Inspired by dishes from classic holiday movies, these recipes are perfect for a festive family film night.
HOME ALONE
There are three iconic Macs in 1990’s Home Alone: child actor Macaulay Culkin, his resourceful character Kevin McCallister and the microwave Mac ‘n’ Cheese he prepares as a solo holiday feast. Kevin puts as much thought into that meal – silverware, tablecloth, candles – as the viciously inventive boobytraps he sets for the burglars, who want into his house. Even so, we felt the recipe itself needed a gourmet upgrade for grown-ups, which we’ve provided by way of mustard-rich bechamel, ripe brie and leftover stuffing.
Stuffing and brie mac ‘n’ cheese
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!
If you’ve read Doctor Seuss’s book or seen the film adaptation(s), you’ll know the Christmas custom of the Whos of Whoville: “to feast on Who pudding and rare Who roast beast!” You’ll also know how the Grinch stole their whole spread. It’s hard to say exactly what that beast is – as drawn by Seuss it could be a cartoon turkey – but we’ve gone with beef here, a full rib roast in a rich, dark garlicky gravy.
Roast beef (beast) with black-garlic gravy
THE POLAR EXPRESS
The train conductor, played by an uncannily animated Tom Hanks, asks his Arctic-bound child passengers if they would like refreshments. Thus begins the early show-stopper of 2004’s The Polar Express, as harmonising waiters and somersaulting chefs make a robust song-and-dance of their admittedly impressive hot chocolate service. The film’s then groundbreaking motion capture technology makes the drink itself look delicious, but our live-action version is even better: accompanied with gingerbread mallows, spiced with chilli flakes and snow-dusted with icing sugar.
Iced Mexican hot chocolate with home-made gingerbread marshmallows
LOVE ACTUALLY
In Love Actually, Keira Knightley turns up at Andrew Lincoln’s doorstep in a very 2003 hat, trying to bribe him into liking her (while he secretly adores her) with banoffee pie. It was the first time many viewers had heard of ‘banoffee’ and the movie jokes about it being a poor choice for Keira’s purpose, but that pie looks incredible. Ours does too, and with the crunch of pecans over caramelised bananas, it’s a dessert that everyone will love, actually.
Pecan banoffee pie
THE NUTCRACKER
For his fairytale ballet The Nutcracker, the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky made a bigger deal of the Sugar Plum Fairy than ETA Hoffman did in his original story. Later stage and screen versions have put her little pas de deux at the magical centre of the show, though none go into specifics about her tastes and preferences as ruler of the Land of Sweets. Regardless, we honour her here with a sugary upside-down plum cake inspired by her costume, built in delicate layers to replicate her tutu.
TOP TIP: Place a baking sheet underneath the plum cake while it’s in the oven to catch any juices the plums release.
