Christmas Menu

[MrsMotherHen]

Starters
Prawn Cocktails
Lentil and bacon soup

Dinner
Roast leg of lamb
turkey joint or three bird roast type joint
Giant Pigs in blankets (I make big sausages Richmond thick wrapped in bacon rather than cocktail ones)
stuffing balls
Yorkshire puddings
Roast potatoes
Roast honey glazed carrots and parsnips
cauliflower cheese
Sprouts
Gravy and all the usual table sauces

Pudding
Individual Trifles
Mince pies and Cream
Chocolate profiterole cake

Do you think I need more veggies?

[MrsMotherHen]

oh forgot to add we are having a cheese and meat board in the evening.

[AJPTaylor]

surely lentil and bacon soup fills you up before youve started? i need space for at least 10 spuds!

[Minster2012]

I was thinking about my Christmas menu yesterday and for main have same but no cauliflower cheese have red cabbage instead, & in my roasted veg I will have shallots & beetroot & sweet potato too so there will be lots of roasted veg

[MegRichardson]

How many are you catering for, Hen ? Are you making your own xmas pudding?

[Santawontbelong]

Surely turnip is important on a Xmas plate??

[MegRichardson]

I always make mashed turnip with butter and black pepper on boxing day with the cold cuts.

[Youcanstayundermyumbrella]

I'd also baulk at lentil soup before that meal. Pulses are so filling. If you want soup, why not a veggie one? You can even make sprout soup...

[MegRichardson]

I'm feeling hungry now.

[PurpleDaisies]

I agree about red cabbage being pretty much essential. No cauliflower cheese here. I like simple steamed broccoli instead because everything else is quite rich.

I don't bother with starters and just have plates of nibbles out while lunch is being cooked.

Where's the Christmas pud?!

[Minidoghugs]

That looks amazing. I'd do a braised red cabbage if you want another veg. It's good as you can make in advance and reheat and pretty colour.
I agree the soup is quite filling but you could do a very small bowl if it's a favourite.

[Gammeldragz]

Leg of lamb
Turkey crown
Pigs in blankets (made with homemade sausages)
Yorkshire puddings
Stuffing
Roast potatoes
Cheesey leeks
Red cabbage, braised
Roast parsnips and carrots
Sprouts, stir fried

[Gammeldragz]

Mashed swede! Forgot that one.

[Minidoghugs]

Interesting that a lot of people are doing lamb. We always do lamb as its our favourite meat.

[MrsMotherHen]

yep it's a tiny tiny bowl like a shallow type its only really FIL and MIL have it its not that filling once blended all down. I am catering for 8 people. I like red cabbage thats a nice idea. I have never done it before either.

Nope no christmas pud no one really likes it.

[RaindropsAndSparkles]

Having looked at the meat percentages in three bits roasts I refuse to buy them and I'm not prepared to bone a Turkey, Duck and game bird to do it myself nor pay a butcher to do it. So:

Turkey for 6-8
Stuffed bones duck for 4-6
Roast potatoes and parsnips
Runner beans (last summer picking frozen for Xmas)
Sprouts
Red cabbage (M&S)
Stuffing and pigs
Cranberry and bread sauces
Gravy (made with a shallot, the goblet stock and wine or sherry).

Christmas pudding and a chocolate desert - whatever looks fab in M&S.

It's a filling meal and there is no need for a starter. We have open smoked salmon triangles and champagne at about 11.00, after mass and before presents. Lun h at about 3pm.

Boxing Day is cold meat, what's left, pre-cooked Gammon, charcuterie, roast herbed potatoes and salads.

I usually have between 7-12 from Xmas Eve to Boxing Day.

DH and I have just agreed that we will have poached salmon on Xmas Eve this year.

[PurpleDaisies]

I like red cabbage thats a nice idea. I have never done it before either.

It's lovely with red wine, orange juice and cinnamon. I do nigella's recipe from the great book but with about a quarter of the sugar. You can make it the day before and reheat it-its even better made in advance.

[PotteringAlong]

I freeze my red cabbage and then just reheat on the day. I'm debating trying it in the slow cooker this year...

[poisonedbypen]

Turkey
Gammon
Pigs in blankets & sausages
Steamed vegetables (varies)
Red cabbage
Stuffing
Nut roast
Mash (FIL!)
Roast potatoes
Yorkshire pudding
Sauces & gravy
Pavlova
Phew!
Wouldn't have thought of lamb - too much roasting going on (I cook the gammon the day before, slice & wrap in foil to reheat)

[Chrisinthemorning]

We always have a fish starter- smoked salmon terrine and some king prawns.
Thinking a capon this year. DH makes amazing roast potatoes. Veg will be carrots, Brussels and one other. Stuffing and I love the idea of giant pigs in blankets so will steal that. Maybe Yorkshire puddings- we all love them.
Pudding will be trifle.
We have invited DH sister who has gone vegan I think so no idea what we'll cook for her if she decides to come! I can do vegetarian ok but vegan is a bit harder.

[SouthWestmom]

Canapés

A selection of Celebrations, Quality Street and Matchmakers

Starter

The rest of the mornings Bucks Fizz consumed while stirring gravy

Quorn sausages, yorkshires, the only two vegetables the kids will eat (currently sweetcorn and peas) roast potatoes, mashed potatoes and a small amount of turkey for dh

[youngestisapsycho]

We always have a turkey crown and pork.... def no starter. Dinner is always huge and prefer lots of different desserts.

[SouthWestmom]

Forgot pudding

Whatever novelty Christmas themed ice cream / cake I can find

Coffee and baileys before present opening

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oooh sprouts and chestnuts (Teddy Bears' Noses )

We're vegetarian apart from DS so no bacon in the sprouts.

[kingfishergreen]

Love this thread, it's given me the bubble of festive excitement.

Our day goes like this:

Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast.

Canapés and Champagne.

Duck, roast potatoes, stuffing (something fruity), sprouts with chestnuts and bacon, carrots, sweetcorn, PiB and gravy for lunch.

Cheese and biscuits.

Mince pies and brandy butter.

We usually get too full and end up eating our Christmas pud some time in April.

[littlechou]

It’s just DH and I this year so our menu will be:

Foie gras on toasted brioche (don’t flame me - DH is French and apparently it’s not xmas without it )
Mini beef wellington, potatoes, creamed leeks, medley of veg
Strawberry and mango pavlova
Cheeseboard

Not christmassy at all but it’s all our faves
DH won’t eat half of it as he will have a big sporting event the day after (he won’t drink either boo hoo ) but I’ll polish off a bottle of bubbles !

Can’t wait heh