[Closed] The Christmas Dinner thread...

I would cook 3x of the finest quality chickens you can find over a turkey any day.

This year it's forerib of beef again. Already hanging 🙂

not, I assume, anti-freeze (depending on your attitude to your in-laws of course..)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34223495

[Edit: we're having venison, again. back to wild (was farmed last time I think). Yum! ]

Possibly sound advice *but* I am a traditionalist and want to do a Christmas Dinner like I remember from when I was a kid 🙂

I think we're up to 15 coming to our house this year, so "whatever the hell we can fit in the oven" is probably on the menu.

Fair enough.

Just get a copy of Delia's Christmas? or Nigella's??
mulled wine; crisps; mushroom pate; trifle; pudding (& brandy); some decent solid red wine; panettone.. You'd be amazed at how much folk can eat when "it's there"..

Forget what you had a kid and bin the Turkey.

Always beef, free-range chicken and a ham here but this year we're off to my parent's house. It'll be Beef there too.

I am a traditionalist and want to do a Christmas Dinner like I remember from when I was a kid

Bread sauce. Make it yourself and it's cheap and delicious.

We're going very traditional again this year - we're going for a curry!
Its our tradition 🙂
Slow cooked leg of lamb for me, sea bass for MsD .

Yorkshire pud wit Turkey? Are you some kind of heathen?

Turkey is great, I don't understand why so much hate for it exists.

But it's worth paying for something good. We go to our local butcher.

Then follow the instructions from Delia.

We're hosting for mine and my sister's family this year, 4 adults & 3 kids under 6. Me and 4 cans of stella will be cooking. [b]What do people do for starters these days?[/b] I always liked prawn cocktail or melon as a kid but understand that they are frowned upon these days as being a bit 80s. My wife & bil wouldn't touch black pudding or anything like so looking for tasty and orginal solutions?

Just get a copy of Delia's Christmas? or Nigella's??

Jamie Oliver's recipes [url= http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/perfect-roast-potatoes/ ]for roast pots[/url] and [url= http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/roast-vegetable-megamix/#0kfgOp5ZRLPqDCIj.97 ]veg [/url]are good - flavourful without having to do any culinary backflips

Kelly Bronze turkeys are worth the extra - get one that is just big enough of the day and enjoy it rather than something massive and bland for leftovers

I think we had venison burger and chips for dinner last year for Santa's birthday.

What do people do for starters these days?

Theres a great big yummy roast dinner in the oven. Who cares about starters.

Starters are for dinning out. You've got guests - spend time with them. I don't think I've ever cooked a starter in my whole life.

What do people do for starters these days?

If Im not cooking Rib of Beef, I do carpaccio of fillet. Chilled, rolled in cellophane. remove from cellophane, cut v v fine with sharp knife, lay out on plate, ease it out with the heel of your hand, a few shavings of parmesan, black pepper, oil. Let it come up to room temperature. Serve

Game or chicken main, I make my own chicken liver paté.

I also make my own gravadlax. Easy to do at home. Only takes a few days to do in the fridge. Loads of online recipes - mainly sugar, dill, salt and white pepper. Side of salmon. Cellophane tupperware fridge bobs yours.

Lots of things on sticks and a tin of Quality Street *1 tin per person
and enough chapati to last till Feb

Please note that tins of Roses are for the common people (what my mum says)

What do people do for starters these days?

Alcohol.

Starters ? To be honest after a morning breakfast and eating nuts and chocolate all morning starters aren't really required. As for the meal I'd focus on a killer main course with something simple before/after. As per Stoners post things which have been cooked in advance like home made Pate and the Gravalax is simple to do with a high quality Salmon. It's supposed to be a family day and not one spent in the kitchen

This year we are hosting my vegetarian daughter and her boyfriend so it will be a series of Ottolenghi dishes.

Beef, well we do have an Organic Beef & Lamb Farm so why not...again...and again.. and again.... and...
.
.
again.

Mrs's is a Vegetarian and she'll be having the veg... again, and again, and again...

However, we do go over the top a bit so it's always "special"

We also have a theme, no idea what it is yet mind ❓

Turkey cooked in the Weber kettle. Brined for 24 hours first. Nom!

Starters, smoked salmon or mackerel pate.
Main, butchers Turkey with all the trimmings and gluten free waitrose stuffing.
Gluten free Xmas pud and alpro custard.

My grandparents used to do the turkey thing. They'd buy something the size of a small pony from some farmer just down the road because he was a friend of the family and they'd always done it and they felt they had to...

Sick to death of bloody turkey. We'd still be eating it a week later. Turkey sandwiches, turkey stew, turkey salad...

So now that the grandparents are long gone we normally have pheasant or venison. Sometimes both. 🙂

[i]The [b]STW[/b] Christmas Dinner thread...[/i]
FTFY...

It's fricking mid November!
😀

[i]Drac - Moderator [/i]
What do people do for starters these days?
[i]Alcohol.[/i]

^^ I am compelled to agree.

THAT'S IT! Xmas on STW appears to have begun. Don't fight it.

[i]crazy-legs - Member

Sick to death of bloody turkey. We'd still be eating it a week later. Turkey [b]sandwiches[/b], turkey [b]stew[/b], turkey [b]salad[/b]...
[/i]

Have you not learnt anything from our imperial past? Over abundance of post Xmas turkey is why the people of India invented curry!
Thank goodness for India and curry!!
😀

Starter - I'm doing a terrine this year. Actually quite easy but looks good and can be sorted in advance.

Beef short ribs this year, should be good.
I like roast duck stuffed with prunes. Turkey is generally awful

I'm not a great lover of turkey. Give me a good quality free range chicken any day. But I have one of those regularly throughout the year so it's not special enough for Santa. I did try a John Tovey turkey recipe one year which involved smothering it in a pack of butter then wrapping in muslin. It bastes itself and comes out with moist flesh and crisp skin.

I've tried duck and goose and have also been underwhelmed. Last year I did loin of pork stuffed with agen prunes soaked in brandy. Very nice indeed. Not sure what yet this year. I think maybe it's all the bits and bobs that make it Christmassy though. The chipolatas, home made pork sausage stuffing (if fowl), a large variety of veg, etc.

Haven't done Turkey for years.

This year is rabbit haggis for starter. Main is pork (pressed roast belly, braised cheek and roast loin) with crackling, roast potatoes and red cabbage. And home made christmas pudding and ice cream to finish.

Reminds me, I need to get the pudding made this weekend...

Goose FTW!

Yorkshire pud wit Turkey? Are you some kind of heathen?

Nowt wrong wi' that, says a born n bred Yorkshire man. Yorkshire pud goes with any Sunday dinner type meal. Just make sure there's plenty of gravy

Christmas Dinner like I remember from when I was a kid

Boil the shit out of everything!

I like to do the following (very trad but that's the way I like it)
Starter - soup, keep it light like, this is a marathon not a sprint
Turkey - half a lemon, sage, rosemary and half a pat of butter up the jacksy , cumberalnd sausage stuffing and smoked streaky bacon and sage leaves on the breast - roated breast down for 2/3rds and up for 1/3
Bit of pork shoulder to liven the gravy up
Honey roast parsnips
Dolphin-wise potatoes
Roasties,
Brussels with pancetta and parmesan
apple sauce with ginger
stuffing
picks in blankets and devils on horseback
Pudding - that's for the nana's to sort out.
usually for 8-10 people
going out this year 'cos it takes two frickin days to cook it and I miss out on most of christmas day!

I'm at my Dad's and cooking for the whole family this year. Still trying to persuade my sister to slaughter a pig for us. Cooked on low for 14 hours, so you do all the work on Christmas eve, then just blast at the end to crisp up the crackling.

Plus it's more special somehow, when you know the name of the animal that's "made the ultimate sacrifice" for your festive enjoyment!

After another Xmas ****up last year where the beef was still raw by the time the turkey needed to go in, and I was dispatched to stand outside in the rain turning it on the barbecue while everyone else ate canapes and drank...... I threw my toys and said we're not doing it this year.

So every month I've put some money aside and this year i'm taking the family to a gastropub and some other **** can worry about the timing of the roast and fetching drinks for a dozen other people. Yes, it's going to cost me best part of £500, but that's how deep all these years of me being the ****ing mug that ends up doing the clearing up while people shout their tea and coffee orders from the other room has cut.

And if anyone complains about the food, at least I'll have the chef on my side too. With a big **** off cleaver, hopefully.

We're on family rotation and it's my off year, but I was thinking about what i would do. Good turkeys are overpriced and tricky to cook. I'll be doing a rib of beef when it's my turn next year. Much tastier and you don't get many excuses to get a big joint in the oven. Last year for Boxing Day I poached a massive salmon, plenty enough for 12 plus fish pie, fish cakes etc. Easiest and quickest Christmas cooking I've ever done and impresses. Don't get a cheep fatty one though.

Plus it's more special somehow, when you know the name of the animal that's "made the ultimate sacrifice" for your festive enjoyment!

Pz Steve 'Let's all raise a glass and have a moments quiet reflection for Mr Snuffles'

Family [i]'Mr Snuffles'[/i]

>a child sobs in the background<

Yorkshire pud wit Turkey? Are you some kind of heathen?

DP

Edit: that's not your fault though John

Roast dinner with whatever meat we fancy.

Mrs gd does do good roast dinners. Might get a turkey crown/breast joint this year so I have an excuse to try my grans sausagemeat and peanut stuffing. Best not actually stuffed but baked in a loaf tin. It's like a meat dish in itself. 😀

I like these threads as they give me a bit of inspiration.

We're hosting my mum/dad + sister-in-law for Christmas day and the outlaws (about 10 of them) on Boxing day.

We end up doing both days at our house as my mud/Dad live in a retirement flat, and the Monster-in-law hates cooking + it used to end up in Chaos, with people throwing tantrums etc at their house.

I like cooking, and am a control freak, so it suits me.

I hate turkey so we won't be having it (My sister-in-law summed it up pretty well "it's just shit chicken isn't it")

Christmas day will be something involving Prawns to start (might make potted prawns) then beef as main course (not sure what, might go for a fillet)

Boxing day - not sure yet, but they won't be getting roast turkey.
I don't/won't cook decent red meat for them as they insist on it being overcooked/boiled in gravy (don't ask) so it is a waste.

I might knock up a meatloaf (can do it in advance and freeze it) or maybe the ham cooked in Coke again (dead easy and they liked it last time)

This'll be the third Christmas without my little brother which means there will be tough moments in our house, thankfully we've got the kids to focus on, and I like an excuse to cook nice stuff - it is a good distraction.

List so far – anything missing? (Bear in mind I am only cooking for 5 adults and 2 six year olds) 😆

Turkey
Pigs in blankets
Roast potatoes
Savoury mash (potato + sweet potato)
Yorkshire puddings
Cranberry sauce
Sage & onion stuffing
Sweetcorn
Cauliflower cheese
Leek
Broccoli
Peas
Carrots
Sprouts fried with lardons
Gravy
Bread sauce

Edit - just found this tasty sounding stuffing – I may give this a bash http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sausage-bramley-stuffing

Yes, you've missed...

Beer
Champagne
Eggnog
Brandy
Creame de Menthe
Tia Maria
Quality Street
After Eight Mints.

HTH's 😆

I have wine, my brother is bringing Champagne 🙂

And you missed the Christmas Pudding, custard, cream, brandy butter.

And the Christmas Crackers

We hosted Christmas last year. Apart from my mother in law upsetting my mother (which was then completed in round 2in January resulting in my mum not visiting us again this year), it was a royal PITA.

My inlaws love turkey and pork at Christmas. My father likes chikcen, and my mother and sister are vegetarian.

We had a Kelly Bronze turkey which, for turkey is very good. But I cannot stand the taste or smell of turkey, so had to eat it through gritted teeth (while keeping the peace). And pork cooked the way my in laws like comes out bland and dry.

This year we're going to an aunt-in-law, so it'll be turkey and pork again. Which I'll eat with good grace and then later in the week I'll barbecue a nicely seasoned chicken for us.

And you missed the Christmas Pudding, custard, cream, brandy butter.

We did it for six last year, first roast dinner we've ever done - whilst the Christmas dinner was actually quite fun to cook (although inevitably we made way too much), we also did a massive spread on the night, and I would definitely warn against that, we were knackered and really, no-one wants that much - cold cuts, bit of salad, maybe sausage rolls and pork pie. Again, we could have fed the 5000 and a lot of it was wasted.

I have wine, my brother is bringing Champagne

I love roast turkey. I like it better than chicken, in fact. But I also love good chicken, and lots of other meats. Most meats in fact.

Sweet potato and butternut squash roasted with onion, garlic and sage and then mashed; braised red cabbage with apple and spices (make loads cos it tastes even better reheated on Boxing day); mince 'pies' made with filo pastry to ring the changes; shots of spiced parsnip soup served in espresso cups for starters and served with mini cheese muffins ... I bloody loves Christmas dinner me 🙂

we always have mushy peas with ours!

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Sweetcorn? Baby jesus hates you.

This'll be the third Christmas without my little brother

This will be my 4th without my big brother. First without my dad too..sending you a virtual man hug.

Chicken for us.
Roast potatoes
Parsnips
Carrot and swede
Sprouts
Cauliflower with cheese sauce
Apple sauce
Home made gravy
Yes Yorkshire puddings too.

Pudding will be chocolate shortbread biscuits or mince pies.

All cooked in the tinest kitchen.
It means lots of preparation early morning and a late dinner.
Can't wait.

Apple sauce with chicken?

O.p. You missed parsnips off your list, probably myfavvourite part of a roast.

my contribution to our celebrations will be a mini keg of local ale. And peeling lots of potatoes or other menial task I'm trusted to do.

Mrs STR and I have lived together the best part of 23 years and have managed to avoid all family on Christmas day for pretty much that length of time - we do that shit on Christmas Eve/Boxing day

For a few years, we have been to the local for a couple after drinking mulled wine and listening to the brass band/carol singers at around 11am, then back for the dinner around 2-3pm.

First time ever this year, we are eating out. Nice local pub/hotel/restaurant - £60/head for a glass of fizz, 3 courses and coffee in very nice surroundings and a nice stroll away across the park - will be extra special if it snows!

Looking forward to a change from the norm

The STW Christmas Dinner thread...
FTFY...
It's fricking mid November!

Chestnut and mushroom wellington for me and the missus. Something else for the kids.

And a mountain of parsnips and sprouts for me - no bugger else likes them.