We all know the menu for the traditional fayre of turkey and all the trimmings.
How many of us will be doing something different? What are you serving up instead?
Definitely no turkey or any other kind of meat or fish here!
I haven't finally decided what we will have, but it might include -
lasagna, with layers of broccoli and ricotta
pupetta (little balls made of breadcrumbs, nuts, herbs, cheese, egg, coated in breadcrumbs and fried)
quorn and mushroom pie with suet pastry
spicy squash wedges
roasties
sprouts
carrot/swede mash
Could you post more details of your pupetta please?
ooh yes those pupetta sound lush
We eat so well during the year that we don't bother with a speciality for Christmas. I remember the days when the only time you ate poultry was at Christmas but you can have things all the year round these days.
I can tell you what's in the pupetta and how I make them, but not quantities because I don't weigh anything. I make quite a lot all in one go and freeze some.
I use one or two packets of this as a base, varieties can be mixed if you like. Add the water and leave it to stand for a few minutes.
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Then add fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs (roughly half a loaf for two packets of mix), grated strong cheddar, a tin of chick peas wizzed in a blender till they are broken up, parsley also wizzed, add salt and pepper and chilli if you like it. Add eggs one at a time until the mixture is soft enough to form into small balls. Don't make it too soft though. Roll them in breadcrumbs and fry in olive oil.
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They are never the same twice, because I vary the ingredients. Sometimes I use lentils instead of/as well as chick peas. You can add chopped nuts although there are some in the packet mix. Sometimes I don't use the packet mix, but I think they are much nicer with it.
'Pupetta' originated in Sicily but they were not like the ones I make today. My husband tells me that it was a way of using up stale white bread and that his mother used to add a very small amount of minced beef. They were often added to the tomato sauce for pasta. I sometimes do this with mine. (add them to tomato sauce, not use beef, :o)
Hope all this makes sense, they are much easier to make than to give instructions for!
Keep promising myself I'll try goose but every year I wimp out and go get the usual turkey.
Maybe this will be the year . . . ::)
Squash64
Thank you for the pupetta suggestion. Sounds wonderful. Haven't seen Granose packets for a while locally, but used to make their nutroast a lot. Must look harder.
Up till 2 years ago used to have goose, but it's a bit to much for me and Caesar (cat) to finish now we're getting older, so it's going to be a duck this year ;D.
Quote from: galina on November 23, 2010, 13:24:11
Squash64
Thank you for the pupetta suggestion. Sounds wonderful. Haven't seen Granose packets for a while locally, but used to make their nutroast a lot. Must look harder.
I get them from Holland & Barratt.
We have combination of Finnish&English manu...and main meal is always enjoyed at Christmas Eve..as well pressies.
We have some gammon with home made honey mustard.
Beetroot and horseradish "coleslaw"
Creamy Mash
Brussels
Carrot Bake
Hot smoked salmon
Pheasant & bacon "bundles"
I keep saying every year that we do less..but we always get people turning up as suprise..and next day is no-cooking day..so by boxing day most of the food is gone anyway..left over veg is for chickens..dog gets some meat too..odd treat for fox...and now the neighbours cat that try to be ours may get taste little of the salmon... ;D
Christmas day morning we eat traditional oven baked rice pudding..savoury..with mixed fruit compote. And we bury a hole almond in rice pudding for one of us to find and make a wish...same idea as a charm in christmas pudding
What was your address again ;D ;D ;D. Sounds wonderful.
I've been stocking up with Lidl frozen goodies so will decide nearer the time what I fancy - Barbary duck breast, Reindeer steak, venison steak (had one a few days ago - so tender - fantastic!), springbok steak or partridge. They are all easy and quick so I shan't be spending all day in the kitchen. I'm not a one for big roast dinners anyway.
Tricia
Quote from: tricia on November 23, 2010, 14:45:23
I've been stocking up with Lidl frozen goodies so will decide nearer the time what I fancy - Barbary duck breast, Reindeer steak, venison steak (had one a few days ago - so tender - fantastic!), springbok steak or partridge. They are all easy and quick so I shan't be spending all day in the kitchen. I'm not a one for big roast dinners anyway.
Tricia
DId you say lidl did springbok steak?
I like to keeping slaving over a hot stove to a minimum on Christmas day. Tesco's finest frozen roast potatoes(30 mins), rack of lamb (15-20 mins) and veg prepared the day before. Icecream and shop bought Xmas pud.
What was your address again . Sounds wonderful.
...are you going to be one of those suprise visitors.. ::) ;D...shall I put extra spuds on boil that we have plenty of mash then ;)
i would like to try goose but this year we are going for a three bird roast of duck, turkey and guinea fowl with the traditional roast
Quote from: debster on November 23, 2010, 18:19:40
i would like to try goose but this year we are going for a three bird roast of duck, turkey and guinea fowl with the traditional roast
We had this last year from Lidl it was delicious
x Chas!
This afternoon bought a big bag of chestnuts from the supermarket at a really reduced price, does anyone of you lotties know of a recipe that I could try that I saw on a cookery programme recently for frying them in a type of sweet barbecue sauce. Just can not remember which cook but it looked and sounded delicious
Interesting the veggie angle to the festivities. I like vegetarian food a lot and I am not a huge meat eater, love my veg but hate vegetarian gravies. My main reason for eating meat is to get a decent gravy for my veg.
Personally I do not care for turkey and have found for a small party duck is fantastic.
I did get a goose once, it was reduced so much on Christmas eve, it was a bargain not to be missed.
In taste it was very similar to duck but not better. The goose looked huge but the bone structure was such that the meat quantity was small. Loads of fat which made the purchase worthwhile for months of roast spuds.
I certainly would not rush out to buy another.
DId you say lidl did springbok steak?
Yes, this year as a first they are selling frozen reindeer steaks, ostrich steaks (I forgot to mention them!) and springbok steaks. I shall be interested to find out if they are as good as the venison steaks.
Tricia
I have to go to my mother in law's for Xmas, where I am sad to say I find it distinctly unfestive. The French do not nibble at Xmas, which is let's face it the whole point! No mince pies, no nuts, no rum balls like we have in Oz! When they have come here for Xmas they just don't eat all teh things i put out!! So odd.... and of course they don't eat Xmas pud, I still have last year's in the cupboard! ALthough perhaps I better get to eating it, regardless.
Last year we had roast beef and green beans, which personally I balk at as I try to only eat in-season veg... and yes there is one veg, that's all.
So this year as my sister-in-law is going to do Christmas Eve, I will volunteer to make terrines and bring some nibblies ;D ;D ;D she is a bit more open to new ideas!!
Quote from: tricia on November 23, 2010, 23:12:21
DId you say lidl did springbok steak?
Yes, this year as a first they are selling frozen reindeer steaks, ostrich steaks (I forgot to mention them!) and springbok steaks. I shall be interested to find out if they are as good as the venison steaks.
Tricia
I got my springbok steaks and some ostrich too and vensison. stocked up on springbok so I hope they are good going to try one tonight
Last year we had roast beef and green beans, which personally I balk at as I try to only eat in-season veg... and yes there is one veg, that's all.
Is that typical Christmas meal for French? ???..or what is typical/traditional stuff?
Thats why I prefer to stay at home at Christmas.
I just get what I want when I want it instead of waiting to be given or offered something.
We do our bit of visiting in the morning then go home and suit ourselves.
coq au vin is a favourite with our visitors but this year it will be an authentic cassoulet
personally I would make do with beans on toast ;D
What about a smoked haddock and shell young broad bean kedgerie.
Went down well the the family the other day.
Had to use frozen broadies though. :P
Well I tried the springbok last night and I have to say for frozen meat it was fantastic. It was packed with flavour and very tender. Totally reminded me of being in South Africa.
Good job I got more than one lot ;)
We are thinking about having a rib eye steak roast on xmas day. ;D
Quote from: tricia on November 23, 2010, 23:12:21
DId you say lidl did springbok steak?
Yes, this year as a first they are selling frozen reindeer steaks, ostrich steaks (I forgot to mention them!) and springbok steaks. I shall be interested to find out if they are as good as the venison steaks.
Tricia
Our local one does cooked lobster and a few crabs, but none of these exciting sounding steaks.
I told my daughter & SIL about them. Thay went to their local Lidls & they didn't have any but they did have lobster. I wonder if it's sold in some areas & not others.
Christmas eve is a fish tapas meal have order a crab, scollops and mussels
Christmas Day .. Oysters and Chablis for late breakfast
Dinner about 5pm Roast Goose, sausagemeat and chestnut stuffing , roasties and veg
Nice Cheese course then never room for pud but if there is room yule log
Going to Lidl tomorrow to stock up on Ostrich and will get Spring bok to try