what do you like christmas food?

chef_deniz


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 19

Message Posted:
16/10/2010 14:08

what do you like christmas food? startes, main course and dessert?

LaptaMike


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 1679

Message Posted:
16/10/2010 14:18

I don't bother with a starter but for the main course I like the following:



turkey

sage and onion stuffing, chestnut and pork sausagemeat stuffing,

little bacon and sausage roll things,

roast potatoes and parsnips,

carrot and swede mash,

peas,

brussel sprouts

cauliflower and broccoli in cheese sauce.

plenty of gravy,

a choice of cranberry sauce, apple sauce and bread sauce



Probably forgot something.



By time I've eat all that I don't want a dessert.

davedee



Joined: 01/12/2008
Posts: 479

Message Posted:
16/10/2010 14:26

Half a dozen giant prawns with garlic butter, followed by roast goose with a marsala gravy, roast vegetables(sweet potato,potato,parsnip,peppers,)with a swede and celeriac mash. no pud just stilton with a large glass of port.

chef_deniz


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 19

Message Posted:
16/10/2010 14:41

yes, white stilton rice puding is delicious.

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
16/10/2010 17:42

Why are you asking?

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
16/10/2010 17:59

hi chef deniz



I am intrigued. I like white stilton and I also like rice pudding, but stilton rice pudding?



Any info on this dish, please?



With thanks.

scruffdog


Joined: 09/12/2008
Posts: 742

Message Posted:
16/10/2010 19:17

I agree with you Laptamike.

Pugwash


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 1797

Message Posted:
16/10/2010 19:58

Have a look here jeannie, does look quite nice



http://www.stiltoncheese.com/recipes/sweets/6/

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
16/10/2010 20:02

Thank you Pugwash. There are some very nice looking/sounding recipes on there.



I've obviously lived a very sheltered life

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 00:49

I just love the British tradition with Turkey, plus some good friends and relations for the day, oh and some good wine

LaptaMike


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 1679

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 00:56

by the way, Bells Food Services have turkey crowns in now. Might get one soon and chuck it in the freezer. (We never eat the legs or wings)

Glasbury


Joined: 13/08/2010
Posts: 268

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 00:58

I love Christmas in the TRNC and will eat anything (almost). Beats all that shopping in the UK.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 01:09

I used to love xmas day , smoked salmon champers and scrambled egg for brekkie. leisuerly lunch trad style all the bits with Guido's own recipe stuffing. Hate xmas pud but had it anyway with lashings of Chantilly cream. God we cooked so many veggies. I also loved goose or duck and we would alternate. As long as it was wahed down with copious amounts of Chablis for me or Gevry Chambertain for him.Now I work on that day I usually end up with beans on toast

neilhodgin


Joined: 28/10/2008
Posts: 256

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 01:15

How much is it for xmas day and what is on offer, pls no harbour prices?

Glasbury


Joined: 13/08/2010
Posts: 268

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 01:17

Lilli - sorry to hear that you end up with beans on toast because you are working. This is why we go away at Christmas so we don't end up cooking and preparing all day and not really appreciating the end product because we are worn out. Also the weather in TRNC at Christmas beats Wales any day.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 01:30

does it ever love, but the joy we see and Im so very lucky. I have lovely customers week in week out but then i get to meet their familes , their kids grandkids etc, its special. You know when we first came here in our other restaurant, one family came all the time. Mum Dad two beautiful daughters. Another family two handsome sons. Introductions were made, married, baby. Now I see them all .The baby is now 3, in two weeks ago and can order for himself. Thats what I love. How do you replace that. I get to meet most of my customers families, we are a part of them as they are to us xxxxxxx

Glasbury


Joined: 13/08/2010
Posts: 268

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 01:36

I understand what you say completely and it sounds lovely. We keep meeting up with the same people that we have made friends with in the TRNC year after year and we look forward to that so much. The family are all coming this year so we have the best of both worlds.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 01:44

Not a thing in the world, hey also we get the parents parents, that is so special. You know they even remember what we cooked for them on their last visit. I lost my parents when they were young and i love it when my lovely friends come in with them. I sit and talk to them for hours, and they love to talk. I learn so much from them, most of all i learn from this generation humility, and understanding. they are the most amazing people when you consider what they have gone through x

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 11:19

thankyou for the stilton link Kate, very usefull.

Mike, I agree with your choice, but the gravy has to be like my nan used to make, not instant.

LaptaMike


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 1679

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 11:21

Glasbury, msg 15. "This is why we go away at Christmas so we don't end up cooking and preparing all day and not really appreciating the end product because we are worn out."



What I do is prepare all the veg on Christmas eve and just have them in bowls of cold water so they're are ready to go in the steamer/pans on Christmas day. The turkey has always been cooked on Christmas eve in our family and allowed to cool, then carved just before serving (cold). So minimal work on Christmas day, just a little bit of cooking and thats it.

LaptaMike


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 1679

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 11:26

flowerfairy, making gravy the proper way is dead easy anyway. Would be a travesty to use instant for arguably the most important meal of the year. (Is in our household)

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 11:40

We go to NC for Christmas/New Year to get away from the hassle in UK but the Sunday before we leave I cook a Christmas Dinner for 14 family, this year it will be on the 5th December! Like you Mike I prepare the veg evening before, on the day I roast Turkey, Pork & Lamb the grandchildren love to help themselves so I serve it all up in dishes on the table. Never ever use granules just the juices from the meat with cornflour and bisto.

Glasbury


Joined: 13/08/2010
Posts: 268

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 16:33

LaptaMike - You are quite correct but as this our annual holiday and it is a good time for us to have leave it is nice to let somebody else prepare the Christmas lunch. We wouldn't have it any other way as we enjoy visiting the TRNC so much.

vonny


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 476

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 17:08

im not a great lover of turkey,i usually have goose or duck. every year we keep planning to take our xmas dinner down to the beach,put up a few xmas decorations and eat it there as the weather would permit that but i keep ending back in london with my family so we havent done it yet. but i dont plan to go there now till after the new year so if anyone see's a couple of nutters on the beach surrounded with tinsel you'll know its us ,and you'll be quite welcome to share one of my christmas puddings

vonny


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 476

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 17:09

oh forgot to add,where can you buy fresh parsnip and swedes?

Pugwash


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 1797

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 17:44

I prefer duck or goose too, most of the supermarkets do have parsnips, brussels and swede but it can be limited and short in supply, you need to keep your eyes peeled, Supreme is good in the East side.

LaptaMike


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 1679

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 18:35

I buy things like parsnips and swedes etc whenever I see them available. I chop them up and freeze them. I know I should really blanch them first but I don't bother, never had a problem.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 20:56

In Channel Islands we used to have lobster thermidor for xmas lunch. Think Turkey is bland and over-rated. would love to taste fresh crab again, TRNC sadly lacking in seafood, one of the downs about the place. Still warm weather on xmas day is pretty neat

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 21:03

martin we do get fresh live lobsters, oysters and scollops, vongole but sadly the crab we get has not been that great, ok for pate. Friends brought us some from somerset that was on the menu for the G20 summit what beautiful crab x

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
17/10/2010 21:17

Re: Msg1,



Chrismas Eve -Traditional Dinner:

No starter

Goose with Apples ans roasted vegetables

Flaming Cake ( with apricots, walnuts, marzipan and cognac)

Coffee, Amaretto , handmade chocolate pralinen

Christmas Day-Champagne,

Caviar

Nothing else!

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
18/10/2010 10:26

lilli where are the lobsters from?In the Med they are usually Crayfish which have NO CLAWS...that's the best part for me ..lol

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
18/10/2010 10:30

Clarrisia, can Icome round to yours please, sounds delicious. Martin they do have the claws on. email me and I will tell you what else we do.

Panchocat


Joined: 29/11/2009
Posts: 1333

Message Posted:
18/10/2010 12:06

Chef Deniz what is Patina serving up this Chistmas?