Allotments 4 All

As many of you know, I don't tend to bother much with Christmas, but I still take charge in the kitchen on the 25th, and produce an excellent feed.

I tend to produce a traditional dinner, with a cold starter, then hot fresh soup, leek and potato or something similar. Then the standard fare, goose last year, but not again, turkey is easier and just as delicious. Mountains of vegetables of course, and all the trimmings. Pumpkin will be an additional vegetable this year. Then a selection of cheese, and finally the pud ...

Coffee and chocs to finish ..

What do others to for this alleged feast?

Derekthefox :D

FIVE Courses? Good god I couldn't even eat three!

As always, I wear the trousers in the kitchen on xmas day. Last year we had homemade nut roast (we're veggies), lemon, garlic and rosemary roast potatoes, roast parsnip, roast sweet potato, roast squash, sprouts, peas, carrots, homemade sage and onion stuffing, homemade onion gravy. (my mouth is watering now). We had lashings of leftovers for bubble and squeak too!

This year we'll be having: lemon, garlic and rosemary roast homegrown potatoes (hopefully they'll keep another month!), roast parsnip, sprouts, homegrown sweetcorn (out the freezer), stuffing, gravy. Probably nut roast again, hopefully roast squash, and a couple of other veggies.

We're both so stuffed after that that we don't bother with pud.

Oh and how could I forget the roast chestnuts. Must remember to peel them on xmas eve though this year!

I sit back,drink some bubbley and let OH get on with it!   ;D 

I prefer doing Christmas Eve supper - a HUGE fish pie with a puff pastry lid (OH not keen on mash-topped pies) dauphinois spuds & salad followed by gooey, creamy, boozey chocolate log. MMMmmmmmmm :)
(Don't forget breakfast on the big day - hot croissants with homemade jam & champagne with satsuma juice, makes the present opening at 6am almost civilised!!!)

redclanger and christmas

Veggie - no turkey or pigs in blankets then.
Can't stand dried fruit - no christmas pud, no cake and no mince pies.

I love chirstmas - not

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Clanger - you don't have to eat turkey and pud to enjoy christmas - we don't. see my post above.

The big day is mums department, but I supply all the veggies!

Normally start with something fishy fo those who like seafood/fish and pate for those who don't, then of course the kids have melon and ham.  Maincourse, mum isn't sure this year....in the past we have had pheasants, venison, duck, goose, turkey, pork and beef.....and I seem to recall one year we didn't have meat at all and she got lots and lots of lobsters and crabs and we had a shellfish dinner!  Anyhow, it will be meat with al the veggies....sprouts - 2 colours, roast 'snips, cabbage, carrots, spuds, tattie cake, stuffing, etc.  For pud, a selection as we all like different things!  I shall make Palustrus' dear wifes choccy roullade as we had it last year and it was DEVINE!  I also supply the chrissy cake and mince pies.  My sis will probably make some sort of tart and mum will do a trifle.  There will be jelly and ice cream for the 5 kids.

Supper is my fave tho, when the cheese and cold cuts and bubble and squeak and nuts and nibbles come out!

BLOODY LOVE CHRISTMAS!

We have a mix of German and English Christmas with doubling up of some things simply because we like them totally differently prepared!

our homecooked CD meal is shifting to NYD since we're at my inlaws for the day itself (therefore CD will be much more German than English as MIL is cooking but I have told her I'm bringing as much veg as I can carry!)

Christmas eve - Definitely German. Bratwurst*, mashed potato, mushroom* and onion gravy and sauerkraut*.

New Year's Day - Prawn Marie Rose* (don't care how out of fashion - we like it!)
roast bird⁺, sage and onion stuffing, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, croquette potatoes*,  garlic glazed carrots, leeks, bohnensalat (cooked cold French beans in a cream, raw onion and mayo sauce), rotkohl (red cabbage),  chipolata sausages⁺, bacon⁺, roast marrow, runner beans, cabbage, parsnips.
Christmas pudding (Carved Angel again this year - bought half price last January!)

Everything out of the lottie bar things indicated by
* dunno where it comes from other than M&S or Waitrose
⁺ Locally sourced/Farmers' market produce  (Goose will be from a farm a mile away assuming nothing untoward ie bird flu)

Last year we made it to 9 vegetables.  It all gets eaten -  I always cook way too much so we can do a massive Bubble and Squeak on Boxing Day!

moonbells

aqui - odd you should mention lemon, garlic and rosemary potatoes. That's what we tried on Wednesday with the last of the Red Duke of Yorks. Didn't peel them or anything, just parboiled whole and then stuffed into oven with flavourings. Yum!

QuoteI love chirstmas - not

You and I both Redclanger ...

Derekthefox :D

I understand your frustration with the cooking Wardy, that is why I do the whole meal. The only bit I request assistance with is the custard ... no don't laugh, we all struggle somewhere. I think I enjoy eating all the leftover turkey afterwards, I dont have any problem there. We will also have a decent joint of beef, another of my delights, with raw onion and mustard. yum.

I am preparing pumpkin soup for tea as I write this.

Derekthefox :D

i'm stuffed just reading these posts ;D

Last time I did Xmas dins it was for 25.  (5 veggies, 1 x  doesn't eat dried fruit or nuts, 1 x gluten intollerant, 1 x lactose intollerant, 5 x kids, 2 x no alcohol, 1 x diabetic ...think that's it)  This year I get to do bubble and squeek day.  That is the easy one.  I quite like xmas as all the family get to be as daft as a brush.  All the adults nick the kids toys and we generally have a trivial pursuit where the loser has to eat the strawberry creams - yeaurk, bleugh.  Since ma died we split xmas 'tween the three sisters and that means the kids have 3 days of pressies and they are not wowed out on day one

Our Christmas is going to be quite small this year as most of the family now live overseas. However mum and I will do a ham with jacket spuds on Christmas Eve, followed by home made mince pies. Then on Christmas Day I do brussel sprout soup (Gary Rhodes recipe - it's gorgeous) topped with crispy bacon. For the dinner in the evening we do a turkey with bacon rolls and chipolatas, sprouts and another green veg (mum and dad don't like sprouts), roasted spuds, roasted squash, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted parsnips and usually roasted shallots too. We also serve two stuffings: chestnut stuffing and "green" stuffing (parsley mainly!), and breadsauce. If there's room after all that then there's home made christmas pudding afterwards. On Boxing Day we eat "leftovers" with bubble and squeek. Oh and we do it all over again at New Year because we like it to much! I adore Christmas Dinner - it's my fave meal!

I don't envy you that dinner Baggy, it sounded like a planner's nightmare. At least it sounds like you make Christmas day a day of simple fun. Our children used to get their presents in 3 blocks over the day, first there were 'Santa's' presents in their stockings, which they opened when they woke up. Then, after mum and dad had been brought toast and drinks, we all went downstairs, and they could open the presents from us. Finally after lunch, they opened the gifts from under the tree, from family and friends. And of course, when the visiting occurred during the holiday, there were more presents ...

Derekthefox :D

My fave dinner is always at my dads, Boxing day.  Cold meat, roast spuds, mash, peas and pickles.  I heap the mash on the plate, mix the peas in and cover it with red cabbage and salad cream.  Pink spotty mash.  If my cubs done that they would soooooo be in trouble (I actually encourage them to be crazy).  Bubble and squeek sandwiches with chilli sauce the day after.  These are FAR better than the xmas roast.

Plocket can you PM me Gary Rhodes brussel soup recipe please.

                       Please Sir. Can I have...more?
                         (http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7735/toocutejpg26jw.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
                       

How could you refuse that face ?

Feeling quite guilty (A'hem) reading the amount of work you are all doing. Me? Middle daughter has invited all family Christmas Eve for food and drinks. Lorna Jnr is insisting I go round to her along with Joshuas' other Nan & Grandad for Christmas dinner.(I will pop round and help her prepare). Christmas night off to party with son and daughter-in-law at a friends (I do his accounts for him). I think I have to sort my own Boxing day dinner. Boxing evening back to Lornas again for evening food and drinks, will have to take my big dining room table round.I think there will be about 19 of us Just imagine I won't have far to walk/roll home ;D Since losing Charlie the kids (bless them) just don't want me to be on my own

Lorna - it's the same since my mum died.  Dad gets proper sick of us 3 girlies carting him here and there over Xmas (only kidding  ;D).  Come to me dad's for pink spotty mash on Boxing day.  It's a culinary treat.  ;D ;D

Baggy  I am sure like me he appreciates all that you do for him.. Lorna jnr only next door but if I go to sons or other daughters son John always offers to take me and pick me up so that I can enjoy a drink with the family. (quite nice having a son who is teetotal..... like father like Son).Lorna told me to leave plenty of room in my freezer and fridge so that she can load it up with her food.. One of the nicest things in my life is to have a loving, caring family. Don't tell them I told you so as they already think I am an old softy ;D ;D
Now Baggy a visit to Kent is quite a thought, but don't think I would get back in time for the evening do ::)

I'll post the spotty pink mash then shall I ?  You would't want to miss out  ;D

Hoi Derek ;)

Just a quite time .....and a GOURMET...with the Daughter and Boyfriend....and a Lovely Ole Bird [ Her indoors ]

E.J Absolutely  BLOODY LOVE CHRISTMAS

Whatever you all decide to do.....Have as Good One

Quiet is how I want it Tulippa, but somehow it never ends up like that ...

Derekthefox :D

Baggy. Yes please  ;D

Reading this thread, is there anyone here who doesn't prefer bubble and squeak to the actual Christmas Dinner ?!??!!!!!

;D ;D

moonbells

Christmas dinner it in my eyes the best if it is no hassel.

We have forgoten the true meaning of christmas. To show off your lottie stuff to your friends and familly :D

Well mines from supermarket as I had a bad year this year :(

O well roll on 2006 :D

The_Snail

Well Moonbells, I am a bit of a turkeyaholic ...

Derekthefox ;D

Quote from: Derekthefox on November 27, 2005, 09:25:49
Well Moonbells, I am a bit of a turkeyaholic ...

Derekthefox ;D

We B&S that too!

;)

moonbells

My preference is for turkey and pickle butties, with assorted relishes ... very little preparation (once the turkey is cooked), whereas of course the big dinner involves a whole morning of preparation in the kitchen, plus a lot of planning time beforehand. Also by the time I sit down, I will have consumed copious quantities of tequila sunrise, so will have little enthusiasm left to wade through 4 or 5 courses ...  ;D

Derekthefox :D

Derekthe fox ;)
Really love those Red Cabbage Sandwiches Hmmmmmmm
Cold shredded Turkey with BranstomHmmmmmmmm ;D

Ahhh yes, bubble and sqeak cooked in lard.  Mmmm. Who needs turkey?
Oh dear, must go now...

Ha ha ha Boris!

Tulip - sounds lovely - but why do I only ever think of pickled red cabbage at Christmas .. ?

Derekthefox :D

Derek the Fox - It's because it is the law to have red cabbage at Xmas.

Thank you Baggy, you have put my mind at rest now, I can stop feeling self-conscious about raiding the jar, along with the Branston and the pickled garlic ... (6 cloves).

Derekthefox :D

Forgot all about the red cabbage last year!!!!

;D ;D ;D

All this talk of Christmas dinner.  Has there ever been a virtual A4a Christmas Dinner?  If not, then I think we should have one.  Bags I make the brandy butter, hic.  I'll also be in charge of wine choices!  No Anjou Rose for starters  ;D Who's doing the bird?  What bird?  Sprouts - Kitty as she;s had hers on for the longest  ;D

I fancy doing a leg of mutton (more likely two so there's one for Boxing Day as well) rubbed with chili, black pepper, cumin, coriander and cloves, wrapped in foil and left overnight for the flavours to soak in, then roasted in a slow oven. They may insist on Chinese instead though.

I could supply the Brandy (had five bottles amongst my birthday presents) and after all it is only going to be a virtual party ;D

Does that mean we will only get virtually drunk ... ?  ;D

Derekthefox :D

Robert is the mutton for your Christmas "do" at home or the A4a one? Well me and Lorna have our priorities.  I'm doing drinks and she's already supplied all the brandy for the pudding and brandy and lemonades.  So, Lorna we're ok  :)

Wardy. I have mentioned before (please don't tell anyone) I am useless at cooking but I can pour a "mean" brandy and lemonade.. Oh yes my other party trick I could do some nice fruit boxes for presents. Did 100's of the bl**dy things when we had greengrocer shops. ::)

Right then Lorna, you and I are in charge of drinks.  Everyone has to bring a bottle though.  Only got Lorna's brandy at the mo.  Please, no home made banana skin wine vintage 1972, and deffo no Schloer.  Yuk  ;D 

this xmas is a bit special, my dad's last, so we'll be having scallops in vermouth to start,
then ham boiled in coke (nigella recipe, absolutely lovely!) and goose with all the trimmings
and a special family recipe, a pudding made of cream, tinned mandarin oranges and cadbury flakes, mmmmmmm can't wait.

the best thing though will be watching the kids! sophie is just turned three and sooooooooo excited!  ;D

Tara xxx

Sounds great - ham and goose!  :P   Sorry it's to be your father's last so make sure he has a darn good time  :)

Anyone rear their own turkey? I remember having two as a kid. Huge they were, like ostriches! Might get a couple next year.

We'll be going up to my folks in scotland. It's my mums 50th on christmas eve and we are planning a surprise party, should be good.

Tara, cameron is nearly two and is still not sure about christmas. He definitely does not like santa! Quite right when you think about it, some stranger breaking into the house in the middle of the night! He loves having the family together though and especially enjoys sprouts and roast tatties.

For the virtual dinner, we will bring choux pastry buns filled with home made drambuie ice cream and covered with toffee sauce. Cameron will make some mince pies (with help from mummy of course! )

Quote from: moonbells on November 25, 2005, 14:37:19
Christmas eve - Definitely German. Bratwurst*, mashed potato, mushroom* and onion gravy and sauerkraut*.

hmmm! just exactly what we are having. what is your german influence, moonbells? :)
made my own sauerkraut this year. delish, lots of dill on it - and best of all, non-wind inducing! :o i have no idea what they put into the preserved stuff then.....
you can buy sauerkraut at any good polish food shop :)
we get our sausages from a farmshop/local producer. i often chose something like a cumberland ring or similar, just to make it slightly different from our regular sausage eating :D

and of course, dont forget gluehwein and opening presents in front of crackling fire (we will enjoy that!)

christmas day - it's got to be a dead bird of some kind :)
red cabbage with apple a must, as are potato dumplings (rohe kloesze for those in the know) that's the german dinner.
OH does the english dinner the day after which is usually a roast joint, sprouts etc veg, roast potatoes etc. works very well for us :)

we make sure the dead birds/meat joints are a suitable size for the amount of people we cook for - i do NOT enjoy eating leftovers for weeks afterwards  ::)

this year it's just the two of us - so a duckling for CD, and a small ham or similar for BD

I'll do the pizza....... ;D ;D ;D

I think our virtual party will be great.  Crackers anyone?  Nuts?  ;D

Wardy. Yep me crackers and nuts. OOPS sorry I thought you meant my state of mind. ;D As I am a real rubbish cook I will see to them :) Has a date been sorted?

perhaps we should have a virtual xmas dinner chat room to swing in and out of throughout December. I have a dinner to go to on the 7th.

We are going to be overseas to OH's family this year, I am beside myself as I love Christmas! No tree to put up, cookies to bake, dinner to cook or fondue on Christmas eve  :'(   :'(  :'(  :'(  And we fly on Christmas Eve , so jetlagged Christmas Day:o  Might see Santa en route though ;)
Oh and I HATE flying too!

So very Envious:

Cant get: Sausages :'(
                Mince Pies :'(
                Pickle Onions :'(
                Red Cabbage :'(

Anyone out ther like to Swop for some Ole Flower Seeds
Or should I Go to SwopS haaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaa

Dave and Tara You MUST make it a very special one for all the family especially Grandad.
           
       
DP. Never mind think of all the Christmas's you have had in your lovely part of the world. Will be lovely for your OH to see his family. Hope you haven't got a too long flight. Have a WOW of a time.    Lorna.

Tulip-23  How sad :'( Shall I send you some??

I agree Lorna, that is sad for Tulip, to me those foodstuffs ARE Christmas ...

Derekthefox :D

Ooo, red cabbage with apple......good idea!  I am going to pickle a couple of my redcabbage at the weekend for Christmas, we like our pickles only a month old, and shallots the same.

C&B, yor choux buns sound devine!  Recipe please!!

Ooo, went shopping today and there are so many lovely things in the shops now.  Emmas getting excited!  ;D ;D ;D

Caz and Baz Years ago when we had land and buildings we reared 12 turkeys for family members. Our friend over the road always reared 50 capons (not allowed now to inject ) for regular customers . He had an arrangement with a local butcher to pluck them Anyhow the butcher was unable to do them so with a couple of friends we said bring them to our building and we will help pluck them. Charlie, always the thinking one bought a plucking machine. Have you ever seen one? It was so funny. I was in my kitchen with another friend doing all the "gutting". Where there is a  will there is a way ;D

Used to love watching mum do the gutting, happy days.....erm...anyway! Cheese board, need a cheese board with cheese on it!!!  ;D
Lottie

Thinking of mince pies, a school friend of OH tried for the guinness book of records - eating 3 mince pies, but he failed to do it in 1 minute 27 seconds - he was just 10 seconds too slow. He said that he will try again after Christmas.

Gosh I reckon I could eat 3 mince pies in as many seconds ... and as for cheese, well I do love my cheese, anything except blue cheeses, but it takes second place to the turkey and pickles ... at this time of year.

Derekthefox :D

Did i see a mention for brussel sprout soup? where what when how and why? Might have a look for recipes at R4All.

Sprout soup  :o Won't that be a bit on the windy side, not something wanted on Christmas day  ... Images of the beans scene from Blazing Saddles drift into my head ...  ;D

Derekthefox :D

Quote from: Svea on November 28, 2005, 11:27:11

Quote from: moonbells on November 25, 2005, 14:37:19
Christmas eve - Definitely German. Bratwurst*, mashed potato, mushroom* and onion gravy and sauerkraut*.

hmmm! just exactly what we are having. what is your german influence, moonbells? :)

My husband's mum is German so of course all his food preferences are what she cooked when he was little! Never more than at Christmas.

Quote from: Svea on November 28, 2005, 11:27:11
made my own sauerkraut this year. delish, lots of dill on it - and best of all, non-wind inducing! :o i have no idea what they put into the preserved stuff then.....
you can buy sauerkraut at any good polish food shop :)
we get our sausages from a farmshop/local producer. i often chose something like a cumberland ring or similar, just to make it slightly different from our regular sausage eating :D

We've discovered that the local larger Waitrose sell proper Bayerisches bratwurst...  I was never a fan of sausages much until he introduced me to ones which were 90-odd% meat as against the rusk and onion-filled ones you tend to get in supermarkets here.  Now I am afraid I've turned into a sausage snob!

Quote from: Svea on November 28, 2005, 11:27:11
and of course, dont forget gluehwein and opening presents in front of crackling fire (we will enjoy that!)

as if I could!!!

Quote from: Svea on November 28, 2005, 11:27:11
christmas day - it's got to be a dead bird of some kind :)
red cabbage with apple a must, as are potato dumplings (rohe kloesze for those in the know) that's the german dinner.

Heh. I have Mum-in-law's recipe for rotkohl and as I've been growing some, I volunteered to make it. I guess this is where I find out if I pass muster! Made it yesterday and so now have two large jars of the stuff.  Handy that it's vinegar, sugar and salt so that it'll pickle nicely and I don't have to freeze it!

Quote from: Svea on November 28, 2005, 11:27:11
OH does the english dinner the day after which is usually a roast joint, sprouts etc veg, roast potatoes etc. works very well for us :)

We have sort-of spliced the traditions.  If we ever have kids, they'll grow up seriously confused!

Quote from: Svea on November 28, 2005, 11:27:11
we make sure the dead birds/meat joints are a suitable size for the amount of people we cook for - i do NOT enjoy eating leftovers for weeks afterwards  ::)

what leftovers?  ;D ;D  Until I met my husband, I'd been in a family who ate turkey gradually over a week in sandwiches and the like (and with a Dad who like me, doesn't eat much meat).  And having no brothers, I didn't realise that one hungry carnivorous hulk can eat a phenomenal amount of turkey in a couple of days!!!

Quote from: Svea on November 28, 2005, 11:27:11
this year it's just the two of us - so a duckling for CD, and a small ham or similar for BD

hope you have a good one!

moonbells (now will this complex quote work...?)

sounds good - except for the pickled red cabbage. not my kind of thng. i like it cooked from fresh - bits of bacon/goose fat in the bottom, sweat the shredded leaves for a bit then add some hot water - enough so it really only steams rather than boils. add chopped onion, couple of juniper berries, apple towards the end, and a table spoon of vinegar to keep the colour, added somewhere in the middle. :)

mind you, whatever tastes good

hope you have a great christmas :D

Derekthefox ;)

me too...three mince pies....NO PROBLEM...Yummy Yummy. 8)

Chance would be a fine thing....THERE THEY WERE ...GONE ;D

Well as I mentioned earlier ? A pack of six is a pleasant snack ...

Derekthefox :D

Derek - you mince pie piglet  :o SIX !  That really is some going.
For the 'virtual' Xmas dinner I will supply the starters.  Pears with stilton & walnuts (sorry DTF you'll can pick the blue cheese off) or pate or melon and parma ham.  Hot starters can be virtual sprout soup perhaps ?
If we have virtual cold cuts I will supply the spotty mash and salald cream. (can't eat it without)

Yesterday, had a look at the Christmas Menu for next Wednesday in The Fat Cat - crikey, £15.95 for two courses  :o . last year, did under a tenner with Wetherspoons (never ever again!).

So you give Wetherspoons the thumbs down then?
We had our technicians Christmas lunch at our local Wetherspoons last year, two pints of Guinness and a mixed grill. Nothing outstanding but pleasant enough.

Derekthefox :D

If there were Wardy, you just click on your browser and open another window ...  ;D

Derekthefox :D

Wardy,
You seem very giggly for a lunchtime, you haven't been adding sherry to the cake have you - one for me, one for the cake, one for me, one (hic) fors thesh chake ...

Derekthefox ;D

Derek  ;)
Leave her alone.....she's making the Mince-pies or did'nt you Guess!! ;D

Hee hee Hee!! Let me have my bit of fun ...

Derekthefox ;D

I seem to have missed this thread, nevermind I'll put my two pennth in now shall I.

I always cook and invite the rellys from both sides, unfortunately that only leaves 9 of us now cos sister in law and her brood have moved to Isle of Man and all the Grandmas and Grandpas have left this mortal plain :(  We lost an Uncle to cancer this year, so thats one more less :(

On the bright side, I start the day with a coffee and a little tipple, when everyone arrives they have bacon butties, I don't obviously.  Then I get comfortable in the kitchen with my tia maria and spend the next few hours preparing a cold starter, either prawns or melon, we keep it simple so that the sprogs will enjoy.  Then the feast begins, turkey crown, bacon rolls, roast pots, mashed pots, sprouts, carrots and broccoli, oven baked leeks, roast carrots and parsnips, bread sauce, sage and onion stuffing cranberry sauce and onion gravy (no meat substitute for me the veggies with the cranberry sauce and onion gravy are just dandy).

Dessert is either chrissy pud with brandy butter or profiteroles for the sprogs then we sit round the table for numerous hours chittering away until OH declares "shall we have some cheese".  At this point cheese and biscuits and apple pie, varous pickles etc make there way on to the table.  My fave is apple pie with a big chunk of mature cheddar ;D

My family withdrew to the sitting room after lunch in the dining room (leaving behind all the detritus)

It was quite a while before OH noticed dog was missing from the proceedings - yep, he'd got fastened in the dining room.  He was on the table walking about amongst all the leftovers, hoovering up as he went  ;D

I have to respond with a "bless him" to that, who can blame him Eh taking advantage while he could!!!!! ;D

We usually let Meg into dining room to hoover, but restrict her to the floor ;D..................I'm sure she'd love to get on the table if she could ;D

He'd had his dinner too.  I always do his dinner just like ours only less as he's only little  :)