Bhabi’s Corner is delighted to bring you this special Christmas edition of your favorite column, featuring festive recipes for your holiday tables. This then is our last edition for the year, but stay tuned…we can’t wait to bring you more mouthwatering recipes in 2026. As we wrap up this festive edition, we take the opportunity to thank all our loyal readers who took the time to share their favorite recipes with us throughout the year. Your contributions and shared recipes continue to bring flavor to our page. To all those who will be celebrating, we wish you a joyous and peaceful Christmas, surrounded by family, happiness, laughter and off course, delicious food. May 2026 bring you good health, happiness and more beautiful moments around the table. With warm wishes, the “Bhabi’s Corner” team.
Succulent Roast Turkey
Herby Butter
- 125g butter at room temperature (not margarine)
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tsp minced garlic, salt
- Freshy ground black pepper
Turkey
- 1x 4-6 kg whole turkey, salt to taste
- 5 whole sprigs of thyme
- 5 sprigs rosemary 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 onion – chopped in quarters, 1 bulb garlic – halved, 1 celery stick
Method
- Ensure that the turkey is fully defrosted, washed & patted dry. Thoroughly combine the herb butter ingredients in a bowl. Keep aside.
- Grease a deep oven tray that’s big enough for the turkey.
- Melt a heaped tbs of herby butter with the olive oil & rub the turkey inside and out with the butter / oil mix…keep some mix for later. Generously salt and pepper the turkey inside & out. Place the fresh herbs, onion, celery stick & ½ bulb garlic into the turkey cavity.
- Now, gently lift the skin of the turkey all around & stuff the herby butter carefully & evenly under the skin being sure to add most of it to the breast region. Place the turkey in the tray breast side down.
- Cover the turkey with foil sprayed with spray & cook and bake for 1 hour in a preheated oven at 220 degrees celcius on the lowest oven rack. Remove foil, turn turkey over carefully, so that the breast is up.
- Drizzle & gently spread some of the reserved herb butter & oil mix over the top of your turkey with a spoon or brush.
- Reduce heat to 160°C. Roast, uncovered, according to times stipulated on the turkey package instructions based on the weight of your turkey & you can baste 2-3 more times with the balance of the herby butter & oil mix and pan juices during the cooking duration.
- For extra crispy skin, you can grill the turkey for the last 5-10 minutes.
- Be sure to keep an eye on it during these last few minutes to prevent burning.
- The skin needs to be crispy and golden brown all over.
- Remove from oven & lightly cover with the foil you used earlier. Allow to rest for 30 mins for the juices to evenly distribute. Carve & serve.
Sweet Melon Juice
- 1 medium sweet melon or spanspek (peeled and diced)
- 1 cup ice water
- 1 cup low fat milk
- 12 tsp sugar (to taste)
Method
- Blend all ingredients till smooth
- Place in freezer for 15-20 minutes
- Serve with a sprig of mint and a scoop of ice-cream sorbet
Fruit Cake
- ½ 1b butter, 1 cup castor sugar
- ¼ tsp vanilla essence, 40g raisins
- 4 eggs, 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder, 40g sultanas
- ¼ tsp salt, ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp grated lemon rind
- 2 tbsps. orange juice, ½ 1b glace cherries
- 40g crystallized pineapple
Method
- Beat butter/sugar ·Add eggs, 1 at a time
- Add fruit ·Lastly, add dry ingredients alternately with milk
- Bake at 160°C for 1 ¼ – 1 ½ hrs. in 8″ round tin till done
Trifle
- 1 Madeira cake
- 1 box Ultramel
- 1 250ml fresh cream (whipped)
- 1 box strawberry jelly (follow instructions on box)
- Strawberries, Berries/Pecans (to decorate)
Method
- Set jelly in attractive bowl
- When almost set, slice strawberries and put on the side of bowl
- Slice madeira cake and dip in milk
- Place on top of jelly ·Slice more strawberries and place on top of cake
- Pour custard over · Pipe fresh cream rosettes over custard
- Decorate with berries and pecans
Caramilk Christmas Biscuits
- 250g butter,
- 1 tsp caramel essence (vanilla can be used)
- 3/4 cup Maizena (corn flour)
- ± 3 cups flour
- 1x large P.S. Cadbury slab (finely chopped)
Method
Mix first 3 ingredients together until creamy. Mix in Maizena, chopped chocolate and flour (a little at a time) until you have a soft, workable dough. Roll and cut into Christmas shapes. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celsius for 12 mins until lightly browned. Cool completely, decorate as desired and enjoy.