What to cook for Christmas: Veges on the side

When I'm serving a showstopping main dish like Roast Turkey with Cider Gravy or Spicy Barbecued Beef I like to keep the side dishes simple. A Trio of Vegetables featuring crispy roast potatoes and a couple of green vegetables should do the trick.

This year I've chosen fresh green beans and peas, as even the fussiest eaters (old and young) are bound to enjoy one or the other. In New Zealand we're harvesting our peas in the pod just in time for Christmas, and podding them is a fun way to get the kids involved in the cooking – sit them down with a pile of peas, a big bowl for the empty pods and a pot for the peas. And ask them to whistle while they work or you'll find that not many of the sweet green peas make it to the pot!

If you don't have a gardener in the family, or if you're celebrating a winter Christmas, the recipe works just as well with frozen peas. And you could substitute asparagus for the green beans if you prefer.

Countdown to Christmas dinner
Each day for the next five days I'll be posting a new recipe from my Christmas Day menu, so check back here each day. To be notified by email when I've posted a new blog, click on the RSS Feed tab on the right of this page. Or if you'd prefer you can like my Facebook page or follow me on Twitter to be the first to hear when each new recipe goes live. On the last day I'll post a Menu Planner to help you prep ahead as much as possible and make your Christmas Day a stress-free zone.

Here's my Christmas Day menu so far:
To drink:
Bella's Pink Fizz – read the blog or go straight to the recipe

To nibble while your guests arrive:
Oysters with Kilpatrick Topping – read the blog or go straight to the recipe
Sesame Prawn Toasts – read the blog or go straight to the recipe 

To start:
Salmon and Avocado Towers – read the blog or go straight to the recipe