The dying roast

[Scarlett]

In the 70s and 80s my Mum would make a roast dinner every Sunday while my Dad was working onthe boat. It was tradition, I guess. As we got older, my parents got a caravan and we had to go and spend the weekends in that. Then as we got even older, they went caravanning and we stayed at home.

Ever since then I have had no Sunday roast, and nor have my parents!! Is it just an old-fashioned 70s thing? Do you still have them?

[country_boy]

Every Sunday night I have one, and I live on my own! Best night of the week! Does seem to be more uncommon these days though.

[CheekyChops]

I can't remember the last time I had a roast dinner - even when I lived at home with my Mum and Dad I didn't have one (they did though).

[imajenarry]

ummm sunday roast-u can't beat it.my parents still do sunday roast and me and bf do too most sundays unless too busy/hungover.think cos it takes longer than average meal some people don't bother anymore but it's definitely worth it!

[muncy]

I guess it is a lifestyle thing. My idylic Sunday is a bit of a lie in, maybe a bit of gardening, a walk in the afternoon, a roast in the evening and a long bath before going to bed.

If anything prevents this, for example if I am working or I need to go somewhere, I don't bother with the roast because it wouldn't be the same.

[Um?]

Think it's making a come back. Recent washed out Sunday bbq became Sunday roast. Rib of Aberdeen Angus (for me the best cut - the nearer the bone, the sweeter the meat), roasted vegetables - olive oil smeared baking tray full of same size pieces of red, green, yellow peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, ordinary potatoes, red onions, parnsips - plus boiled broccoli. Rave revues from guests in 20s/early 30s. Love traditional roast potatoes, carrots and parsnips around the beef, mashed potatoes and gravy as well. Maybe in the winter.

We had Summer pud plus apple pie: bought pastry, metal pie dish, roll out pastry and lay in metal pie dish, sprinkle with ground almonds, lay sliced apples on top, add grated orange peel and brown sugar, cover with rest of pastry and paint top with beaten egg. If not cooking immediately keep in fridge. Place baking sheet in oven 20 minutes before putting pie on top of it. Cooks base so it isn't soggy, helped by the ground almonds soaking up juices.

[Netty7]

We always have a Sunday roast. My husband works away all week and lives on hotel food, so he can't wait to get home to a proper home cooked meal.

[sue11]

Um? Yum! Your descriptions are making me very hungry!
We always used to have a sunday roast when I was a kid and if we go over to my or my partners parents on a Sunday we always have a roast meal. I occaisonally make them at home, but sometimes they can be a bit bland, especially if I do not use the meat juices to make up the gravy. Other than that, we mostly eat curries!
Cheers Sue

[nickmo]

Make sure the meat is what you expect - supermarkets have been known to add pork fat coats to beef roasting joints as the meat has no fat in it, so it will have absolutely no chance to have any taste of meat. The fat in meat is needed to help the muscle cook.and it will melt out and give the juices for gravy.

Start with good ingredients and you get a good result. And cooked properly - start at a high heat to seal the meat (actually caramelising the natural sugars in the meat, not sealing it at all) and then reduce for the required time for the size of joint - also helps.

Or go for a good chicken (never the supermarket '�2 special' things that are totally useless for any flavour), with a little butter under the skin for self basting and served with all the trimmings....or a nice pork roast with good crackling....

[Pinotage]

I make them most Sundays -- they really are the easiest of meals to make so are ideal if you have friends over