We're having Christmas dinner today, as Mrs V is working the next 3 nights, waiting round the birthing pool for customers!
Starters - Forman's smoked salmon paupiettes stuffed with crab & lobster, or chicken and salmon steaks hot smoked at home over oak.
Followed by Hairy Bikers' spatchcocked duck, with serious trimmings. Booths have Goosnargh poultry this year - the best there is! Honey roast parsnips with parmesan, steamed veg and gravy (stock from a Goosnargh chicken) Roasties in the duck fat, tossing them in potato flour makes the crispiest ever.
We bought a tray of stuffing, as you can't really stuff a spsatchcocked bird - not sure if we'll get round to it.
We haven't tasted turkey for years, the result of dry overcooked birds from years ago.
Lovely daughter has made a cheesecake from an Eric Lanlard recipe, I think.
French cheeses from Booths again - I've never tried Comte, Raymond Blanc raves about it...
Champers with a drop of Montmorency cherry juice, Villa Maria white, Ardbeg for me.
Palmiers, pigs in blankets etc