Mumsnet Talk

Am I being dead skanky doing this as the Christmas meal at home? Anyone tried it....is it as good as I am hearing?

There's only going to be me, DS and exDH (yes really) for Xmas dinner.

Every year I knock myself out buying a turkey, stuffing it, getting all the timings right for cooking etc and this year I just want to take it easy. I have bought one of these, it's in the freezer along with smoked salmon for breakfast etc.

I just want to relax and enjoy things this year without all the hassle. I want to be able to have a drink and know that all the prep is sorted out for me.

It's not something I would usually buy and in the past I have bought into all the hype about turkey (or other meat). This year though I am on benefits for the first time ever so don't have the spare cash I am used to having. Aldi's had good deals on the salmon and other stuff so I went there.

Don't know why I am asking really lol, surely if we enjoy it then that's all that matters.exH said "ooh delicious" when I told him what I'd bought.

So anyone else tried it? What was your opinion?

I saw this on telly the other day and my first reaction was OMG, that's just too weird, and what birds are they anyway?

I don't really like the idea of meat that's been sort of, well, messed about with too much iykwim?

But I'm sure I'm just being prejudiced about it, it's probably fine.

<goes out in garden to shoot sparrows>

I can't bear the thought of it tbh. A bit gagworthy IMO

But if you like it, thats all that matters.

Fwiw it's just me and my kids this year - and we usually have either a really small free range chicken, or some kind of 'part' of something like just t he breast or whatever, whatever is left in Sainsburys

and I spread out dinner over two days so we might have the stuffing and bacon thing on Christmas eve, with some roast spuds, instead of having everything all together in one huge meal - that sort of idea.

We tried it about a month ago when the ads came on the telly, we thought YUM! Let's get one today!

It was disappointing I'm afraid. The meat was a bit flavourless so the stuffing was the thing you tasted most. I wouldn't recommend it.

If it's only 3 of you I'd just get a nice big chicken and do all the trimmings with that. Or maybe a smaller chicken and a ham too?

My friend was saying only last night that she did this for her, her DH and DS one year and that it was lovely.

Don't kill yourself (financially or effort-wise) if you just can't do the big trad turkey this year. It's Christmas, you'll have cooked a nice meal and everyone will be happy.

I'm sure it will be lovely, especially with all the trimmings. I always recommend these to my mum and dad as they do a big turkey for themselves that always goes to waste.

For just a few people I think they are brilliant, why struggle trying to roast a huge bird while you can sit back instead and quaff christmas bubbly and cocktails.

I don't understand the problem to be honest - although i haven't tried it. Is it because its from aldi or because it's 4 birds. I think it sounds lovely and it seems to get good reviews.

I had one last year. We were off to my Mum's for a few days on Boxing Day so I didn't need a turkey for leftovers etc. It tasted absolutely fine, was easy to cook and there was plenty of meat for 6 healthy appetites - if I remember correctly there was a couple of slices left over. I did cook extra stuffing as we like plenty. It doesn't carve quite like they show you in the adverts and tends to fall apart a bit.

I don't know why I find the idea so off putting! I suppose if you buy a chicken or something, it's just, well, a chicken. like you'd get if you killed it yourself.

The fact someone has sort of mucked about with random bits of several creatures and sort of pasted them together into a manmade item, well just the less interference the better, I suppose - I don't know, just puts me off a bit.

Like the difference between an apple, and something made from bits of an apple, bits of an orange, and some banana and pineapple - and shaped to look like an apple. I just feel like saying, 'why?'

I dont get the issue with 4 bird roasts either. Have seen this slagged off alot this year but 4 bird roasts have been about for yonks and yonks but this is the first year I have seen it sneered at so much. I am guessing its the Aldi thing???? I am sure M&S do or did one and lots of butchers have always done multi bird roasts for as long as I can remember.

Not sure its a cost cutter really. I would prefer a chicken and the spare cash used for the pigs in blankets etc.

we had one a few years ago.

there seemed to be more stuffing than meat. it tasted nice, and was lovely and easy, but just too stuffingey!!

i'm going for an easy life this year too. need to pull my finger out!!!

I think maybe loads of people had no idea they existed - I'd never heard of them!

What birds do they use btw? I'm guessing chicken, turkey, duck, goose?

Aren't they just better separately? Or do they go together?

Don't do it!
We had one a few weeks ago and it was awful, mainly stuffing and fell to bits when we carved it.

Watching with interest!

Think M&S do a 3 bird roast. Some of Aldi's stuff is amazing, i'm v impressed with all of their fresh/frozen fish stuff I've tried so far.

You can get nice things like stuffed turkey breast, boneless so easy to cook.
How much is the four bird jobby?

Lads, she's already bought it!

No is nothing to do with it being from Aldi

Generally I am anti things being shoved into other things....apart from anything else I feel it's hugely disrespectful to the animal or bird which has died for food . Generally I am a bit of a hippy where things like that are concerned . Just saw the ad and reviews and it sounded okay.
It's just that this year I want to relax and quaff wine instead of slaving away in the kitchen. I did consider chicken but tbh I can have that anytime and this sounded a bit differently.

Might rethink it as I am still unsure.....or just go with it and put it down to experience if it's horrible.

We had one from M&S last year. Not nice at all - the stuffing was too strong (morello cherry) and meat was dry. I think it was chicken, duck and turkey breast.
This year we are getting a rolled turkey breast wrapped in bacon from a bother on Smithfield market. Serves 12 adults and delicious - we had one a couple of weeks ago when we had a pre Christmas meetup with friends

I doubt it will be horrible, based on reviews, and even if it's not the nicest thing you've ever had if it serves the purpose of having a special meal without too much effort then that's all you want, presumably.

We have gone for the Aldi frozen, stuffed pheasant (and their frozen roast potatoes too!) for this reason. I know it's just a fancy Sunday roast and I know it wouldn't be that stressful to do it all myself but I cook from scratch every day of the year and on this one day I would rather just shove stuff in the oven and play with my boys (1 & 4) while drinking fizz than do any more than is absolutely necessary in the kitchen. It may not be haute cuisine but we will still enjoy it, I will be totally relaxed and feel like I'm having a treat and we will all enjoy the day, which surely is the most important thing.

I love Aldi, but have not heard great things about the 4 bird roast, and was unimpressed by the list of ingredients. We will be having a chicken with Christmas trimmings for our dinner.
I have heard people getting very excited about the Aldi venison steaks, though, although my kids are only really keen on venison if it's minced so possibly not great for a family meal.

We had one last year and it was awful tbh.

We had one last year and it was very nice. It does fall apart a bit when carved, but I find it hard to get worked up about that tbh. Lidl do a 3 bird one which was also nice.

Four bird roasts are pretty traditional and I don't get the problem with "things inside things." What about stuffing, monkfish wrapped in parma ham, or (god forbid) pigs in blankets - chopped up meat and fat inside intestine wrapped in bacon?!