Preparations

[Thropplenoggin]

Phew.
PM territory really !!

Quite. It's been fun to watch the romantic tension bubbling above the surface in the Darcy/Lizzy vein, but after that, well, Austen wept!

[Nick Armstrong]

My general experience with goose , is that if you are the one preparing/cooking/carving the b***er, you also need to wear one of those white protective suits for chemical spillages.

Oh, and I like turkey. With plenty left over for sarnies at the boxing day footy.

[Nick Armstrong]

Quite. It's been fun to watch the romantic tension bubbling above the surface in the Darcy/Lizzy vein, but after that, well, Austen wept!

There'll be a big reconciliation scene, don't worry. We're bound to be reunited. We both like prawn cocktail. Written in the stars, it is, written in the stars!!

[Flosshilde]

[COLOR="#0000FF"]I've never understood the anti-turkey thing, I've never not loved the Christmas turkey, it's never dry, it's tasty and there's always enough to pick over cold afterwards and mash with apple sauce, stuffing, sprouts all chopped up with seasoning to make a delicious sandwich filling later in the week.

We toyed with goose a couple of years, to see what all the fuss was about - tasty but not enough to keep folk going.

I like turkey too, but my partner isn't keen on it (he's not into Christmas much at all - comes from being brought up in Scotland where it wasn't a holiday) & with just two people even a small one would be too much. I insisted on goose this year, which I've always wanted to try & doesn't have as much meat as a turkey the same weight. And the legs can be kept for a cassoulet.

Saly - if you want to have turkey there are turkey roasts, made from the breast - still quite big but perhaps not too much (hmm - perhaps I should follow my own advice. The goose isn't cooked yet )

[Resurrection Man]

.....

The thought of garlic flavoured almonds almost fills me with horror. What do they use them for? Does it work in any way?

Keeps the vampires at bay

[mangerton]

There'll be a big reconciliation scene, don't worry. We're bound to be reunited. We both like prawn cocktail. Written in the stars, it is, written in the stars!!

Now haud the bus. Just a minute. I like prawn cocktail too.

And I can make tablet.

Otoh, I couldn't possibly keep up with a city slicker of a London lawyer.

[Nick Armstrong]

Now haud the bus. Just a minute. I like prawn cocktail too.

And I can make tablet.

Otoh, I couldn't possibly keep up with a city slicker of a London lawyer.

Au contraire: kilted and ... ahem... unencumbered, I'm sure you could easily outrun me. And the tablet positively gives you wings!

[mangerton]

I like turkey too, but my partner isn't keen on it (he's not into Christmas much at all - comes from being brought up in Scotland where it wasn't a holiday) & with just two people even a small one would be too much. I insisted on goose this year, which I've always wanted to try & doesn't have as much meat as a turkey the same weight. And the legs can be kept for a cassoulet.

Saly - if you want to have turkey there are turkey roasts, made from the breast - still quite big but perhaps not too much (hmm - perhaps I should follow my own advice. The goose isn't cooked yet )

I don't think it's as simple as being brought up in Scotland. My late father was very fond of turkey and a huge representative of the species was bought for each Christmas. There were only four of us, so it saw us through to New Year's Day, when another b***** turkey put in appearance.

A turkey roast is the way to go, without a doubt. You can put the d**n thing in the bin on Boxing Day.

[Nick Armstrong]

..it saw us through to New Year's Day, when another b***** turkey put in appearance.

A turkey roast is the way to go, without a doubt. You can put the d**n thing in the bin on Boxing Day.

I love a few jolly old festive expletives!

Some good laughs along the way on this thread!

[mangerton]

Au contraire: kilted and ... ahem... unencumbered, I'm sure you could easily outrun me. And the tablet positively gives you wings!

[teamsaint]

Prawn cocktail....yum.

Quite like Steak and Black Forest gateau too.... they will become just the thing one day, just wait and see. !

(Not for Xmas, obviously).

[mangerton]

Prawn cocktail....yum.

Quite like Steak and Black Forest gateau too.... they will become just the thing one day, just wait and see. !

(Not for Xmas, obviously).

Reo_Stakis did this over forty years ago, so yes, they're probably about to come back into fashion.

[Barbirollians]

x I cannot however think of what would constitute a luxury dish for a vegetarian?

omelette aux truffes !


I have always loved Christmas and becoming a middle aged parent - an exhausting activity I can tell you - has given it a new lease of life . My son is 18 months and the Christmas lights everywhere are so exciting for him .

My family are coming here this year for the first time ever - my mother having decided that having cooked Christmas dinner since a 21 year old in 1962 she deserves a break so all the usual trimmings . Good red wine a must . Christmas Puddings must be home made - shop ones no matter how classy are always a disappointment . The secret for Christmas Pudding is put in a large grated carrot softens the texture marvellously and leave the brandy for lighting the pudding - a quarter of a pint of good beer is the only alcohol in mine .

There are various other traditions - smoked salmon with scrambled egg on Christmas morning , champagne about noon , a long walk or a trip to the races on Boxing Day .

[Nick Armstrong]

I like the sound of a Barbirollian Christmas, I like it very much!!