Turkey Or Not Turkey?

[megustaleer]

So, what's on your Christmas menu?

Are you a traditionalist, with turkey and all the trimmings?
Or maybe you prefer an old-fashioned goose?
Perhaps this is the time you really relish the roast beef of Old England?
Maybe you prefer a fishy Christmas, with lobster or a whole poached salmon?
Or perhaps you have a luxurious vegetarian feast planned?

Or are you just going to enjoy the results of someone else's efforts at the kitchen stove - back to Mum's, or maybe a restaurant?

Banquet or Burgers, tell us what will be served up at your table on Christmas Day.

[Jen]

We're having goose, assuming that my parents manage to secure one from 'some bloke down the pub'. The last time we ordered a goose was from a local farmer. When we got home, we realised we'd been give a turkey (but charge for a goose). Not impressed.

Goose is lovely though and is something special, unlike turkey. Plus, with it just being the two of us, there isn't the waste that you get with a turkey, even the smallest of which is huge!

My husband always cooks any roast dinner so I'm just going to be cooking back and carving when called upon. Splendid!

[MarkC]

Back to my parents, hopefully for turkey although since there has been bird flu reported in the Daily Mail it might be roast beef...

[megustaleer]

We're having goose, ...from 'some bloke down the pub'. My father got one of those once, ooh, must be 50 years ago now, but I'll never forget it.

It had probably been fed on fishmeal, or scraps from the fishmarket, as the house stank of fish as it cooked, and the meat tasted of fish. :yikes:

It was 30 years before I tried goose again, and much as I enjoyed it, the amount of meat for the money, and the space it takes up in the oven, doesn't really make it a viable proposition for us.

[David]

Christmas is usually with Mum, who enjoys getting the whole caboodle together.

We nearly always have turkey - did have goose one year but for whacking great birds there's surprisingly little on them!

So, we'll be starting with Gravadlax and prawns (the latter of which I can eat again - wa-hey!), then the turkey, with M&S chestnut stuffing - my favourite. Waitrose pud did well in the taste tests Mum read so we'll be having that.

We stopped getting Christmas cake several years back since we generally get so stuffed with everything else we never eat it.

Treats I'll get in for myself will be some nice chocs, honey roast cashews, some really nice wine and good cheese.

[Flingo]

His Lordship and me are having our Christmas Day on Sunday, as we are spending Christmas with our respective families this year and this will be our last non-work day together. So having just got back from the supermarket we now have a (small) turkey defrosting, and all the trimmings - pigs in blankets, parsnips, brussels, yorkie pud ingredients and more. :yumyum:

We will probably freeze a lot of the turkey meat for stews etc in the new year, but after we've eaten on Sunday, had sandwiches for the next few days, had a work christmas dinner on Wednesday, and I've gone through it all again with my Dad and co on the real day (and beyond!) I think I might be more speaking gobble-gobble than wanting to eat gobble-gobble!!!

[Webby]

We always have vension at Xmas. It's arguably the best meat on the planet, and we always order a huge joint which keeps everyone going for 2 or 3 days. Turkey pales in comparison.

[mac]

Turkey for us with all the trimmings. Both my children and their partners are with us this christmas day. As this only happens every other year and we don`t all get together very often at other times we are really looking forward to it.

[MisterHobgoblin]

I shall be spending Christmas nam aonar and because I am going away from 21-24 December I will eat whatever I cook this weekend and put in the freezer. Ditto Boxing Day. Chile Con Carne looks like a promising bet... Or perhaps sausages and puy lentils.

[Jen]

I shall be spending Christmas nam aonar
Excuse my ignorance, but...?

The 'locally sourced' goose that I'm getting via my parents should cost around £20 and yes, there's only really meat for two meals for two greedy people. I don't really mind this as it makes Christmas that bit more special and there's no waste. The same bird from the local farm shop would be nearer £35 which would be a bit silly.

[megustaleer]

We always have vension at Xmas. It's arguably the best meat on the planet,During a particularly penurious time in our lives my husband used to drive through a very rural area to get to work. There were often recently hit muntjac by the side of the road, which he would shove in the boot of the car.
To me, venison (and pheasant) means Roadkill on the menu! :naughty:

[Hazel]

Christmas Day is me, hubby, kids and my b-in-law, Brian. Turkey is most definitely on the menu, preceded by prawn cocktail (I eat as if still stuck in the early 80s), and followed by the choice of 3 desserts: trifle (my favourite), mini pavlovas, or mince pies and ice cream. At the very end, I usually do a cheese-board and choccies.

Boxing Day, my parents are coming round where the above will be repeated.

[Adrian]

I'm starting with an amuse bouche of pan-seared breast of kekapo. Then a whole spatch-cock kiwi (brown obviously, the black ones are well out out of my price range) cooked Asian style with some star anise and Chinese Gooseberry and carved at the table: slit down the middle so the beak can be used as chopsticks. To follow: saddle of Tasmanian Tiger and a whole roast Moa. All from a bloke down the pub.

[Hazel]

Throw in a dodo sauteed in Cristal, and I'm there Adrian. ;)

[lipstick_librarian]

MOH and I are spending the big day at his sister's massive farmhouse with the rest of his family. There will be geese in the orchard, but not on the table! I'm a veggie (the only one), and as the hosts are both ex-chefs they normally whip something delicious up for me. We're feeling a bit guilty as this will be the third year running they've looked after us. I think next year it must be our turn :scared:
My own sister always goes to a restaurant for Christmas dinner. She says it because she doesn't want to miss out on the fun with the children. I say it's because she's lazy and can't cook :naughty:

[Hazel]

I shall be spending Christmas nam aonar

For the non-Scots = alone.

[Calliope]

I'm starting with an amuse bouche of pan-seared breast of kekapo. Then a whole spatch-cock kiwi (brown obviously, the black ones are well out out of my price range) cooked Asian style with some star anise and Chinese Gooseberry and carved at the table: slit down the middle so the beak can be used as chopsticks. To follow: saddle of Tasmanian Tiger and a whole roast Moa. All from a bloke down the pub.
What about a dodo? Or does this mean you're eating nothing at all???

[Hazel]

What about a dodo? Or does this mean you're eating nothing at all???

I already suggested that Kim, to Adrian, to make the perfect menu!

[Minxminnie]

On Christmas Day itself, I'm going to my mum's. She's a great cook and plans her menus with great pride. She's making some sort of beef thing - rib of beef, I think - which she's getting from a very particular butcher in the Trossachs who knows each cow personally and takes them for a walk on a Sunday or something. Well, at least she sends my dad to the very particular butcher. Now I'm wondering whether he just gets it from a bloke down the pub.

As you can probably tell, I'm less particular in what I cook. I'm a great dissapointment to my family, but they'll have to deal with it. On the Friday, my sis, b.i.l and niece are coming up for a few days, and on the Saturday we're going to have our proper Christmas Day, with delayed presents and everything. I'll be cooking, and it will be whatever roast recipe takes my fancy from Nigel Slater / Jamie Oliver / etc. Won't decide until a few days before. It probably won't be turkey, as my mum has long ago convinced me that it's "too dry".

[Lady Lazarus]

We are driving up to my parents on Xmas Eve morning, and on the Big Day I will be doing the cooking as per usual (with Mother Dearest as the sous-chef!). We are having a salad of mozzarella, parma ham and orange with baby leaves (out of a bag!) to start, + for the main course we're having duck this year, with spicy plum chutney, some potatoes and maybe other veg, and a Baileys and Maltesers cheesecake!

[lipstick_librarian]

and a Baileys and Maltesers cheesecake!
Sounds yummy - is that home-made or something you can buy?

[Lady Lazarus]

It will be homemade... I've made lots of cheesecakes before, but never with Baileys and Maltesers (someone I know went to a wedding where they had it, and said it was delicious)... just not quite sure how much Baileys to put in!

[megustaleer]

a Baileys and Maltesers cheesecake!
It will be homemade... I think we'd like the recipe, if you would be kind enough to share it.
Here's the place (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=3425&page=3) to post it,when you have a moment! :D

[Lady Lazarus]

Haha I''l do my best.. I was just going to add in crunched up bits of Maltesers and a large splash of Baileys to the normal cheesecake mix and then bake in a bain-marie in the usual way, but will dig out the original recipe if I get around to it... mmm cheesecake :D

[megustaleer]

Haha I''l do my best.. I was just going to add in crunched up bits of Maltesers and a large splash of Baileys to the normal cheesecake mix and then bake in a bain-marie in the usual way, but will dig out the original recipe if I get around to it... mmm cheesecake :DStrange, I thought it would be the uncooked type of cheesecake. Don't the bits of Malteser go soft in the cooking?

[Lady Lazarus]

I don't know! I've not ever made it before! :confused:

[MisterHobgoblin]

I am cooking my Christmas lunch right now - it will be ragu

[Lady Lazarus]

I have found a recipe for Baileys Maltesers Cheesecake... have a look (http://auntyyochana.blogspot.com/2007/04/stefs-non-baked-baileys-cheesecake.html)!... not baked, so perhaps will not make the maltesers soggy! I'm going to try it out on Xmas Day, I'll keep you posted!

[Hazel]

Now that I have done my Xmas food shopping, we are having maple chicken on Xmas Day and a gammon joint on Boxing Day.

[lipstick_librarian]

I have stupidly volunteered to host 4 adults (incl. 2 veggies), 3 kids (all fussy eaters) and 1 greyhound on Sunday. I have enough trouble deciding what to feed me and MOH each night (well, alternate nights), so I'm totally at a loss with regards to inspiration and time. They're definitely expecting something festive - any ideas?

[megustaleer]

I'm serving a Crown Nut Roast (http://www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes/xmas/crackers2.html) to my veggies on Christmas Day.
I made it last year, and it was both impressive and yummy - but there was far too much, and I was catering for 4. I'm reducing the quantities this year, but for two I would halve them. I made it one or two days before, and refrigerated it, then reheated according to the instructions.

I'm also doing roast beef for the serious meat eaters of the other branch of the family! (But "Auntie Bessie" provides the yorkshire puds ;) )

[lucyb]

We will be starting with Halibut wrapped in bacon with a roast tomato garnish, followed by roast turkey and pork (for some reason my side of the family have always had a choice of meats Christmas Day) with lots and lots of trimmings. Traditional Christmas pud to follow plus cheese and biscuits. I would normally do an alternative dessert (Delia's Christmas pudding ice cream goes down quite well) but since I'm only just starting to feel vaguely human (who knew flu could last for over a month!) I'm cutting it down to the bare bones this year.

[Calliope]

lucyb can I come to your place? I know you don't know me from Adam but there is something about halibut roasted in bacon and turkey and pork that sounds so un-bare-bonesish to me.

I like the cranberry sauce but not the turkey. Maybe a sandwich?

Only kidding -- I think I might roast a chicken but do other things Christmassy for the sake of the children.

[megustaleer]

I'm serving a Crown Nut Roast (http://www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes/xmas/crackers2.html) to my veggies on Christmas Day.

I'm also doing roast beef for the serious meat eaters of the other branch of the family! (But "Auntie Bessie" provides the yorkshire puds ;) )
To go with the above I am planning to serve:
Roast potatoes, roast parsnips, sweet potato and leek 'Anna', pureed buttered sprouts, beets in orange sauce, tiny new potatoes, and plain boiled broccolli and carrots (the children's favourite veg). Mustard, horseradish, cranberry sauce and two lots of gravy - beefy and veggie.

Afterwards there will be a Christmas pudding (bought!), homemade mince pies, and a Spiced Winter Pudding (like summer pudding, but made with various dried fruits marinated in OJ & spices). Served with whipped double cream or creme fraiche.

[Hazel]

(But "Auntie Bessie" provides the yorkshire puds ;) )

She gets around that woman - she's providing them at our dinner too.

Blimey Meg, I want to be at your house on Xmas Day.

[Flingo]

(But "Auntie Bessie" provides the yorkshire puds ;) )
:scared: meg - I expected better of you. I forgive people for letting Bess provide the roast tatties, but her yorkie puds just taste like cardboard. I feel like setting up a mail order company for yorkshire pudding batter - courier it to people to cook in their ovens (once the fat is hot enough!!).

[Radders]

Now I could forgive the Yorkshire puddings but never the roast potatoes - there's nothing like fluffing them up before you put them in the oven.

Hmmm...... roast potatoes (in fact potatoes of any kind) :love:

[megustaleer]

:scared: meg - I expected better of you.I can make my own batter, thankyou, but not at Christmas!

It's only being able to pop 2doz of Auntie B's individual YPs in the oven for 2 mins as I take everything else to the table that stops the whole "Christmas Dinner For All The Family" edifice from tumbling down around my ears.
meg in meltdown is not a pretty sight!

As for pre-cooked & reheated roasties - eugh!