xmas dinner, what did you learn?

northern_star

I learned that my lot really DON'T mind not having a 'starter' or 'desert' and that they really DO prefer to simply have a good traditional main course. Loads less hassle and waste.

afterglow_2

i ran out of chipolatas for the pigs in blankets, so made sausagemeat 'meatballs' and wrapped in bacon and roasted, they were fasr better and posher looking!!

and the slab of pork belly fat i asked for with my rolled pork joint made great crackling, and was free!!!

FZwanab

I learned that I should have brought my slow cooker pot with me when buying the ham as it was too big to fit into it. Will be looking up recipes for ham now as have mountains over.

I learned that Nigella's mother's bread sauce is not as nice as my own mum's bread sauce.

I learned that Jamie's gravy is perfect with a tiny splash of sherry thrown in for good measure.

I learned that I should have put tin foil over the turkey not just slices of bacon.

I learned that it was best to do everything except the turkey sprouts and gravy on Christmas eve.

liz545

I learned that if you're only cooking for 4, it's easier to take the legs/wings off the turkey and just cook the crown - the legs will make good roasts for 2 in the New Year and it's more versatile to have raw than pre-cooked frozen meat.

That prepping the veg, stuffing & giblet stock on xmas eve is a great timesaver, and you can peel the veg directly into the stockpot for the giblet stock to make the gravy.

That starting the turkey breast side down works well for keeping the meat moist.

To always check that you've got the smoked salmon/ham/trimming pack out of the freezer in time to defrost!

That last year's ham in coca cola was better than this year's ham with marmelade.

tiredwithtwins

anniehanlon wrote: »

put a sticky note on the microwave saying 'dont forget the peas'

ditto the stuffing balls and pigs in blankets :rotfl:

we sat and ate, but i kept thinking there was something missing ... found them when i put the pud in the oven to keep warm after id microwaved it

Grebe

Learned that Lidl bought turkey prepared as others have done with Nigellas brine workes wonders, tasted so good that none was wasted.
Never leave the food prep until Christmas day, spent 6 hrs in the kitchen on Christmas day.:eek: On the other hand everyone loved the food:D I love Christmas:D

juliapenguin

I was still poorly with flu so we had an M&S turkey breast roast with cranberry and orange and it was tough as old boots even cooked exactly as stated... also had their stuffing balls, sausages and bacon and they were disappointing too... :mad: and horribly expensive.

I learnt that if you keep eating a whole roast potato just to check how they're getting on in the oven, you only end up with seven instead of sixteen.... Only two of us this time, luckily and OH hadn't spotted what I was up to and thought I'd only done seven (as if.... I could quite happily just have roasties, sprouts and gravy).

M&S Christmas pud was lovely with extra thick double cream...

mandragora_2

I learned that when the youngest one works at the dogs home on Christmas day, and comes home at 4.30pm, having dinner ready for 5.30 as you have done for every other year he's done this doesn't always work, if he decides that this year he fancies opening his presents first.

I've also learned that Boxing day dinner can be far tastier, as it hasn't languished for an hour on the stove top.

Olliebeak

This year I attempted 'pigs in blankets' for the first time. Found that the ready-to-cook ones used smokey ingredients so decided to do my own. Remembered to 'stretch' the streaky bacon with the back of a knife - but had to make do with thick sausages instead as no chipolatas left. BIG mistake - the roasting pan was full of grease from them and they took ages to cook. In future, I will remember to get chipolatas well in advance.

Also need to remember, for future reference, to keep checking turkey while playing with dgk - was ever-so-slightly overcooked this year (should have wrapped it completely in foil instead of just covering the breast and drumsticks).

Hadn't done HM roasties for such a long time - they went down a real treat so no more 'ready frozen ones' in this house!

kazmc

I learnt not to go to my sisters for Christmas Day!!
Kids had opened pressies and the living room was cleaned and toys put away in piles by 9am and then they couldnt open any messy toys incase they made a mess :eek:
I love the mess and chaos of Christmas Day at my house. Something always goes wrong like the turkey catching fire in the oven last year but I love slowly getting sozzled whilst trying to cook and the kids running riot and lots of noise!! We were all just standing looking at each other bored this year cause it was too damned organised.
Next year chaos at mine - yippee!!