Sunday Roasts, are they still a thing?

[Boswellox]

It was such a staple of my 70's/80's youth and not being a parent I wondered what, if anything, it has morphed into.

Living in Europe for the past 30 years, anyone I know, whether British or European, absolutely loves a traditional Sunday lunch.
Even before that, as a student abroad the one formal meal of the week was Sunday lunch.
Great institution, but in these days of falling standards and no home cooking, I would venture to say it is an endangered species.

But, but ... ordinary roasties talk 40 minutes anyway?

I LOVE Sunday dinners, we grew up having them every week when young and we still have them, but recently have started slipping and haven't cooked one for ages
Going to have to bring them back.

Frozen potatoes 🥔

At least every other Sunday here, even though it's just me and DH. I don't find it a lot of work as I just bung things in and leave them. I like having leftovers too so I know what I'm going to cook for at least one more day that week!

Having said that we had a Gordon Ramsey beef casserole today as haven't had it since last winter and really felt like it, even though it was 27 degrees here...

SIL has recently criticised my mashed potatoes

Surely all mashed potatoes should be mashed with cream?

I'd like this resolved instantly.

Where are you all with lazy Sundays? All lazy Sundays start with a proper roast dinner, surely?

I grew up in the 80’s and we didn’t have a roast every week even then. I quite like one, but can’t remember the last time I actually cooked one. Although Sunday is one of the only nights of the week we all sit down at the same time just now, so I try to do something a bit more special (tonight was homemade katsu chicken curry, rice, pal choi, and picked cucumbers).

But, but ... ordinary roasties talk 40 minutes anyway?

It’s skipping the prep time that makes it less faffy. Everything goes straight in & I can then focus on accompaniments. On a school night peeling the spuds too would annoy me too much & push it out to an hour. It’s a compromise I can live with & I am usually dead against those kind of shortcuts.

I love roasts, so easy. Packet roast potatoes make it nowt but a 5-min job, then add proper gravy. Lovely leftovers almost best bit.

The roast dinner every weekend habit had dwindled to 'once in a while' with me - until I moved in with DP. Now it's back to roast dinner (almost) every Sunday. He makes it though!

Oh, no, don't peel them!

For perfect quick roasties, just chunk them up smallish and roast in leftover chicken fat from last time. I prefer them roasted without par boiling but you can parboil too.

It's only the peeling takes the time and they taste just fine with the skins on.

I'm not criticising frozen roasties, though, just being evangelical about doing them quickly. My mum still peels hers and chops each baby-head-sized spud in half and then wonders why they take three hours, and they don't even taste as nice.

But, but ... ordinary roasties talk 40 minutes anyway?

And are much more tasty than frozen roasties 🤔

If my wasnt working most Sunday's then 100% we'd have one every week, unfortunately he is very rarely off on a Sunday, but when he is we always have one.

We probably have about 3-4 a year.

Only ever a home made roast though, would never choose it in a pub or got to a carvery.

Haven't had one for ages but I miss them, so yes! Great for leftovers for days. A summery, lighter version is good when it we have a summer.

Roast every Sunday here from mid September through to May. May-September it's bbq most weekends, even if weather is shit (we still bbq but then eat inside). Starting back on roasts this coming weekend. Love them. Followed by a crumble or a stodgy sponge pudding. Yum.

We always had a roast dinner every Sunday growing up (70s/80s). At the time I really liked them, but I've really gone off them over the last few years.

I prefer my veg in a curry, chilli, stir fry etc rather than having portions of veg on the side of the plate. Plus roast dinners just seem a bit stodgy now so I only cook one for Christmas dinner.

lowtide I KNOW - he is basically an outcast as DH's family comes from Ireland a couple of generations back. He doesn't even like chips. The only potato based product he will eat is crisps. No mash, no jackets, no roasties, no waffles, no hash browns. Nightmare. So he gets roast chicken plus leftover rice from a previous meal

Still a bit thing in the armed forces!

@lowtide my message above was in response to you, but only just worked out how to tag people (hopefully)

Not every Sunday, of there are just the two of us, too much hassle. Also not often in the summer, too warm to have the oven on for hours, but definitely still a thing, we'll often have visitors for a Sunday roast or go to parents' for one when the weather is cooler

We had roast tonight, in the dining room with a tablecloth! Chicken, Yorkshire puds, cauliflower cheese, peas, roast potatoes, parsnips, gravy, bread and then pear and apple cake for pud (with custard). Yum.

Loving the tales of people who "don't like" any aspect of a roast, or people who don't like any type of potato. What in the living fuck?!!!

Yes but not every week

We had a beautiful sunday roast today!!

Lamb joint, Creamy mash, Carrots, Cabbage, Stuffing, Yorkies, gravy and loads of mint sauce... mmmmmm