Twas The Night Before Christmas

Make Christmas Eve a special event of its own with this delicious menu perfect for sharing...

- Rose Fooks

PER SERVING (6)

634 cals, 38g fat, 20g sat fat, 27g carbs

LOBSTER TAIL AND PRAWN PIE

Decadent, indulgent and show-stopping – everything a meal should be at this time of year.

SERVES 6-8 FOR THE SAUCE:

• 200ml (7floz) whole milk
• 200ml (7floz) fish stock
• 100g (3½oz) butter
• 45g (1½oz) plain flour
• 1tsp English mustard powder
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 150ml (5floz) double cream
• 45g (1½oz) mature Cheddar or Gruyè re, grated

FOR THE PIE FILLING:

• 250g (9oz) spinach
• 750g (1½lb) mashed potato
• 100g (3½oz) mature Cheddar or Gruyè re, grated
• 400g (14oz) raw tiger prawns
• 5 lobster tails, around 750g
• (1½lb), cooked and the flesh thickly sliced
• 30g (1oz) breadcrumbs

YOU WILL ALSO NEED:

• 1.75 litre (3 pints) ovenproof dish

1 Heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. For the sauce, mix the milk and stock in a jug, set aside. Melt half the butter in a heavy-based saucepan then stir in the flour and mustard powder to make a smooth paste.