planning crimbo dinner

[firewatch]

what do you guys have??? Possibly got guests this year so need to cook a little more then normal but sorting food lists already, then i can buy and freeze (except veg). Normally turkey or three bird roast a gammon ham and all the trimmings including bread sauce (yuck!).

We used to have buffets at home as my sister and i worked christmas day for three years. Boxing day is still typically a pick as you go affair.

[fliptheswitch]

Oh blimmin hell, it's too early to be thinking about this! :))
I'm a bit disappointed, actually. I've cooked for all the family for the past eight years, with everyone coming here for Christmas Day and, usually, Boxing Day too.
My parents have just bought a house close to where I live, so I was really looking forward to having a break this year, and going to theirs for dinner. Mum's informed me that it won't be possible though.... as they won't have their new sofas in time? So, looks like I'll be doing it. Again.

Always Turkey. My favorite is the little sausages with bacon. Lush.

[boxtops]

We have different things different years - last couple of years, we had the three bird roast (with bread sauce, my favourite!) or a turkey crown. York Ham is a must in our house. Breakfast is always scrambled eggs with smoke salmon, to start the day.

[fliptheswitch]

Breakfast here is a tub of mince pies and a glass of something fizzy. Classy.

[firewatch]

flip ours is normally a bacon and gammon sarni

[cathfromsaron]

FTS: new sofas for xmas is always a mistake! i say, let the guests have a final swansong on the old ones and keep the new tidy for new year! Mwahahaha!! tell them that, and they may ask you over!

firewatch: it looks plenty already! i am imagining the trimmings are sausages and bacon, stuffing balls, roast pots, and boiled sprouts?

have you thought of making dishes of roasted carrot & parsnip in the roast pots, peas & green beans, cauliflower cheese, nutroast balls or a parsley sauce jug?

plus, how do you keep it all warm?

i pop them all in oven to table-ware cover in foil and store in a separate oven on low!! also really hot plates helps!

[China Doll]

Man hostage has says I can cook this year. I am planning a starter of scallops and black pudding on a pea risotto and then a main of roast duck.

This sounds great except I'm a lousy cook so we are likely to be having bacon rolls.

[Prudie]

I find it hard to break from tradition so always turkey and a ham. Oh and sprouts even though we all think they're gross.

[ummmm]

I order the meat from the butchers and pick up the day before Xmas eve. Buy the veg from the farm shop on the same day. I barely buy any extras. The supermarkets are only closed for a few days

I haven't eaten turkey in years...

[boxtops]

China - if you have that, can we come?

[China Doll]

Sure.... do you want red sauce or brown sauce in your rolls? ;oP

[cathfromsaron]

i have ordered a turkey crown (for meat eaters not me) and all my veg and sack of pots from the local farm shop! i also avoid supermarkets!

[ummmm]

Well probably have duck as well...duck, chicken and beef.

[firewatch]

trimmings, stuffing bread sauce, pigs und blankets roast potatoes parsnip and carrots gravy mashed potatoes, spiced peaches and the gammon with the birdy of choice. Hubby used to get a free turkey from work which fed us for a while! allways had a juggling act with cooking etc, but i usually cook in stages and leave on the sides wrapped in foil. im annal and have a cooking time list and what can be preped the night before is, no brussels hate em. my hubby likes them and only gets them if im feeling generous. They get soaked in white wine then par boiled then finished in with the roast

[cathfromsaron]

that's plenty and perfect! maybe pad out meal with more cold desserts?

cath x

[fliptheswitch]

Cath, they have no sofas, as they're renting a furnished place before they move into their house. She made me laugh yesterday, when she said she had to go to DFS immediately, as they "had a sale on". Er... Mum, DFS ALWAYS have a sale on! Haha.
I was planning to go away this year, but I felt so guilty abandoning my family.
I do like Turkey, now I know how to cook it. I always remembered Turkey being really, really dry. Might have had something to do with Mother cooking it overnight. Must have been in there for 10 hours or more!

[firewatch]

pud !!! Argh!!! Dont have christmas pud, either strudel or sticky toffee pudding oh or mince pies and ice cream nom!

[ummmm]

My OH gets £50 in tesco vouchers from work. That pays for all the extras and more...

[firewatch]

im writing a list now so i dont forget!

[rowanwitch]

only two of us for christmas so might do something like guinea fowl roast sweet potatoes carrots and parsnips crushed sprouts with butter and garlic and a lemon and herby stuffing

start with a beetroot and port soup and finish with mincemeat bakewell tart and clotted cream and a cheeseboard

or it might be turkey and trimmings its still open for discussion