{"id":7023,"date":"2014-12-15T16:55:19","date_gmt":"2014-12-15T15:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jameswhelanbutchers.com\/info\/?p=7023"},"modified":"2014-12-15T16:55:19","modified_gmt":"2014-12-15T15:55:19","slug":"james-whelan-butchers-make-it-easy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jameswhelanbutchers.com\/info\/7023\/james-whelan-butchers-make-it-easy\/","title":{"rendered":"James Whelan Butchers: Make It Easy"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s really great to be alive at this time of technological breakthroughs, tremendous convenience, and working central heating!\u00a0 We have a lot to be thankful for and yet I see the stress on the faces all around me.\u00a0 For every smile there\u2019s at least one frown.\u00a0 Some people truly delight in this time of year, they thrive on the planning and the busyness of the season.\u00a0 They appear to love the anticipation of friends and family during the festivities.\u00a0 For others it\u2019s just a downright hassle.\u00a0 To the latter group I say \u201cLet go and just make it easy on yourself this year.\u00a0 There are plenty of ways to do it\u201d.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There are so many ways to simplify and enjoy and the first is to buy in what you need.\u00a0 I would urge everyone to take a look at www.jameswhelanbutchers.com<\/a> or drop into the store to see how we can help you alleviate the stress.\u00a0 Besides looking after much of your own in house needs you could also do all of your Christmas shopping with us. From cookery books to jars of sauces, from vouchers to beef bonds \u2013 we definitely have something for everyone and a food gift is something everyone loves.<\/p>\n

Food gifts are always welcome.\u00a0 I can\u2019t help but notice that all over Ireland we\u2019ve tended to suddenly embrace a more European vibe and approach to Christmas.\u00a0 Let\u2019s face it, as the Celtic Tiger was roaring we leaned more towards the American Model.\u00a0 Year on year housing estates resembled the feverish lighting schemes of the hilarious National Lampoons\u2019 Christmas movie as neighbours everywhere wanted to have the best dressed house.\u00a0 The downturn made us turn away from the more garish, we pared back the lights and the electricity bills to a more modest and pleasant appearance and turned to our European counterparts for inspiration.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t long before \u2018European like\u2019 shopping villages started to spring up everywhere in December.\u00a0 There\u2019s not a town or a village in Ireland these days that doesn\u2019t have some sort of Christmas festival and I think it\u2019s marvelous.<\/p>\n

Probably one of the bigger ones is Waterford\u2019s Winterval.<\/a>\u00a0 I popped down over the weekend and it really has grown over the past three years.\u00a0 There is a lovely buzz in the city with the bells of the Winterval train and the clip clop of the horse drawn carriage adding tremendously to the sound effects on the streets.\u00a0\u00a0 While we still have a little bit to go to match the wonderful street food found in other countries there was plenty to try and taste on the streets of Waterford.\u00a0 From sweet things like cupcakes and cheesecakes to savoury sausages served in crusty bread.\u00a0 There is something magical about eating steaming food in the frosty air while soaking in the aromas of smoke and spices.\u00a0 The sauce dripped down faces and landed on scarves and gloves, but nothing that a proffered wet wipe couldn\u2019t handle.\"Waterford<\/a><\/p>\n

It got me thinking that if great and tasty food can be prepared in a tiny hut on the side of the street, then really we can keep things simple at home too.\u00a0 From food gifts to our own menus the key is definitely in stocking up on ingredients.\u00a0 Have lots of bread, sausages, cold meats, chutneys, spices and cheeses in the fridge and plenty of lettuce, spring onions and tomatoes to hand and you can have a rustic feast in an instant.\u00a0 \u00a0It really is all about being organised ahead of time.\u00a0 There\u2019s still time to make this the best Christmas ever. \u00a0Here are my top tips.<\/p>\n

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  1. Don\u2019t overcook the Turkey!\u00a0 It is the number one problem with Christmas cooking every year.\u00a0 If you bought your turkey from James Whelan Butchers then we will have inserted a little disposable thermometer in the bird.\u00a0 When this \u2018pops\u2019 your turkey is perfectly cooked.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t have this advantage, buy an inexpensive meat thermometer.\u00a0 You will use it all year round and it will become one of your best tools for cooking any kind of meat or poultry.\u00a0 By all means follow guidelines on how to cook a turkey but the turkey is done when\u00a0the internal temperature reaches 75 degrees C. Test the temperature by plunging the meat thermometer into the thigh of the turkey.\u00a0 Remember cold turkey and recipes for using it will be your best friend in the days after Christmas.<\/li>\n
  2. If you are using recipes, and particularly ones that you aren\u2019t overly familiar with.\u00a0 Gather them today!\u00a0 Get them all in the same place and read them over twice.\u00a0 Make sure you have all the ingredients necessary and ready to go.<\/li>\n
  3. A friend of mine uses Post It notes when doing a lot of cooking.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great idea.\u00a0 If you have different dishes at different times sticking little post it notes around you while you cook can be a really handy reference.\u00a0 My one rule is to remove all Post Its during clean up.\u00a0 Do not start another day\u2019s cooking with old Post It notes still on the wall \u2013 it could lead to a mix up.<\/li>\n
  4. Don\u2019t put yourself under too much pressure.\u00a0 People need well cooked and tasty food.\u00a0 They do not need your failed attempt at being Nigella Lawson.\u00a0 Also don\u2019t be a perfectionist!\u00a0 While this is similar to being over ambitious; there are subtle differences.\u00a0 Perfectionists are usually quite capable individuals but they tend to set the bar very high\u2026\u2026for themselves.\u00a0 Tell them they have prepared a wonderful meal and they\u2019ll lament the fact that the carved tomato was a tad uneven!\u00a0 Stop it.<\/li>\n
  5. Use the internet.\u00a0 While I know everyone doesn\u2019t have access, many people do.\u00a0 You can do plenty of research on line \u2013 there are literally thousands of tips, recipes, hints, how to lessons just waiting for you.\u00a0 Our own website is also great resource.<\/li>\n
  6. \u00a0You can only eat the same amount on Christmas Day as you can any other day of the year!<\/li>\n
  7. Make time by planning.\u00a0 Twenty minutes spent making a plan for Christmas Day and any cooking on Christmas Eve will buy you hours \u2013 trust me.\u00a0 Whether you write a list or make a work of art with arrows and coloured pens or create a maze of Post It notes on the wall \u2013 a plan is a plan and it will help organize your mind as much as your time. It is very calming.<\/li>\n
  8. Today, sort out the fridge.\u00a0 Just do it.\u00a0 Know what\u2019s in it; lurking at the back and in the drawer.\u00a0 An organized fridge will lead to an organized mind.\u00a0 Do the same with the main food cupboard.\u00a0 It\u2019s really not as bad a job as you think.<\/li>\n
  9. Delegate.\u00a0 While you can get help from all the family I would also say let your butchers and local shops do as much work as they can to ease your burden.\u00a0 Value is not just about money.\u00a0 Often it is false economy to try and make everything from scratch.\u00a0 Do what you can and buy the rest!\u00a0 There are great deals to be had out there and don\u2019t miss them.<\/li>\n
  10. ENJOY!\u00a0 Don\u2019t get stressed and remember what it is all about \u2013 spending time with family and friends while sharing good grub and warm drinks of all kinds.\u00a0 Whatever you do, keep it simple.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Enjoy & Happy Christmas.<\/p>\n

    We hope you enjoyed reading this post by Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers. Pat is a 5th generation butcher, cook book author and the director of \u00a0James Whelan Butchers with shops in Clonmel, the Avoca Food Market Monkstown, Rathcoole & Kilmacanogue.\u00a0Sign up to our newsletter for more updates from James Whelan Butchers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    It\u2019s really great to be alive at this time of technological breakthroughs, tremendous convenience, and working central heating!\u00a0 We have a lot to be thankful for and yet I see the stress on the faces all around me.\u00a0 For every smile there\u2019s at least one frown.\u00a0 Some people truly delight in this time of year, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[25],"tags":[916,393,917,99,48,47,233,810,918,114,919],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n