Christmas Dinner

[EcclesCake]

No doubt I'm going to get flamed for this thread, but so what!

I'm trying to come up with something easy to prepare and manageable in terms of leftovers for just two of us.

I don't think we've ever had a classic Christmas meal and I'm lacking inspiration.

One idea is venison fillet with spiced red cabbage. Starter and pud, clueless.


Creative cooks what will you be serving, inspire me please!

[EcclesCake]

Can I get back to you on Boxing Day???

Let me think it through and I'll update you.

[EcclesCake]

So having thought it through.....

Peel a pear (1 for two people), cut in half length ways and using a melon baller or measuring spoon scoop out the seeds and trim the flower end.

Heat some butter with a splash of oil in a pan and when hot add the pears, toss to coat. Finish in a hot oven for 10-15 mins or until tender. Leave to cool slightly and then slice lengthways, but not going full to the top so that you can flare them.

Ice cream is simply 100g Stilton mashed with a couple of TBS or so of double cream and another 100ml whipped which is folded into cheese mix and frozen.

Walnuts, melt a knob,Tbs or so, of butter in a pan, add a generous tsp or so of sugar and when melted a scant tsp of salt crystals. When all combined add a good handful of walnuts and toss around. When coated, pour onto a sheet of baking parchment.

Serve however you like but suggest the dressing is based on walnut oil with either sweet sherry vinegar or sharp lemon juice depending on your taste with peppery leaves.

[Barmaid]

Yum! Thank you eccles, that sounds gorgeous.

[EcclesCake]

Fair to say it snot bad

[ethandron]

Well, I am now totally inspired.
It's just me and him this year and I was going to do m&s stuff, or fish finger buttie...seriously...but having had a chat to himself we're now having Islays scallops for starters, venison steaks with that scrumptious sounding blackcurrant sauce, Costco dauphinois potatoes, plus various veg which will include peas (a favourite veg of my beloved) and some kind of dessert yet to be decided, maybe syllabub.
This is why I love these threads, it really, really inspires me, especially Eccles who is always so generous with her foodie experience :)

[EcclesCake]

Oh, shurrup, I'll be blushing next.....

[zebo]

I'm in awe of the skills here, wish my lot would be more adventurous. We once had goose breast, red cabbage and knoedel which are German style bread dumplings all of which went down very well for a change.

[ethandron]

You might be a grumpy old thing Eccles, but you're very generous with sharing your expertise. I don't give compliments lightly, you could almost consider this to be one....almost.

[ethandron]

Could anyone point me in the direction of the recipe for tomato and chilli ice cream please? I can only find tomato or chilli chocolate.
I had a look a delias venison and pickled walnut thing too, so am going to give that a go after our next Costco visit, I noticed they have packs of venison in the fresh meat section.
Thanks.

[Islay]

Peel and deseed 6 large ripe vine tomatoes, whiz them in a blender, then pass through a sieve. Combine with 450ml double cream, 2 tbsp tomato paste and the juice of 1 lemon. Adjust the flavours to your taste with a pinch of sugar, several large dashes of sweet chilli sauce and a little sea salt

[Zacs-Master]

A really simple starter is garlic bread straight out of the oven topped with beef tomatoes straight out of the fridge smothered in olive oil salt and pepper. The contrast between cold and hot is delish.

[EcclesCake]

Zacs, all the while I appreciate the flavour combination you'll never find a tomato in my fridge. Refrigerating kills the flavour and texture.

[Zacs-Master]

Not with beef tomatoes Eccles. Try it. You'll like it.

[EcclesCake]

Thanks Islay.

Sorry Zacs, have to disagree, beef tomatoes are fleshier and therefore even more prone to becoming 'woolly' due to refrigeration.

[ethandron]

Oops...eth rushes off to rescue her woolly tomatoes from the fridge in case Eccles pays a surprise visit and inspects the contents of the fridge.
Many thanks Islay, you too are an inspiration with your adventurous cooking. will definitely give that a go x

[EcclesCake]

If I find garlic in your fridge during my inspection, you will really be in the dog house Eth!