xmas dinner, what did you learn?

competitionscafe

gairlochgal wrote: »

I learned I have no idea how to get the seeds out of pomegranates!

If I remember correctly from last year you bang them on a hard surface quite a lot (to loosen all the seeds) and then they can be more easily extracted with a teaspoon. (I didn't do it, I gave the job to someone who asked if their was anything they could do to help [as I wasn't sure how to either] and I think that's what they did!

Buttonmoons

Don't bung the yorkshire pudding mix in before checking the oil is hot enough, weren't very pleasing to look at but nomnomnom. I didn't find it that stressful at all actually, my first Xmas dinner too.

Had the most fun stripping the turkey afterwards to see how much food I could make with the leftovers!

HelenKA_2

I learnt definitely do the Nigella brine thing - it was so yummy.

Whenispayday

That making your own Christmas pudding, even though its a huge faff, tastes infinitely better than a shop brought one. And slowcooking it for 5 hours on low leaves it really moist and completely moreish

gairlochgal

thank you for the pomegranate tips.

I was doing Nigella's "massacre in a snowstorm" which went down really well but with less massacre than she suggested as I got fed up of trying to get the seeds. DD2 (8) took the 2 remaining ponegranate halves, and picked at them patiently all evening, so it was win win

TillyTrippit

Another vote for Nigella's brine thingy - never seen so much turkey scoffed! The allspice gravy disappeared before I'd even sat down - all 2 litres of it!! I had to make do with Oxo instant stuff - I sulked royally for all of 5 minutes!

bargainqueen_2

Marinating the prawns in garlic and chili oil for 24 hours was a great idea. Pouring said oil on top of the prawns whilst they are cooking on the BBQ was a !!!!! idea - Flame-burnt King Prawns anyone??? *g*

Fozz

Doing as much as possible before the big day is a brilliant idea! This year was lovely, just took it all out of the freezer and fridge(turkey all cooked and portioned out) and bunged in the oven/on the hob.
Also, won't buy frozen pigs in blankets again, they were horrid, but the dog loved them:rolleyes: .

luxor4t

I learned that my sons are surprisingly good cooks as they did most of the prep & oven-watching as DH (best Xmas chef in the world) is recuperating from major surgery & I can't hold knives etc for long due to RA. Next year DH says he will stand aside .

I also really appreciated my dish-washer!

jordylass

Not sure if it was Nigella's brine or the Bronze turkey, but it was the best and most moist turkey I've ever had, and the 12lb turkey WAS cooked in only 2.5 hours.
It was my most stree free Xmas cooking yet, I did most of the veg prep on Christmas eve, and me and OH did the dinner together, it still took 4 hours, and we ket breaking for present opening. I had a lovely day.
I like Christmas pud, but the other's find it a bit heavy I made Nigellas chocolate pud, and it was seriously delish.