Advent - new beginnings and Christmas Dinner suggestions.

Organgrinder

uralmaid said:

Oh dear. I wish the Royal Family good health and happiness but haven't got the time to be sitting down at 3pm to watch his speech. Much more important stuff to do. Each to their own but it is a bit of an antiquated idea. The idea of standing up when the anthem plays is also.  All that time wasting won't get the finishing touches to the Christmas meal done or the canapes served - can't do either of these whilst standing to attention and tugging your forelock

I intend watching Dafydd Iwan in concert. (Campaigner for Welsh Independence).

Dw i'n bwriadu gwylio Dafydd Iwan mewn cyngerdd. (Ymgyrchydd dros Annibynniaeth i Gymru).

Savvy_Sue

I don't think we'll be able to watch The King's or any other Speech at the right time: I'm fairly sure DS1 does not have a TV licence, because he doesn't watch anything live! 

Savvy_Sue

Katiehound said:

Red cabbage a la Delia can be made several days before as it keeps well  and can be frozen too) you can even make it in the slow cooker

@Katiehound, no idea if you'll see this in time, but how long do you give it in the slow cooker? A quick-ish google wasn't terribly helpful. Mine is ready to be cooked but not sure whether to use the slow cooker on Auto while we're out for lunch, and then there's still lots of time for it to continue cooking if need be, or just put the oven on. 

Obviously answers from others are equally welcome ... 

Delia's assistant said a) we haven't tried it in the slow cooker, so b) up to 6 hours (in one place) or c) 4 hours (in another). 

Organgrinder

I would start at 2.5 hours, then check every half an hour until you're happy. Then turn it off and reheat or down to warm. 

Katiehound

^^^^Good Food recipe says 4 to 5 hours on low
Mine is going to be cooking today, all day! I like it well cooked not crunchy.

original recipe is gas 2 / 150 C for 2.5 hours and a slow cooker on low is very much lower temp than that.
Sorry I can't be more helpful

I am going to cook & reheat (but it also delicious cold)

Katiehound

If it's any help my red cabbage has been on- high for 1 hour, followed by low for 3.5.
 I have just looked at it, given it a very good stir, and reckon it needs at least another hour, if not 2. 
It still looks quite crunchy, component parts not yet cooked completely.

Katiehound

Update: it is cooked!
5 hours total but I have just left it in the crock pot switched off.
Incidentally my kitchen is very cold- probably warmer out that in today so I wrap my cooker in a hand towel otherwise it isn't hot enough.

Savvy_Sue

Thanks for all the updates ... Our own thread next year???

It's had 3 hours on Auto but I've now turned it up to High. It's a small pot and very full. I won't check it until after the 9 lessons and carols is over. Nearly finished my grand timetable for tomorrow. I think some of the veg (carrots, parsnips, sprouts and cauliflower cheese) will have to be roasted early and put in the cool bag with a hot water bottle, because I think I can only fit 2 shelves in the oven. I have 5 rings at my disposal so that helps. 

Off to prep veg while singing along to R4! Fortified by tea and my own bread pudding!

Savvy_Sue

I'm not sure ... I'll give it another hour. 

Sprouts prepped. On to green beans

Savvy_Sue

All veg prepped, timetable for tomorrow laid out ...