Favourite festive recipes from Babington House made with herbs from the Walled Garden

They say the kitchen is the heart of a home, and in winter when we want nothing more than to cosy up indoors, this saying feels especially true. Babington House, with its open fireplaces and free-standing baths, is designed to keep our members as comfortable as possible in the colder months – which extends to the food that we serve in the restaurant.

Roast Turkey 

Roast Potatoes

Serves six to eight 

Ingredients 
6 tbsp duck fat
16 medium-sized Maris Piper or King Edward potatoes 
8 garlic cloves 
4 sprigs thyme
4 sprigs rosemary 
Sea salt

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 190°C.
2. Parboil the potatoes in salted water for around six to eight minutes or until just cooked. They should be firm on the outside and soft in the middle. 
3. Drain the potatoes in a colander and shake them until the edges are a little rough – this will give you those little crispy bits.
4. Heat the duck fat in a thick-bottomed roasting tray for a few minutes.
5. Add the potatoes and a sprinkle of salt, then bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, add the garlic and herbs, and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Festive Sprouts 

Serves four to six 

Ingredients
1kg Brussels sprouts
½ bunch of fresh sage
20g butter
200g pancetta or bacon
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
50g dried cranberries
1 clementine
Salt and pepper

Method
1. Trim the sprouts and remove the outer leaves. Cut them in half, then boil for four minutes in salted water. Drain and leave to cool.
2. Fry half the sage leaves in the butter until crispy, then set aside.
3. Add the pancetta to the sage-flavoured butter and fry until crispy. Add the diced onion, garlic, and remaining chopped sage.
4. Fry for five minutes, then add the cranberries, clementine zest and juice, then the sprouts back in.
5. Toss together, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with crispy sage.

Apple Caramel Cake

Serves eight 

Ingredients
2 apples, peeled and grated
2 eggs 
1 tsp vanilla essence
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup apple sauce
¼ cup maple syrup
225g gluten-free SR flour
¼ tsp fine salt
¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda 
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
175g brown sugar

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Peel and grate the apples, then put them into a cloth and ring out the juice.
3. Next, make the batter. Beat the eggs and then mix them with the other wet ingredients: vanilla essence, vegetable oil, apple sauce, and maple syrup.
4. Mix the dry ingredients: brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, bicarbonate of soda, fine salt, and flour.
5. Add both mixtures together and combine thoroughly, including the apple.
6. Fold in the caramel sauce through the cake mixture (recipe below).
7. Prepare your baking tin with parchment paper and evenly add your mix.
8. Bake in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes.

Salted Caramel Sauce 

Ingredients
375g double cream 
185g dark brown sugar 
65g salted butter 

Method 
1. Boil the brown sugar and cream together.
2. When it’s simmering, add the butter and whisk until the consistency is smooth and thick. 
3. Leave to chill in the fridge.