Christmas Dinner.

ChroniC

ChroniC

ChroniC

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18 Oct 2002
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It's my years to host the family and frankly I am a little bored of the average Sunday roast. I can quite happily boil some veg and cook a chicken/turkey whatever, but this year I would like to turn it up a notch.

Happy to buy stuff like a turkey crown or pre made Turduken or something posh from M&S, but I'm curious whatever everyone does to add a bit of flair to an ordinary meal.

What do you guys recommend to make the Christmas dinner better, what's your favourite easy to make or go to buy from the store..
 
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Fry your sprouts instead of over-boiling them, add a bit of butter and pepper towards end.

One day I'll get my wish to have festive fajitas! :cry:

The other day I experienced chicken goujon and bacon waffles for the first time, drizzled with honey and possible maple syrup, amazing combo that apparently goes back centuries in USA... Maybe switch out the chicken for some turkey, or tofu for the veggies/vegans.
 
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just up your game with the ingredients quality and cooking methods / effort

home made gravy, home made yorkshire puddings, home made stuffing, the best potatoes you can get, goose fat for the roasties, premium turkey crown
 
Provide multiple 'centrepiece' elements rather than just one massive bland turkey.

So do a turkey crown or something for the people who absolutely insist on it but provide alternatives that are more interesting like a beef wellington or a sausage roll wreath, the sort of thing you might not normally try to do just for any other sunday.
 
Small Turkey Crown, Beef joint and Gammon joint is what my dear old mum used to do, and I follow suit. Turkey is just bland, even when its been nicely cooked.
Using multiple small joints means cooking is quicker and less space intrusive.
Spice up the stuffing a bit with ingredients of your choice.
As a northerner, we always had yorkshire puds. Appreciate this is not the norm for some.
Add choice of veg to suit. Broccoli and Cauliflower cheese bake is a personal favorite. As are Honey roasted parsnips.
Roasties done in Duck Fat, and some Mustard Mash.
Lots of sauces, Cranberry, horseradish etc..
Nice Gravy.

Job done.
 
I like to have a nice (big) bit of sirloin or ribeye steak but always get a bit of gammon on the go too for the sambos :D

Turkey is so overrated and bland imo but it’s ok for a boxing day curry I guess.
 
ChroniC said:
It's my years to host the family and frankly I am a little bored of the average Sunday roast. I can quite happily boil some veg and cook a chicken/turkey whatever, but this year I would like to turn it up a notch.

Happy to buy stuff like a turkey crown or pre made Turduken or something posh from M&S, but I'm curious whatever everyone does to add a bit of flair to an ordinary meal.

What do you guys recommend to make the Christmas dinner better, what's your favourite easy to make or go to buy from the store..
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M&S has pheasant and partridge going pretty cheap. bit different. pheasant does have shotgun pellets in...creamed leaks roasted pheasant mmmm
 
Yep, turkey crown, and a gammon joint for me.

The usual roast spuds, sprouts, carrots and peas, with stuffing.

Don't agree with turkey being bland, I absolutely love it.

Will have a beef joint for New Year's.
 
I do a rolled turkey breast joint which I stuff and wrap in bacon then gentle smoke on the bbq, usually with a tray of veg and stock under to catch juices for the gravy.

Keep an eye on the temp and your turkey should never be dry, and it’ll only be bland if you don’t season or add fat.

Agreed with others, up your game in the sides to bring the level of the whole meal up.
 
Throrik said:
I generally agree, but butter-poached turkey in a sous-vide and then crisp up the skin is legit a game changer, but for the cost of a well reared turkey you can get high quality pheasant, or goose.
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Butter poaching sounds like a good idea, will need to try that out. I have done carrots in carrot juice and butter in the sous-vide before to great effect.
 
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