If there’s one meal worth doing properly, it’s Christmas lunch in our subtropical Australian summer.
We have a very big family, so Christmas is never exactly relaxing. But it is always fun, full of beach time at Kingscliff, cricket in the paddocks at Husk Farm, and of course plenty of delicious drinks & food. Everyone always pitches in to help, and the priority is always to make sure no one stuck in the kitchen for too long.
We had a mini Christmas lunch on the farm with some friends and family a few weeks ago, so we thought we'd share some recipes, tips & tricks on how we make everything go smoothly.
Rule 1: Keep Drinks Simple & Central
A self-serve Ink G&T Station is the easiest way to keep everyone happy without overthinking it. Set it up right near the lunch table so guests can help themselves and stay part of the atmosphere.
Download our printable G&T station menus here.
Rule 2: Do a few dishes well
Christmas food doesn’t need to be complicated, it just needs to be generous.
2 proteins and 3 sides/salads will normally do the trick. Plus prawns, because of course we need prawns.
The host normally looks after the proteins and we commission some guests to look after a salad each.
We always have a free range Northern Rivers ham as the centrepiece, glazed with our Husk Bam Bam Rum. These are so easy to make, and will feed lots of people.
Rule 3: Finish with Something Fun
Christmas desserts are made for rum, and our sister brand Husk Rum delivers. Whether it's Paul's famous rum soaked flaming Christmas pud or rum spike tiramisu, Husk Bam Bam is the perfect spirit to spice up your Christmas desserts.
Rum balls are a classic, but this year we turned them into a Husk Bam Bam Rum Ball Christmas Tree. It looked amazing! We made it the day before, and everyone just helped themselves on the day. Full recipe is below...
Husk Bam Bam Rum Ball Christmas Tree 🍫🎄
Ingredients
250g biscuits (Marie or Milk Coffee)
1 cup desiccated coconut
¼ cup cocoa powder
1 tin condensed milk (395g)
80ml Husk Bam Bam
Optional: nuts, choc chips, orange zest
Method
Crush biscuits
Mix with coconut, cocoa and condensed milk
Add Bam Bam and combine
Chill for 20–30 minutes
Roll into balls and coat in extra coconut
Chill for 1 hour
Use toothpicks to spike strawberries and rum balls into a foam cone
Prep a day ahead and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
At the end of the day, the best Christmas lunches are the ones that feel relaxed, with full tables, full glasses, and plenty of time together.
However you’re doing Christmas this year, we hope it’s filled with great food, good company, and plenty of Ink Gin. From our family to yours, cheers!