Non-Turkey Christmas Dinner

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jayonabike

Powered by caffeine & whisky
Location
Hertfordshire
Fresh Turkey here, a free rage Norfolk Black, and some slices from the Gammon I will have cooked Christmas Eve. Rib of Beef will be on New Years Day.
 

srw

It's a bit more complicated than that...
Good shout, though I do find it a bit of a PITA to cook, with all the tipping out of the fat...
It's been a while since we had goose - it's not great for weight watchers, and leaves too many leftovers (which don't freeze well because the fat goes rancid) for two people. Eventually I found a decent way of dealing with the fat. First pull as much of it as possible out of the cavity. Then prick the skin all over with a roasting fork and gently poach the bird - a wok is about the right side. That loosens a fair bit more fat. Finally roast with the spuds, parsnips and carrots in a hot oven, which crisps the skin very nicely. I forget whether it was a recipe book recipe (?Nigella's How to Eat) or a Guardian recipe.
 

srw

It's a bit more complicated than that...
And this year we won't have Christmas lunch unless it's pissing it down - we'll be out on the bike. For a very early dinner, because Mrs W's mother is with us, we'll have a guinea fowl, stuffed with venison and chestnut sausage stuffing. I'm hoping she's bringing a pudding with her. We'll probably be relatively abstemious on the wine - I need to visit Majestic.

A couple of days later my family are joining us and we'll haul a piece of Ludlow lamb out of the freezer, roasted (probably hot and fairly quick, although I've got to ensure there's enough well-done to satisfy some members of the party) and serve it with rowan jelly. We've got a couple of bottles of local fizz to start with - Pheasant's Ridge (sold to support the local church restoration fund, only two stockists in the world and far better than that description makes it sound); I suspect we'll have smoked fish of some kind. Pudding will probably involve apples, given the glut this year that's filling up the freezer.
 

AnythingButVanilla

Über Member
Location
London
I'll be cooking whatever I can find in the back of the freezer and I think I'm due a meat box delivery this week too so will probably have a joint of some sort. I got a hard time on another forum for posting that I'd be making mince and potatoes or similar but there's only two of us and I don't see the point of making a huge roast just because it happens to be a specific day of the year. I might be even lazier and buy loads of cheese and picky things and be done with it.
 

welsh dragon

Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
I'll be cooking whatever I can find in the back of the freezer and I think I'm due a meat box delivery this week too so will probably have a joint of some sort. I got a hard time on another forum for posting that I'd be making mince and potatoes or similar but there's only two of us and I don't see the point of making a huge roast just because it happens to be a specific day of the year. I might be even lazier and buy loads of cheese and picky things and be done with it.

There is nothing wrong with mince and potatoes, in fact Mr Dragona and I thought of Having Sheperds Pie for Christmas dinner. Have what you want.
 

Sara_H

Guru
I'm an arkward vegetarian so we usually have some kind of tart like stilton and cranberry or something like that. No one likes sprouts but we all have an honorary sprout which the dog gets with the leftovers!
 
I'm cooking this year, so I get to decide.

Starter: I shall be digging out the smoker this weekend to do my own smoked salmon blini. I'm going for a mix of apple wood and oak chips (pre-soaked), with a 75:25 ratio of salt to sugar. Serve with buckwheat pancakes, creme fraiche and dill. And a glass of champagne. Non-vintage this year - money's tight...

Main: haunch of venison, boned, rolled and wrapped with unsmoked streaky bacon. I'll tuck some herbs under the bacon, and roast it rare.. I'll make a gravy with some stock, meat juices, juniper, port and Cumberland sauce. Served with pomme dauphinois (made in advance). A good, fruity pinot noir will work well here.

Pudding: Christmas pudding made by my mother-in-law. Proper custard, and some more champagne - sweet wines don't work with Christmas pud in my opinion.

Cheese and Port if anyone can manage it.

I then intend to get hideously drunk whilst everyone else is clearing up.
Where do you live and yes I can bring my own chair:hungry:
 
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