies £5.50/220g

Garlic and Herb Wreath with Camembert £6/470g

3 FOR 2*

Jingle the Reindeer Chicken Nuggets, £1/100g; Mini Ham and Cheese Toasties, £2.23/100g; Extra Special Mini Cottage Pies, £2.50/100g; Oriental Money Bags £1.11/100g; Mini Beef Burgers, £1.89/100g; Popcorn Chicken Bites, £1.25/100g; Mini Hot Dogs, £2.08/100g; Garlic and Herb Wreath with Camembert, £1.28/100g. *3 for 2 on selected lines, CHEAPEST ITEMFREE FREE . **Available from 7 December. °Available from 23 November. †4 for 3 on selected lines, CHEAPEST FREE .

CHEAPEST ITEM FREE CHEAPEST ITEM

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 133

T H E FINAL WORD

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas Cosy up with Asda’s Chief Quality Officer, Michael Bublé, as he shares his favourite moments of this extra-special time of year This is your first time starring in a Christmas advert. What was it about this campaign – and partnering with Asda – that stood out to you?

I love my relationship with the UK. It’s been a 20 year love fest. And I felt like this was an excellent opportunity for us to keep the flame lit. The whole Asda team was also kind, humble, and open to creative collaboration, which made things so much more fun and rewarding.

Did you have a favourite moment from the shoot?

I genuinely loved the food. Each take was more delicious than the next, but as for a favourite moment, I have to say the crew was an exceptional group of people. Great vibe on set.

What’s your favourite Asda Christmas product that you tasted on set?

Impossible. The Extra Special Black Tiger Tempura Prawns, Extra Special Truffle & Parmesan Pigs in Blankets, Extra Special Chocolate Orange Panettone. How can I choose? It’s like asking who my favourite child is. I love them all the same.

Your Christmas album is loved and played by many, and often signifies the start of the festive period. What screams ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’ to you?

A change in the weather. There’s a special feeling in the air. People have a little more hope, a little more light in their eyes... It’s just a feeling I get.

Do you have a favourite Christmas tradition?

My parents and grandparents handed down traditions that were wrapped in how much they loved us. We don’t celebrate a tree, a turkey, or presents – we celebrate them. They are our Christmas. They are the memories we hold onto and try to introduce to our kids, and I hope very much one day they will do the same.

What’s featuring on the Christmas Day menu in the Bublé household this year?

We are a Canadian, Argentinian, Italian family, and we have a wonderful mix of those cultures. There are empanadas, turkeys, and fresh pastas that fill the house with amazing aromas and a sense of family and love.

134 | ASDA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023

Michael’s must-haves Extra Special Norfolk Heritage Breed Turkey – go to page 86 ASDA Extra Special Free Range Slate Turkey reared for longer in Norfolk under RSPCA-assured conditions, for added flavour and succulence.

Extra Special Truffle & Parmesan Pigs In Blankets – go to page 94 Extra Special British pork sausages, wrapped in dry-cured oaksmoked bacon and seasoned with parmesan and black summer truffle.

Extra Special 6 Brown Butter & Rum Mince Pies – go to page 20 Made with pastry enriched with brown butter for a unique nutty flavour, these mince pies are filled with a Jamaican rum-laced spiced vine fruit and citrus peel mincemeat, topped with a sweet dusting for a real festive treat.

Extra Special Chocolate Orange Panettone – go to page 108 Lovingly baked using traditional methods with a mother dough that has been nurtured for over 50 years for a delightfully soft, light texture, this delicious panettone is studded with chocolate and candied orange, filled with a chocolate orange sauce and topped with rich chocolate.

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Earn £££ with our

Christmas

Saver Cashpot

Top up £40 or more before 19 November and earn an extra £5

Join over 5 million Asda shoppers who have earned more than £210 million so far using the Asda Rewards app Did you know that you can earn money on your favourite products this Christmas, while using our Rewards app?

What’s more, we’re on a festive mission to help you be even more cash smart this Christmas by running our Asda Rewards Christmas Saver, which rewards you for saving your Cashpot. Just download the app, start shopping online or in store, scan your app and get saving. Here’s how…

1

Put away £40 or more in your Christmas Saver Cashpot and you’ll earn a £5 bonus on us!

All bonuses will be added to your Christmas Saver Cashpot between 20 November and 24 November 2023.

2

BONUS

Once you have converted your Christmas Saver Cashpot to vouchers, it can be spent on items in store and online* (exclusions apply) to help go towards your Christmas lunch, pressies or some New Year’s Eve party food. Just make sure you spend it between 24 November and 31 December 2023.

3

Not only do we have the Asda Rewards Christmas Cashpot available, but you can also continue to earn throughout the festive period as we’ll have plenty of star products and Missions to choose from and a surprise or two in the lead-up to Christmas – so keep your eye on Asda Rewards this festive season!

For more information, visit groceries.asda.com/event/asda-rewards App is required. Subject to availability. Mobile data may be required. Must scan app. Asda Pounds must be spent at Asda instore or online. Excludes George.com. You must be a registered Asda Rewards member to participate in the Christmas Saver Cashpot. The Christmas Saver Cashpot is an option within ASDA Rewards that allows you to save your main Cashpot for spending over certain dates in 2023 during the Christmas period. You may transfer as many times as you like from your Cashpot into you Christmas Saver Cashpot however the maximum amount you can transfer in total into your Christmas Saver Cashpot is £300.00. You can transfer from your Cashpot to your Christmas Saver Cashpot until the 19 November 2023 at 11.59pm. Christmas Saver Cashpot bonus will be added and available to spend from 24 November to 31 December 11.59pm, after this all savings and bonuses will expire. Offer: For more details and full terms and conditions see Asda Rewards app or visit www.asda.com/rewards/terms

ASDA .COM | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2023 | 135

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Merry Christmas from Asda Love cocktails? Head to page 125 for our delicious recipes

Ribbed Wine Glasses £7 (2-pack) Cocktail Tumbler £2 Cocktail Coupe £2

If you look under 25 and want to buy alcohol you will need to prove your age Challenge 25. No I.D. No sale. You must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Carrier bag charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. Photographs show serving suggestions.

COVER: Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Rum Melt-in-the-middle Pudding £9/500g