According to the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, the gift associated with the tenth day of Christmas was ten pipers piping. The song doesn’t qualify exactly what type of pipers were piping so ideas for this day are broad. Parties could be based around Dr Who, Scotland or the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
Throw a Dr Who or Scottish Themed Party
A famous piper that springs to mind is Billie Piper who played Dr Who’s assistant. So why not throw a Dr Who party? Invite guests to arrive dressed as characters from the TV series. Play music based on time such as “The Time Warp” or any of Billie’s own songs. According to the celebritywonder website, her favourite foods are Chinese, beans on toast and chocolate so base the menu on those food items.
Alternatively why not throw a Scottish themed party in honour of bagpipers from all over the world? Invite guests to arrive dressed in highland outfits complete with sporrans and kilts. Read Robbie Burns poetry or play Billy Connelly films. Serve Scotch broth and oatcakes or shortbread or Aberdeen Angus beef burgers and steaks.
Host a Musical or Pied Piper of Hamelin Themed Party
A musical party could be quite a fun thing to throw. Buy in some penny or tin whistles and get guests to create their own music on them or play the pipes along to songs on a karaoke machine. Serve buffet foods that are loosely pipe shaped like long sausage rolls, breadsticks, celery stalks , filled finger rolls and cream horns.
Alternatively a party could be arranged themed around the Pied Piper of Hamelin where guests could arrive dressed up as rats, children or in a harlequin type costume. Serve German beers or wines, rye bread or foods such as sauerkraut, frankfurters, hamburgers and bratwurst. This recipe for pork and sauerkraut casserole is surprisingly tasty.
Recipe for Pork and Sauerkraut Casserole
Ingredients:
- 3 lb pork loin or shoulder
- 1½ lb sauerkraut
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 large onion
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ tsp juniper berries
- ½ tsp caraway seeds
- ½ pt chicken or vegetable stock
- Pinch of sugar
Method:
- Trim any fat from the pork
- Peel and slice the onion
- Gently sauté the onion in the oil until it is just transparent
- Put the onion, bay leaf, berries, seeds, sugar and sauerkraut in the bottom of a casserole dish that is big enough to hold the pork as well
- Put the pork on top of the sauerkraut and pour the stock over
- Cover the dish and cook at gas mark 3, 160 C, 325 F for about 2 hours
Readers may also be interested on this article Themed Parties on the Twelve Days of Christmas for further information on the popular Christmas song. If these ideas based on pipers piping don’t appeal, why not consider those offered in the articles The Ninth Day of Christmas Party and Menu Ideas or Eleventh Day of Christmas Party and Menu Ideas?
Elaine Findlay - An expert cook, Findlay's passion for food is evidenced by the size of her kitchen and her library of old recipe books
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