December is perhaps the best time to be in the kitchen, or at the table! It’s the season for partying and celebration with events such as Christmas and New Year taking centre stage. With plenty of excuses to celebrate, you’ll want to make the most of what’s in season to chef up some delights to wow your friends and family.
The tastiest vegetables at this time of your tend to be root vegetables that are packed full of earthy flavors. They’re perfect for slow cooking in soups, stews and roasts and can also be enhanced with herbs, seasoning and other marinades. Some of our favourites include carrots, celery, artichokes, leeks, parsnips, sweet potato and swede.
From the orange in your Christmas stocking to the apple in your pie, there are so many fruits that taste great at this time of the year. Some of the most popular fruits to use in Christmas desserts and puddings include bramley apples, clementines, cranberries, dates, pears, plums and chestnuts.
Succulent meat and flavoursome fish will take centre stage on your plate during December. While turkey is perhaps the most common meat for the season, other yummy alternatives include duck, goose, grouse, lamb, pork and venison. For the seafood lovers of you, why not tuck into salmon, mussels or whiting – they’re extremely tasty at this time of year.
A vegetable side… Vegetable Gratin
Ideal as a side dish or for the vegetarians at your dining table, this yummy dish is a great accompaniment to meat and / or veggies on Christmas day. Featuring seasonal vegetables and herbs, it’s warming, tasty and simply perfect for December. Cook in your Neff combination oven with microwave for 30 minutes.
Flavoursome meat main… Guinness Baked Gammon
We all enjoy a bit of gammon over the festive period – so why not give it a boozy twist with a bottle of Guinness. Subtle, yet tasty, this meat dish is guaranteed to wow your tastebuds.
Boxing day treat… Turkey & Sweet Potato Fritters
Can’t face a full-on meal the day after Christmas? Why not tuck into this yummy light dish, featuring your Christmas leftovers and a seasonal warming kick! Cook in your CircoTherm for 15 minutes for a delightful bite to eat. Alternatively you can serve it up buffet style at your post-Christmas party.
Festive pudding…Mulled Fruit Pudding
Swap the traditional Christmas pud for this tasty alternative. Featuring winter fruits of prunes and cranberries, along with seasonings of cinnamon, mixed spice and nutmeg, it’s the perfect post-dinner treat. Neff Steam or CircoSteam Oven for 20 minutes – and indulge!
Inspired to get cooking? If you like the ideas in today’s blog why not head over to our Pinterest board, where you’ll find lots more ideas for festive food and seasonal recipes. Enjoy!
Little kitchen decisions that make everyday life SO much easier 🙌🏼
We positioned the dishwasher right beside the drawers where we keep our plates, bowls and cutlery, and honestly… it’s made unloading so much quicker!
It might seem like a small detail when planning your kitchen, but getting the layout right can make such a difference to how your kitchen works day to day.
One to remember if you’re planning a kitchen 👀
#kitchendesign #KitchenLayout #KitchenIdeas #KitchenHacks #kitcheninspo
Introducing Beth Ainsworth to our Blackburn showroom. Beth brings fresh ideas and plenty of enthusiasm to kitchen design. Off the clock, I’m most likely in the gym.
We’re passionate about tailoring our designs to fit your lifestyle, so whether you want a space to entertain or a family-centric kitchen to spend quality time together, our designers know exactly how to make your dream kitchen a reality.
When you book an appointment, you’ll be introduced to your personal kitchen designer, who will sit down with you in our dedicated meeting space to discuss what you want for your dream kitchen. Then, when you’re happy with the final design, they’ll become your dedicated project manager as they oversee every aspect of the installation, guaranteeing exceptional customer service as we deliver the kitchen of your dreams.
Our Summer Sale is officially ON! ✨
If you’ve been dreaming about a new kitchen, there’s never been a better time to make it happen. From timeless designs to modern family spaces, now is the perfect opportunity to save on the kitchen you’ve always wanted.
Visit our showroom or link in bio to get in touch to find out more.
AS SEEN ON GEORGE CLARKE’S BEAUTIFUL BUILDS: FROM DATED LAYOUT TO DREAM ENTERTAINING SPACE
When Katherine and Andrew purchased their property, they always knew a full renovation would follow.
With both the outdated kitchen and untouched garden requiring significant transformation, the project soon became part of Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Beautiful Builds – it was an opportunity they felt perfectly aligned with their vision for the property.
While searching for a local kitchen specialist, Kitchen Design Centre immediately stood out thanks to its long-standing reputation, glowing customer reviews and welcoming showroom experience.
The brief focused on creating a sleek, contemporary kitchen that would feel open, social and highly functional, while complementing the wider architectural renovation of the home.
The finished design delivers a beautifully balanced space that combines clean lines with luxurious detailing.
One of the standout features is the striking worktop design. The waterfall edge peninsula creates a bold focal point within the room, while the continuation of the material across the side panels introduces a seamless, premium aesthetic.
Functionality was equally important throughout the design process, with carefully considered storage solutions and high-quality appliances helping to simplify everyday living. Among Katherine and Andrew’s favourite additions is the Neff oven, praised for both its versatility and pyrolytic self-cleaning function.
The completed result is a sophisticated contemporary space that completely transforms how the home looks, feels, and functions, perfectly reflecting Katherine and Andrew’s original vision from the moment they moved in.
More details in our bio
SUMMER JUST GOT EVEN BETTER FOR YOUR DREAM KITCHEN!
You don’t have to keep waiting for your dream kitchen. With flexible finance options on kitchens over £20,000, it’s ready when you are. Spread the cost of your kitchen plans and move forward in a way that works for you this summer.
With our exclusive Quooker offer, when you purchase any Quooker Tap and Tank system with a kitchen over £20,000, you’ll receive a FREE Quooker CUBE worth £1,250, plus free installation worth up to £384, and 4 free CO₂ cylinders worth £70. It’s everything you need to enjoy chilled, filtered, sparkling and boiling water straight from your tap.
And when you step into our showrooms, there are even more opportunities waiting for you, including exclusive savings on selected ex-display kitchens and up to 50% off selected stock appliances. Don’t miss this rare chance to secure something special, with design and value combined.
That said, like all great things, these summer offers are only available for a limited time — once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Book A Free Design Appointment
