Christmas Dinner.

Nomisf · 18 Dec 2025 at 12:07

Another vote for the sous vide here, get as much of Christmas lunch in it as possible - even some on Christmas eve - then minimal effort on the day. Also makes not-dry turkey almost fool proof!

sidimmu · 18 Dec 2025 at 16:24

sigma said:
Not tempted to do the veg then day before? Less than ideal but cooking for 10 with a small oven is tough.

My food snobbery will not allow for the veg to be done the day before

Yeah it's tough, can only get 2 things in the oven at a time. This is like my 6th time doing it though, glad I decided no turkey this year, that adds another 2 hours odd on.

sigma · 18 Dec 2025 at 16:43

sidimmu said:
My food snobbery will not allow for the veg to be done the day before

Yeah it's tough, can only get 2 things in the oven at a time. This is like my 6th time doing it though, glad I decided no turkey this year, that adds another 2 hours odd on.

I approve of the snobbery :cool:

~>Dg<~ · 21 Dec 2025 at 21:55

BUDFORCE said:
Yea it is rubbish.

Like dry ****** flavourless chicken. I mean, literally roast chicken is in every way better.

you must be doing it wrong it tastes ten times better than chicken and it should be juicy not dry. problem is most people over cook it.

godinman · 21 Dec 2025 at 22:02

Managed to get some wagyu topside from a farm I work at, so will be having that with the usual roasties, veg, pigs in blankets etc. Just going to super slow roast to mid rare and rest for a good chunk of time.

Philtor · 21 Dec 2025 at 22:04

~>Dg<~ said:
you must be doing it wrong it tastes ten times better than chicken and it should be juicy not dry. problem is most people over cook it.

It depends if you like that game flavour that it has. Cooked properly or not, roast Chicken is better imo.

That said, I am having a massive sirloin steak on Christmas day with pepper sauce and all the trimmings. Proper order

Turkey 0 / Cow 2

~>Dg<~ · 21 Dec 2025 at 22:06

Philtor said:
It depends if you like that game flavour that it has. Cooked properly or not, roast Chicken is better imo.

That said, I am having a massive sirloin steak on Christmas day with pepper sauce and all the trimmings. Proper order Turkey 0 / Cow 2

i cant stand chicken its boring unless its got somekind of flavouring on or sauce. chicken breast especially. good shout on the steak ! sounds perfect

BUDFORCE · 21 Dec 2025 at 22:06

~>Dg<~ said:
you must be doing it wrong it tastes ten times better than chicken and it should be juicy not dry. problem is most people over cook it.

Maybe.

But let's face it, you get a beef rib roasting joint, cover it in salt pepper and American mustard, sear that over a charcoal BBQ before slow cooking that in the oven, so the fat renders through, but still slightly pink in the middle.

Or get lamb shoulder, get a ton of rosemary (I have a big bush) and like 2 whole garlics. Put those in a food processor until it's almost a paste, rub that all over and then put it in a tray with a whole bottle of red wine, leave it for 5 days, turning it over half way.

Slow roast that, and you can even use the left over wine to make gravy with.

Mmmmmmmm.

You can be the best turkey chef on the planet and it's still not coming close.

~>Dg<~ · 21 Dec 2025 at 22:16

BUDFORCE said:
Maybe.

But let's face it, you get a beef rib roasting joint, cover it in salt pepper and American mustard, sear that over a charcoal BBQ before slow cooking that in the oven, so the fat renders through, but still slightly pink in the middle.

Or get lamb shoulder, get a ton of rosemary (I have a big bush) and like 2 whole garlics. Put those in a food processor until it's almost a paste, rub that all over and then put it in a tray with a whole bottle of red wine, leave it for 5 days, turning it over half way.

Slow roast that, and you can even use the left over wine to make gravy with.

Mmmmmmmm.

You can be the best turkey chef on the planet and it's still not coming close.

the post was that chicken is better than turkey not beef or lamb

Quartz · 22 Dec 2025 at 00:51

UTmaniac said:
Fry your sprouts instead of over-boiling them,

Roast them!

ChroniC said:
but this year I would like to turn it up a notch.

How about Beef Wellington?

~>Dg<~ · 22 Dec 2025 at 01:23

gort · 22 Dec 2025 at 10:03

I still go for turkey. It's only once a year we have it, it's cheap and to me christmas dinner is all about the sides anyway.

Home made turkey soup from the simmering of the bones, skin etc. is lush and I look forward to that more than the actual meat on Christmas day.

Ace Modder · 22 Dec 2025 at 10:46

My xmas dinner is usually rather over the top! Like 8 big roasters, 6 pigs in blankets, beef, ham and turkey, 10 sprouts with bacon lardens, 3 big roast carrots, 2 big roast parsnips, about 200g of stuffing, 2 big yorkies etc. I usually plate mine on a servng plate, it's that big!!!!

However this year it is going to be different, I've been on the MJ jabs now since the start of September and I've gone from 18 stone 3lb down to 14 stone 6lb in this time, the jab does exactly what it is, and suppresses my apetite. I can only eat small portions now, so this year I will either not eat most of it, or best just to serve a small plate for myself.

Here are some pics of my previous Xmas dinners.

ChroniC · 22 Dec 2025 at 11:03

I have been practicing since I made this thread.. I done a Brined Turkey with butter and thyme stuffed under the skin and basted with the goose fat from the potatoes to crisp the skin. It was amazing.

Learnt how to debone the turkey and wrap the legs with bacon.

Done pigs in blankets with a honey mustard glaze. Again amazing.

Fried and baked sprouts with bacon and garlic.

Honey glazed carrots and Parnsips.

Home made Yorkshire Puds.

Goose fat cooked Maris Pipers.

All so go, can't wait.

Livewire88 · 22 Dec 2025 at 12:27

Sad times for me, will be round the sister in laws again this year!
They have plenty of money, but buy the cheapest of everything. I just heard we are having chicken and gammon (again) Ill take some of my own turkey round and plonk it on my plate :cry:

When ever we do Christmas lunch, we make the effort and try and get the best ingredients for everything.

Ace Modder · 22 Dec 2025 at 12:40

Why not offer to buy some ingredients?

Livewire88 · 22 Dec 2025 at 12:52

Ace Modder said:
Why not offer to buy some ingredients?

I do buy the veg, and the deserts. If I offer to buy anymore they may as well just come round my house

Ace Modder · 22 Dec 2025 at 13:30

Could be worse....

Malevolence · 24 Dec 2025 at 16:59

UTmaniac said:
Fry your sprouts instead of over-boiling them

Boil them for a minute in a rolling boil and then drain. Knob of butter into a frying pan, chuck in some lardons and when they've started to crisp up a bit throw in your sprouts and toss.

Craig1981 · 24 Dec 2025 at 17:46

I am so cheesed off right now. My turkey joint came on the 21st with my Tesco order. But the turkey gravy I ordered was out of stock. No problem I thought, I had a backup order saved in case for Asda for the 23rd so I added it to that one. It was marked as available for the delivery, but when it came it was the only item missing from the order! Phoned and got refund. I was lucky enough to get a delivery slot from Iceland today and again ordered some. Order was an hour late coming, and to top it off..... THE GRAVY WAS THE ONLY ITEM MISSING!!! I even tried to order a Whoosh order from Tesco to get their own Tesco Finest gravy for this evening and Tesco immediately cancelled the order, despite it being marked in stock.

I will have to hunt my cupboards to see if I have any left from last year that might still be useable. Otherwise my turkey will be dry this year