Christmas 2022 in the Libraries

December 2022

 

We are celebrating Christmas! See below for some great activities and resources for a little fun.


Christmas cooking and craft 

As you can imagine, we have a good collection of books on Christmas (and don't forget the Christmas music, can't have Christmas without some of that) from cooking through to crafts. Here are a few books recommended by our Collections Team.

The veggie Christmas cookbook  

The veggie Christmas cookbook : 60 vegan and vegetarian festive recipes

By  Heather Thomas.

60 fabulously festive vegan and vegetarian recipes. Whether you are hosting veggie relatives and are at a loss of what to cook, or you're a vegetarian or vegan who wants more than a dry nut roast, these special festive recipes will help you celebrate in style!

From the Collections Team:  Christmas is a wonderful time for cooking (and eating) but for vegetarians and vegans it can often be a struggle to find suitable festive recipes. Well, this is the book for those people (and people who eat meat too!). The wide variety of culinary ideas here range from desserts to bakes to warm pies. Los of food to leave you full and satisfied! As a bonus, there are plenty of suggestions about how to prepare your fridge and pantry ahead as well to keep you stocked up through the festive season. Time to get cooking!

Request a copy via our catalogue

 Christmas treats: 50 sweet recipes for the festive season by Guillaume Marinette, Sandra Mahut and Howard Curtis

Christmas treats : 50 sweet recipes for the festive season

By  Guillaume Marinette, Sandra Mahut and Howard Curtis.

Guillaume Marinette shares over 50 festive recipes, from low-maintenance shortbread to show-stopping Christmas logs. Featuring cookies, nougats, truffles, frozen desserts, brioches, drinks and more, Christmas treats will enchant your holiday meals for years to come.

From the Collections Team: There's no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by filling your house with the delicious aromas of a mouth-watering bake. Featuring recipes for cookies, truffles, festive bark, cupcakes, chocolate logs, stollen, frozen desserts, brioches, drinks and more, the book is packed with treats for beginners and baking experts alike. Written by experienced pastry chef and YouTuber Guillaume Marinette, these failsafe recipes will delight your holiday meals.

Request a copy via our catalogue

 Christmas cooking with the Weekly by Pamela Clark and the Australian Women's Weekly

Christmas cooking with the Weekly : 

Edited by Pamela Clark

At the Weekly we love Christmas. it is an occasion to indulge in good food as we celebrate with family and friends. But Christmas entertaining isn't all bubbles and giggles; it can be a daunting experience. To help, we have created nine delicious menus with easy-to-follow recipes that will ensure your Christmas feast is as enjoyable for you as it is for everyone else.

Request a copy via our catalogue

 The legendary Magic Cave and Christmas Pageant by Lee Lennan

The legendary magic Cave and Christmas Pageant

By Lee Lennan

After thirty-seven years of joy in the Magic Cave, children were treated to the thrilling spectacle of the first Christmas Pageant in 1933. A Christmas pageant to escort Father Christmas to his Magic Cave has been the only one of its kind in the world.

There is much magic in this book. It is to be found in its folkloric themes and stories. It forms the basis of the fanciful evolution of the Christmas Pageant as seen today. colourful, historic imagery emerges like magic from the pages.

Request a copy via our catalogue


Recipes

Nicole has offered us one of her online favourite recipes. I know I want to try this one. Christmas Jelly Cake is reportedly easy to make around kids and is always a hit, and there is no baking required. Here is a photo of Nicole's yummy creation.

Christmas jelly cake

 

The Collections Team has voted to offer you this recipe.

Spinach and cheese puff pastries

This is a quick and easy family favourite that are good hot or cold. Perfect for bringing along to family gatherings. And also, the spinach is very festively coloured when topped with tomato sauce (green and red!)

  • 500g frozen spinach
  • 1 large carrot
  • 1 large red onion
  • 1 cup crumpled hard feta
  • 1 cup ricotta
  • 4-5 Sheets puff pastry
  • 1 egg for glazing (optional, can use milk or dairy-free milk substitute)
 
  1. Grease two large oven trays with preferred oil.
  2. Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
  3. Thinly slice onion and grate carrot.
  4. In a medium sized frying pan, add a little oil and fry onion and carrot. When both have begun to cook add spinach. Stir with heat on until most moisture has evaporated. Then turn off and leave to cool down.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine both cheeses with wooden spoon. Mix cooled vegetables into bowl until well coated by cheese. Stir in pinch of salt and pepper if desired.
  6. On a large chopping board, lay out first sheet of puff pastry. With a sharp knife, cut sheet down the centre into two equal, long rectangles.
  7. Spoon cheese and vegetable mix onto one end of pastry rectangle. Fold other end of pastry over the top of mixture and then press down edges with fingers to seal mix inside. Repeat to make 8 or 10 pastries depending on much filling you use in each.
  8. Once all pastries are filled and folded poke each with a fork once to create air holes.
  9. Place each pastry on the greased oven trays. Each tray should be able to hold 4 – 6 pastries.
  10. Glaze tops of pastries with whisked egg or milk using pastry brush or fork.
  11. Place trays in oven for 20-30 minutes.
  12. Serve immediately with tomato sauce or store in fridge for reheating or eating cold. Pastries should last at least three days.
 

 


Recommended Christmas reads

The twelve topsy-turvy, very messy days of Christmas by James Patterson and Tad Safran  

The twelve long, hard, topsy-turvy, very messy days of Christmas

By  James Patterson and Tad Safran

No stockings, no gifts, no tinsel, and no tree -- has Christmas been cancelled? It's mid-December and for the fifth year in a row, there is little sign of the festive season in the Sullivan family's household in Harlem. But this year, a mysterious someone is sending gifts to widower Henry Sullivan and his two children, Will and Ella. First, a small-beaked and feathered face pokes its head out from between the branches of a pear tree. Before they know it, the Sullivan's home is quickly full of boisterous animals and house guests, all demanding their attention. The next twelve days turns the Sullivan family's lives upside down in ways they never could have imagined. And even though this Christmas will be messy, it may be just the gift their family needs.

Request a copy via our catalogue

 Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

Snowed in for Christmas

By Sarah Morgan

This Christmas the Miller siblings have one goal--to avoid their well-meaning family's endless stream of prying questions. Ross, Alice and Clemmie have secrets that they don't intend to share, and they are relying on each other to deflect attention. Lucy Clarke is facing a Christmas alone and the prospect of losing her job. Unless she can win a major piece of business from Ross Miller, the season promises to be anything but festive. She'll just deliver her proposal to his family home and then leave. After all, she wouldn't want to intrude on the Miller family's perfect Christmas. When Lucy appears on the Miller family's snow-covered Highland doorstep, she's mistaken for Ross's girlfriend. By the time the confusion is cleared up, they're snowed in--she can't leave, even if she wants to! But does she want to? As secrets spill out like presents from an overstuffed stocking and the chemistry between her and Ross ignites, this is going to be either Lucy's worst Christmas ever or the best mistake of her life" 

Request a copy via our catalogue


Recommended Christmas books for kids 

Christmas is love by Emma Dodd  

Christmas is love

by Emma Dodd

Christmas is joy that is overflowing It's sparkling eyes and faces glowing. Christmas is sharing the laughter and fun and being with family, old and young. Christmas is peace, stars twinkling above a night of sweet dreams and a heart full of love.

Request a print copy via our catalogue

 
Peppa and the Christmas elf by Lauren Holowaty  

Peppa and the Christmas elf

by Lauren Holowaty

Peppa wants an adventure with a magical Christmas Elf! Will her wish come true? It's the most magical time of the year, and Peppa has made a wish to have an adventure with an elf from Santa's workshop! When mysterious things start happening all around her, Peppa thinks it's the work of a naughty elf! What is really going on?

Request a print copy via our catalogue

 
Little Bilby's Aussie bush Christmas by Yvonne Mes and Jody Pratt  

Little Bilby's Aussie bush Christmas

by Yvonne Mes and Jody Pratt

A group of little bilbies are hunting for decorations to turn their Australian bush home into a magical Christmas wonderland. Join them on their adventure and meet some friendly Australian animals along the way. This joyful rhyming picture book showcases Australia's colourful flora and fauna, and includes a bonus puzzle page and Christmas craft activity.

Request a print copy via our catalogue

 

Here is this year's Create and Craft video. This time Laura shows us how to make some easy Christmas baubles.

 

  


Click here to view form.