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Christmas Dinner 2018

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  • seth plum
    seth plum Posts: 53,448
    Plus some fruit salad sometime to cleanse the system.
  • MrOneLung said:

    what are peoples thoughts on having a Yorkshire pudding as part of the turkey dinner?
    for me personally the Yorkshire shouldn't be included.

    personally think Yorkshire puddings should be had with any roast.
    Seconded. And most other meals.
  • IdleHans
    IdleHans Posts: 10,971

    @PragueAddick have a look on bbc good food, loads of recipes and always good tips in the comments sections at The bottom

    Make sure the fat is VERY hot
  • Jints
    Jints Posts: 3,495

    My wife's just out of hospital after an op' so I am on full time caring duties.

    So for the first time ever I will be attempting to deliver a roast dinner with all the trimmings. My attempts to persuade her we should do something different this year, like a pizza or a curry or a can of soup were not well received...

    Fortunately it's only for the three of us but there's now a ridiculously expensive and far too large piece of beef in the fridge silently goading me that I don't have a clue what I am going to do with it tomorrow. Ridiculous really that I'm intimidated by a piece of meat* but I don't want to mess it up for her!


    *insert your own smut here.

    Really easy. Whack the oven on as high as it goes. Let it heat up for 20 mins or so.

    Beef in for 20 mins.

    Oven down to 180 degrees.

    Leave beef in for 15 minutes per 500g if you like it rare. 20 minutes if you like it medium. If you like it well done, go get a pizza instead.

    Let it rest for 30 minutes loosely covered in foil
  • Jints said:

    My wife's just out of hospital after an op' so I am on full time caring duties.

    So for the first time ever I will be attempting to deliver a roast dinner with all the trimmings. My attempts to persuade her we should do something different this year, like a pizza or a curry or a can of soup were not well received...

    Fortunately it's only for the three of us but there's now a ridiculously expensive and far too large piece of beef in the fridge silently goading me that I don't have a clue what I am going to do with it tomorrow. Ridiculous really that I'm intimidated by a piece of meat* but I don't want to mess it up for her!


    *insert your own smut here.

    Really easy. Whack the oven on as high as it goes. Let it heat up for 20 mins or so.

    Beef in for 20 mins.

    Oven down to 180 degrees.

    Leave beef in for 15 minutes per 500g if you like it rare. 20 minutes if you like it medium. If you like it well done, go get a pizza instead.

    Let it rest for 30 minutes loosely covered in foil
    Are you anywhere near Bournemouth by any chance..?

    :-)
  • Jints
    Jints Posts: 3,495
    And deprive you of all the brownie points you'll get for a perfect Xmas dinner?
  • kimbo
    kimbo Posts: 2,996
    iainment said:

    We're going on the Southwark Cyclists annual cycle on Christmas Day so we'll have our dinner on Boxing Day.
    Which will be a Cashew, pecan, hazelnut, almond and mushroom tray bake.
    With roast spuds, parsnips, swede, sprouts, carrots and peas, roast onion and gravy. Possibly yorkies if I have time.
    Home made xmas pud with ice cream.

    Would be interested in the recipe for the tray bake.
  • Vegetable encroute with mushrooms, herbs and creme fraiche
    Roast spuds
    Yorkshire puds
    Sprouts, carrots and green beans
    Vegetarian gravy

    Champagne first thing
    Red wine with the meal
    Beers for the evening with quorn sausage rolls and crisps

    The Queen at 3pm, and hopefully a decent film.
  • IdleHans
    IdleHans Posts: 10,971
    Beef wellington this year, using a big lump of 40 day aged sirloin, on which I've just spent far too much, made with Parma ham and Ardennes pate.
    Will come with masses of roast potatoes cooked by little miss Idle, and a variety of roasted vegetables plus sprouts.
  • MrOneLung
    MrOneLung Posts: 26,862
    kimbo said:

    iainment said:

    We're going on the Southwark Cyclists annual cycle on Christmas Day so we'll have our dinner on Boxing Day.
    Which will be a Cashew, pecan, hazelnut, almond and mushroom tray bake.
    With roast spuds, parsnips, swede, sprouts, carrots and peas, roast onion and gravy. Possibly yorkies if I have time.
    Home made xmas pud with ice cream.

    Would be interested in the recipe for the tray bake.
    Cashew, pecan, hazelnut, almond and mushroom - put on a tray. Bake.
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  • Xmas lunch at The Charles Dickens down the front in Broadstairs.
    Pork Platter / Mixed Seafood Salad / Turkey with trimmings / Cheese Board -
    i make that about 3500 calories plus Fizzy stuff to begin with followed by 4 or 5 pints of Ale.
  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,040
    kimbo said:

    iainment said:

    We're going on the Southwark Cyclists annual cycle on Christmas Day so we'll have our dinner on Boxing Day.
    Which will be a Cashew, pecan, hazelnut, almond and mushroom tray bake.
    With roast spuds, parsnips, swede, sprouts, carrots and peas, roast onion and gravy. Possibly yorkies if I have time.
    Home made xmas pud with ice cream.

    Would be interested in the recipe for the tray bake.
    It's in the food supplement of Saturday's Guardian. Looked lovely so I'm giving it a go.
    Will post recipe when I can.
  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,040
    MrOneLung said:

    kimbo said:

    iainment said:

    We're going on the Southwark Cyclists annual cycle on Christmas Day so we'll have our dinner on Boxing Day.
    Which will be a Cashew, pecan, hazelnut, almond and mushroom tray bake.
    With roast spuds, parsnips, swede, sprouts, carrots and peas, roast onion and gravy. Possibly yorkies if I have time.
    Home made xmas pud with ice cream.

    Would be interested in the recipe for the tray bake.
    Cashew, pecan, hazelnut, almond and mushroom - put on a tray. Bake.
    Nearly.
  • i_b_b_o_r_g
    i_b_b_o_r_g Posts: 18,948

    Xmas lunch at The Charles Dickens down the front in Broadstairs.
    Pork Platter / Mixed Seafood Salad / Turkey with trimmings / Cheese Board -
    i make that about 3500 calories plus Fizzy stuff to begin with followed by 4 or 5 pints of Ale.

    Do you live down that way then, @Broadstairs_Red ?
  • Yes, in Broadstairs itself but am not a Broadie, Eltham born/bred - retired here 7 tears ago - it seems a lot of Sarf Londoners and Bexleyheath/Welling expats have retired down here ...
  • Lamb, fore rib of beef, roasties in goose fat, pigs in blankets, sausage meat stuffing, parsnips, carrots, swede, red cabbage, potato gratin , peas, broccoli and homemade gravy
  • Fanny Fanackapan
    Fanny Fanackapan Posts: 18,740
    edited December 2018
    Celebrated our family Christmas yesterday as it's the kids in laws' turn to have the 25th this year.

    Eleven of us had dinner at The Abergavenny Arms in Frant - 15th century Coaching Inn.

    The menu included 2 glasses each of Prosecco to start things rolling with soft drinks for the 5 grandkids.

    We had chosen our 3 courses a week or so ago with starters of spiced pumpkin soup with mini tomato & onion bruschetta, pig & ham hock terrine with chicory, mustard & pickled plums, tuna tartare with wasabi & avocado puree, beetroot Carpaccio with pickled turnip, goats curd & candied walnuts or baked mini Camembert with toast & Christmas chutney.

    Main course choices were Turkey roast with pigs in blankets, sprouts, carrots, parsnips, mange toute, stuffing, yorkies & roast potatoes ( with jugs of extra gravy for Mr F who likes his soggy...) , ribeye steak with confit tomatoes, portobello mushrooms & chunky fries, goose breast with goose sausage roll plus kale, celeriac& cranberry compote, salmon fillet with saffron & dill risotto, watercress & cherry tomatoes or vegan wild mushroom with chestnut & thyme pithivier (whatever that is ...no one chose it !)

    Desserts were Christmas pud with brandy butter & individual mini jugs of custard, white chocolate & cranberry bread & butter pudding, clementine & gingerbread trifle with vanilla ice cream, chocolate & cinnamon Pecan pie with vanilla ice cream or selection of English cheeses with artisan crackers & Christmas chutney.

    To finish there were chocolate truffles & mince pies with tea or coffee.

    We were truly spoiled & I'd thoroughly recommend this hostelry. And no washing up !

    To complete the picture, we each had a very nice cracker ( sadly NOT Michael Buble) and .....( drum roll)

    SNOW !

    As we ploughed our way through the lovely food, we could see something white drifting past the window and joked that the dishwasher wasn't plumbed in properly & that this was bubbles escaping...

    But as we exited the pub 2.5 hours after we entered, the owner had installed a snow machine over the door to send flurries of the white stuff over us ! Such a nice touch and a fitting end to our Christmas dinner !

    The rest of the day was spent exchanging/opening this part of the family's presents ( and hence putting together a mega sized Hot Wheels Ultimate garage & Car Wash for 3 year old Jacob) , playing Chase the Ace & Sevens , Reverse Charades & Yahtzee whilst consuming wine , beer & G & Ts plus nibbles, cheese & biscuits, mince pies, Christmas cake etc.

    Needless to say, after a great family day, we're still in our pjs & dozing whilst watching TV, currently Mary Poppins whilst tomorrow's Christmas Day dinner will be ham, eggs & chips !

    What's not to like ?
  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,601

    Celebrated our family Christmas yesterday as it's the kids in laws' turn to have the 25th this year.

    Eleven of us had dinner at The Abergavenny Arms in Frant - 15th century Coaching Inn.

    The menu included 2 glasses each of Prosecco to start things rolling with soft drinks for the 5 grandkids.

    We had chosen our 3 courses a week or so ago with starters of spiced pumpkin soup with mini tomato & onion bruschetta, pig & ham hock terrine with chicory, mustard & pickled plums, tuna tartare with wasabi & avocado puree, beetroot Carpaccio with pickled turnip, goats curd & candied walnuts or baked mini Camembert with toast & Christmas chutney.

    Main course choices were Turkey roast with pigs in blankets, sprouts, carrots, parsnips, mange toute, stuffing, yorkies & roast potatoes ( with jugs of extra gravy for Mr F who likes his soggy...) , ribeye steak with confit tomatoes, portobello mushrooms & chunky fries, goose breast with goose sausage roll plus kale, celeriac& cranberry compote, salmon fillet with saffron & dill risotto, watercress & cherry tomatoes or vegan wild mushroom with chestnut & thyme pithivier (whatever that is ...no one chose it !)

    Desserts were Christmas pud with brandy butter & individual mini jugs of custard, white chocolate & cranberry bread & butter pudding, clementine & gingerbread trifle with vanilla ice cream, chocolate & cinnamon Pecan pie with vanilla ice cream or selection of English cheeses with artisan crackers & Christmas chutney.

    To finish there were chocolate truffles & mince pies with tea or coffee.

    We were truly spoiled & I'd thoroughly recommend this hostelry. And no washing up !

    To complete the picture, we each had a very nice cracker ( sadly NOT Michael Buble) and .....( drum roll)

    SNOW !

    As we ploughed our way through the lovely food, we could see something white drifting past the window and joked that the dishwasher wasn't plumbed in properly & that this was bubbles escaping...

    But as we exited the pub 2.5 hours after we entered, the owner had installed a snow machine over the door to send flurries of the white stuff over us ! Such a nice touch and a fitting end to our Christmas dinner !

    The rest of the day was spent exchanging/opening this part of the family's presents ( and hence putting together a mega sized Hot Wheels Ultimate garage & Car Wash for 3 year old Jacob) , playing Chase the Ace & Sevens , Reverse Charades & Yahtzee whilst consuming wine , beer & G & Ts plus nibbles, cheese & biscuits, mince pies, Christmas cake etc.

    Needless to say, after a great family day, we're still in our pjs & dozing whilst watching TV, currently Mary Poppins whilst tomorrow's Christmas Day dinner will be ham, eggs & chips !

    What's not to like ?

    You can’t beat a well stuffed fanny (sorry Jean, couldn’t resist it)
  • cabbles
    cabbles Posts: 15,256

    In Prague, (not Eltham), and one time of the year when I'm the main cook. Czech Christmas cooking is pretty derisory. Carp and potato salad on 24th evening. I mean, come on...

    Bit this time the cooking is spread across five days

    - already did the gammon for neighbour event on Friday. They scoffed nearly all of it. Delicious soup from it, though.

    - classic turkey on 27th for the wife's extended family (due to niece being on doctor duty tmrw)

    - so tomorrow for the wife and I, it's a classic roast beef joint for the first time in ages. Good looking and monstrous joint from Chris the English farmer/butcher. However I have never cooked Yorkshire pudding. Wife is a capable cook, generally, but any tips re the Yorkshires will be much appreciated.

    - and then in the evening after walking it off, neighbours round for roast beef sandwiches and an introduction to sherry and mince pies.

    Prague, I know a lot of continental Europe go in quite big for the Xmas eve. Is that not that big a deal in the Czech Republic
  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,157
    cabbles said:

    In Prague, (not Eltham), and one time of the year when I'm the main cook. Czech Christmas cooking is pretty derisory. Carp and potato salad on 24th evening. I mean, come on...

    Bit this time the cooking is spread across five days

    - already did the gammon for neighbour event on Friday. They scoffed nearly all of it. Delicious soup from it, though.

    - classic turkey on 27th for the wife's extended family (due to niece being on doctor duty tmrw)

    - so tomorrow for the wife and I, it's a classic roast beef joint for the first time in ages. Good looking and monstrous joint from Chris the English farmer/butcher. However I have never cooked Yorkshire pudding. Wife is a capable cook, generally, but any tips re the Yorkshires will be much appreciated.

    - and then in the evening after walking it off, neighbours round for roast beef sandwiches and an introduction to sherry and mince pies.

    Prague, I know a lot of continental Europe go in quite big for the Xmas eve. Is that not that big a deal in the Czech Republic
    No it is a big deal here too, but that is it. Carp soup followed by carp and potato salad.

    From about 21st, big blue tanks appear on the streets, it's the carp merchants with their produce, swimming live. Legend has it that in the old days, people would take the carp home live, and leave it swimming in the bath until the big evening. You've noticed a logistic issue there already..meanwhile the kids fall in love with the carp, and by 24th insist their Dad cannot kill it. So he takes it down to the river Vltava, and sets it free. Meanwhile his hapless wife has to produce the fallback, pork schnitzel. And everyone smells a bit ripe!

    Sod all that. My wife isn't a fan either, but she cooks it tonight at the home of her best friend, who is a bit alone at this time of year, and then heads back in the morning for the "English" Christmas. Have to say she finds the four days of turkey this and that a bit gross too.
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  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,040
    kimbo said:

    iainment said:

    We're going on the Southwark Cyclists annual cycle on Christmas Day so we'll have our dinner on Boxing Day.
    Which will be a Cashew, pecan, hazelnut, almond and mushroom tray bake.
    With roast spuds, parsnips, swede, sprouts, carrots and peas, roast onion and gravy. Possibly yorkies if I have time.
    Home made xmas pud with ice cream.

    Would be interested in the recipe for the tray bake.
  • The Mrs is cooking. Doubt it'll be edible 😀
  • South Indian chicken curry, okra in spicy tomato sauce, vegetable curry, Jamaican lamb curry.

    Followed by Colston Bassett stilton and Montgomery cheddar.

    Several beers will be on offer, as will pre-dinner cocktails, probably of the Champagne variety, and post-dinner aperitifs, most likely to include malt whiskey.
  • seth plum said:

    Plus some fruit salad sometime to cleanse the system.

    And this, too.
  • Chizz said:

    Prawn cocktail - Prosecco

    Duck, with cherry sauce; roast potatoes cooked in goose fat; gratin of brussels sprouts; honey-glazed, cumin-flavoured parsnips; red cabbage; stuffing - 2015 Coldstream Hills Chardonnay

    Christmas pudding; brandy cream - 2017 Sam's Island Shiraz

    Cheeses; chocolates; coffee - Baileys and Glenrowan Muscat

    (It's the Muscat I am most looking forward to - absolutely astonishing, red dessert wine!)

    @Chizz, not knocking your selection, but I'm guessing that shiraz isn't a sweet red, so this seems a strange combination with dessert. Would you care to offer your reasoning as to why this works, please?
  • iainment said:

    We're going on the Southwark Cyclists annual cycle on Christmas Day so we'll have our dinner on Boxing Day.
    Which will be a Cashew, pecan, hazelnut, almond and mushroom tray bake.
    With roast spuds, parsnips, swede, sprouts, carrots and peas, roast onion and gravy. Possibly yorkies if I have time.
    Home made xmas pud with ice cream.

    @iainment MsAA is going on that cycle ride, too. She really enjoyed the others she's done, I hope it's a great one tomorrow or you all.
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,341

    Chizz said:

    Prawn cocktail - Prosecco

    Duck, with cherry sauce; roast potatoes cooked in goose fat; gratin of brussels sprouts; honey-glazed, cumin-flavoured parsnips; red cabbage; stuffing - 2015 Coldstream Hills Chardonnay

    Christmas pudding; brandy cream - 2017 Sam's Island Shiraz

    Cheeses; chocolates; coffee - Baileys and Glenrowan Muscat

    (It's the Muscat I am most looking forward to - absolutely astonishing, red dessert wine!)

    @Chizz, not knocking your selection, but I'm guessing that shiraz isn't a sweet red, so this seems a strange combination with dessert. Would you care to offer your reasoning as to why this works, please?
    Just saving the red Muscat to last
  • cabbles said:

    In Prague, (not Eltham), and one time of the year when I'm the main cook. Czech Christmas cooking is pretty derisory. Carp and potato salad on 24th evening. I mean, come on...

    Bit this time the cooking is spread across five days

    - already did the gammon for neighbour event on Friday. They scoffed nearly all of it. Delicious soup from it, though.

    - classic turkey on 27th for the wife's extended family (due to niece being on doctor duty tmrw)

    - so tomorrow for the wife and I, it's a classic roast beef joint for the first time in ages. Good looking and monstrous joint from Chris the English farmer/butcher. However I have never cooked Yorkshire pudding. Wife is a capable cook, generally, but any tips re the Yorkshires will be much appreciated.

    - and then in the evening after walking it off, neighbours round for roast beef sandwiches and an introduction to sherry and mince pies.

    Prague, I know a lot of continental Europe go in quite big for the Xmas eve. Is that not that big a deal in the Czech Republic
    No it is a big deal here too, but that is it. Carp soup followed by carp and potato salad.

    From about 21st, big blue tanks appear on the streets, it's the carp merchants with their produce, swimming live. Legend has it that in the old days, people would take the carp home live, and leave it swimming in the bath until the big evening. You've noticed a logistic issue there already..meanwhile the kids fall in love with the carp, and by 24th insist their Dad cannot kill it. So he takes it down to the river Vltava, and sets it free. Meanwhile his hapless wife has to produce the fallback, pork schnitzel. And everyone smells a bit ripe!

    Sod all that. My wife isn't a fan either, but she cooks it tonight at the home of her best friend, who is a bit alone at this time of year, and then heads back in the morning for the "English" Christmas. Have to say she finds the four days of turkey this and that a bit gross too.
    Glad to hear 'fish in the bathtub' doesn't just happen here.

    I'll never forget one of my first weeks here, getting to work to find a British coworker sitting at his desk looking absolutely shell shocked. He got up in the morning walked into the bathroom to find his MIL had been to the market and his bath looked like yangzhou aquarium!
  • Danepak
    Danepak Posts: 1,630
    Turkey with potatoes, Kumara and pumpkin. Frikadeller (Danish meatballs) with rdd cabbage, caramelised potatoes and brown gravy.
    Pavlova and chocolate cheesecake for dessert.
    Saffa red blend (merlot/cab sauv), Becks, Tuborg and sparkling wine.
  • jamescafc
    jamescafc Posts: 1,831
    Danepak said:

    Turkey with potatoes, Kumara and pumpkin. Frikadeller (Danish meatballs) with rdd cabbage, caramelised potatoes and brown gravy.
    Pavlova and chocolate cheesecake for dessert.
    Saffa red blend (merlot/cab sauv), Becks, Tuborg and sparkling wine.

    Enjoy Xmas on the beach mate