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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not cook a traditional roast on Sunday?

106 replies

Lolo37 · 17/03/2017 05:40

We have friends coming for lunch on Sunday and I don't feel like spending all morning preparing a roast. Do you think they would expect a roast or is something else ok? Haven't thought of other options yet but relatively effort free would be good! What do you all think?

OP posts:
AnoiseAnnoysanOyster · 17/03/2017 10:39

Are they expecting hot food as it's lunch time or can you just do meats, cheese, quiche, salads that sort of thing. I love a picky lunch.

RegTheMonkey1 · 17/03/2017 10:52

I've never cooked a roast dinner in my life and certainly don't expect it on a Sunday. We occasionally have it when husband fancies one, and he cooks it. If I was going to someone for Sunday lunch I would not expect it to be a roast, though it would be welcome.

PenelopeFlintstone · 17/03/2017 10:55

I make a lot of lasagnes and cook a lot of roasts, and the lasagnes are a lot more work.
Roasts are easy and if you've got a dishwasher and a dog, pour any fat into an old jar and bin it, scrape the rest into the dog's bowl, and finally chuck all the pans into the dishwasher!!

Eatingcheeseontoast · 17/03/2017 10:56

Do a slow cooked (in the oven) lamb joint - Jamies 7 hour lamb or something similar and have with crusty bread and bought in pudding or cheese.

Or cook something like a stew that's better the next day.

I don't mind cooking a roast for people I know - I think roasts are easy but the timings of getting everything ready at the end and warm can be tricky.

I'd prefer something where I could talk to people then just produce a one pot wonder from the oven.

1nsanityscatching · 17/03/2017 10:59

I love a roast and make one most Sundays but this week we are having beef stew and dumplings. I think I'd guess it would be a roast but wouldn't be disappointed if it wasn't tbh.

madein1995 · 17/03/2017 11:24

To be honest, I'm quite fussy with roasts (dont like frozen roasts, only really like homemade gravy abd well cooked veg) so at someone elses house would prefer something different like a stew or a curry.

Grilledaubergines · 17/03/2017 11:38

We probably have a full roast dinner (with no sign of Aunt Bessie) once a month and we really look forward to it and enjoy it. It does take a while but it's not as though it requires undivided Attention.

And no, no sign of the 1950s. Firmly in 2017 and craving a roast.

SapphireStrange · 17/03/2017 11:43

If they express disappointment or horror at not getting a Sunday roast then they're not really friends.

But I doubt they will. Make whatever you want!

Bluntness100 · 17/03/2017 11:48

It would not occur to me to expect a roast or to provide one simply because it was a Sunday, i think that's quite an outdated notion. Just cook whatever you fancy. I would and certainly wouldn't do a roast.

FurryDogMother · 17/03/2017 12:08

I'm a bit confused about those saying that a roast dinner 'takes all morning' and that there are loads of pots to wash. This is how I do it:

Calculate cooking time for meat and out it in oven at correct temperature.
Peel potatoes (and parsnips if having) and put them in a pan of cold water.
Make batter for Yorkies, and leave it to stand.
15 mins before the meat is cooked, turn on heat under the spuds, and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 mins, then drain.
Take meat out of oven, and put it somewhere warm to rest. Put extra oil in meat dish (Pan 1), put it in oven at Gas Mk 7 for oil to heat up.
Shake par-boiled potatoes in the pan so the edges go rough, then add them to hot oil in oven. Wash spud pan (Pan 2).
Peel and slice carrots and put them in Pan 2, covered in water.
After about 25 mins, turn potatoes in oil, add a little oil to each section of a Yorkshire tin (pan 3), put it in oven to heat.
Give Yorkshire batter a final whisk, then pour it into the pre-heated tin in the oven.
After 20 mins, check Yorkshires for rising, adjust oven if necessary. Turn on heat under carrots, and allow to come to the boil. Boil for 5 mins, then add any other veg (sprouts, green beans) to Pan 2 and bring back to the boil.
Slice the meat and return it to a warm place.
Take roast potatoes (and parsnips) out of oven and put on to plates, drain off excess fat and make gravy in the pan.
Take puddings out of oven and add to plates, along with sliced meat. Drain veg, put on plates. Add gravy.

That's 3 pans (plus a Pyrex jug I use for making Yorkshire batter), and a lot of time waiting for things to cook, rather than working in the kitchen. Yes, the meat rests for around 45 mins, but it doesn't get cold, and turns out more tender that way. We don't have mash with roasts, but if we did, that would only be one more pan!

maddiemookins16mum · 17/03/2017 12:12

I would probably "expect" a roast but be quite happy with something else. Maybe do a naice casserole with the trimmings instead. I often stick meat and veg in the slow cooker on a Sunday morning dead early (and go back to bed), then it's just some roadt souds and steamed veggies.

madein1995 · 17/03/2017 12:12

While I wouldnt expect or prefer a roast when visiting, if Im at home I usially have a roast on a sunday and dont think its particularly old fashioned - to me a sunday doesnt feel like a sunday without a roast. I am picky wity how its cooked though (would rather do without tgan have frozen roasties and bisto gravy) so i dont expect it, or actually want a roast, anywhere that isnt home

Taylia · 17/03/2017 12:12

I do a roast every Sunday as my mother was one of the "it's too much of a faff" brigade. We only had a roast if I cooked it.

My DH was never bothered as his mother was an aunt Bessie's fan.

We both now look forward to our Sunday roast as does our DD.

maddiemookins16mum · 17/03/2017 12:13
  • roast spuds
madein1995 · 17/03/2017 12:17

I also agree a roast doesnt take long. The meat and potatoes you leave to cook themselves (take meat out, let it rest while rest is cooking, reheat meat), yorkies and gravy are simple and other veg is just a case of boiling. Admittedly theres more pans vut thats due to us normally having 3 or 4 veg with our dinner, all cooked in different pans. It could be less washing up. The longest time is the meat cooking but mam gets up at 5 to put the meat in ready for lunch, but if you didnt want to do that you could put it in at say 9 and have it at tea time

Mynestisfullofempty · 17/03/2017 12:27

"Buy ready made/frozen stuffing and Yorkshire puddings. They are as good and very quick to cook. I use uncle Betty's and they are delicious."

Why do some people have to be different? Aunt Bessie's not good enough for you newventurermum? Grin

newventurermum · 18/03/2017 08:18

Typo BlushGrin

PenelopeFlintstone · 18/03/2017 10:59

We have 2 or 3 roasts a week - my husband grew up on a farm where meat was plentiful. I could cook him steak but it's 3 times the price of a roast where I am.

hahahaIdontgetit · 18/03/2017 15:40

I do a roast every Sunday, but that's because I enjoy it. It's fine to cook whatever you want for your guests.

It'll make a nice change if they're used to roast every week.

ihatetosay · 18/03/2017 19:55

Disgusting - think about the animal murdered for your dinner - go vegetarian

1horatio · 18/03/2017 22:43

Disgusting - think about the animal murdered for your dinner - go vegetarian

Why vegetarian? If you really care about animals...

Why not care about the little male chicks, crushed or gassed by chicken farmers? Because they're unably to lay the eggs vegetarians still eat?

The mothers separated from their calves and the male calves killed for somebody else's meat? Only for the cycle to be repeated again, to keep up the milkproduction?

I don't understand vegetarians that do it for the animal welfare...

Ecological reasons? Sure. Health reasons? Why not. Animal welfare? Seems weird.

Knifegrinder · 18/03/2017 22:55

There's always one who goes in for whataboutery. I'm assuming you're a pure vegan, Horatio, who checks wine for isinglass, and avoids honey, leather and cosmetics using animal products? Or an armchair warrior who quite likes battery chicken?

Back to the question. Roasts are dull, and the expectation that they happen on Sunday makes the person doing the expecting sound about ninety and routine-bound. Go mad. Make Pad Thai.

EatsShitAndLeaves · 18/03/2017 22:59

Roasts are easy. Shove in the oven and they take care of themselves.

I really don't get the issue. I can cook a roast chicken dinner start to finish in an hour and a half

  • admittedly beef/pork/lamb takes longer but it's just sitting in the oven, no intervention from me.
1horatio · 18/03/2017 23:01

I'm assuming you're a pure vegan, Horatio, who checks wine for isinglass, and avoids honey, leather and cosmetics using animal products? Or an armchair warrior who quite likes battery chicken?

Honestly? I'm actually neither. ;)

I thought that comment was quite hypocritical... And disingenous.

Why would somebody criticise people eating meat when they as a vegetarian still contribute to the slaughter of cows or baby chicks...?

PenelopeFlintstone · 18/03/2017 23:14

Knifegrinder "Roasts are dull.....Go mad. Make Pad Thai.

I don't think you were talking to me but I do agree: DH wants the planned leftover meat for sandwiches for work so we have to cook the roasts, but I usually try to turn the meat into something more interesting, so roast pork might be Chinese pork noodles the next day, roast lamb becomes Mongolian lamb and rice the next day, etc.