The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is not the time for cooking. It’s the time for sitting on the couch all day in your pyjamas; watching films and eating chocolates.

These recipes from Mash Direct are festive (and fancy) enough to serve visitors but require the absolute minimum in effort.

You can find these Irish prepared vegetable products in most large supermarkets around the country.

Broccoli, onion and three cheese tartlets

Makes 12 tartlets

1 pack of Mash Direct Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

12 pre-made savoury pastry cases

4 tbsp red onion marmalade

5 eggs

250ml double cream

25g Roquefort, crumbled

25g Gouda, grated

Freshly milled salt and pepper

  • 1 Preheat oven to 180°C; gas mark 4.
  • 2 Divide the onion marmalade between the 12 pastry cases and top with Mash Direct Broccoli with Cheese Sauce.
  • 3 In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and double cream together and stir in Roquefort, Gouda, salt and pepper, then pour into a jug.
  • 4 Place the pastry cases onto a baking tray, pour the egg, cream and cheese mixture into each case, filling to the top. Set the tray into a hot oven and bake the tartlets for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

    • Cauliflower cheese puffs

    Cauliflower cheese puffs.

    Makes 16

    2 packs of Mash Direct Cauliflower Cheese Gratin

    2 x 375g packet puff pastry (2 sheets, ready rolled)

    A little flour, for dusting

    1 egg, whisked

    For the topping:

    150g cheddar cheese, grated

    4 tbsp honey

    2 tsp chilli flakes (optional)

  • 1 Preheat oven to 200°C; gas mark 6.
  • 2 Place the Mash Direct Cauliflower Cheese Gratin into a large bowl, smash with a fork and mix to form a paste.
  • 3 Lay the two sheets of puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface and cut in half horizontally.
  • 4 Divide the cauliflower cheese mixture into 4 and spread along the middle of each pastry piece. Egg wash along the top of the pastry. Roll up like a sausage roll and seal.
  • 5 Egg wash the rolls and cut each into 4.
  • 6 Place onto a non-stick baking sheet and set into a hot oven.
  • 7 Bake for 10 minutes until golden, remove from the oven, sprinkle with grated cheddar and return to the oven for a further 10 minutes until crisp and golden.
  • 8 Remove the cauliflower puffs to a cooling rack, drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with a little chill before serving, if you wish.

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