To never cook a big meat for Christmas ever again?

[richierichardsaunt]

Another year of Norfolk Bronze turkey.
Just tastes of turkey (moist but dull).

So have decided that from now on I'm only going to do a Christmas dinner of sides!
Goose fat potatoes, pigs in blankets, stuffing balls, red cabbage, sprouts, carrots, yorkies and shed loads of gravy.

No carcasses fucking me off and probably no leftovers.

AIBU?

I was supposed to just cook for three today. Ended up being 10.
I had boneless turkey crown and beef joint. Both were good but even with that many people still the meat got left.

Goes back to just being me tomorrow and the dogs will only eat so much!

We just did a Chicken instead this year! Was so much easier, tastier and cheaper than Turkey! All the trimmings of course...

We had roast chicken - I find turkey a bit bland and dry.

Every year I make a turkey, and countless people have said it's the best turkey they've ever had, (I have a special say of preparing it), but I have never been impressed with it. Turkey is bloody boring.

I think that's a brilliant idea Op, I always love the chipolatas, stuffing balls and the roast vegetables best. Turkey is so boring.

But the meat will keep for a good 2-3 days in the fridge. Use it for sandwiches, curry, pasta or something?

Turkey is really bland, I don't understand why it's so popular

It's not actually popular is it? No one eats it except on Christmas day really! It's just traditional. We don't bother with it.

I love the turkey. Don’t find it blandnor dry. Tried a turkey crown once and that was dry though.
Turkey covered in bacon, cooked on low overnight, basted in the morning. We all love it.
Sometimes turkey sandwich Xmas night. Definitely Boxing Day lunch.
Next day we have cold meat, chips and bubble.
Then in a couple of days turkey stew. It feeds us all week. Was a 20lb turkey though.

We had kleftiko today. It was amazing. Much nicer than turkey. Last time we had turkey was 10 years ago. Never again.

We just have a joint of beef here, I cook a gammon on Christmas Eve for cold meat but not as part of the main meal. No one likes turkey so I've never cooked one.

I kid you not, get a goose. Super tasty and loads of meat for a few days.

We hardly touched the turkey

The pigs in blankets on the other hand...

The sides are the best bit of Xmas lunch. I don’t think I’d notice if the meat was missing as long as there was loads of good gravy to cover the roasties.

@formerbabe - lots of people eat turkey mince/steaks etc during the year?! I wouldn't cook it for a Sunday Roast because there are only 3 of us and it would be too big!

I like cooking a capon/ cockerel when we have smaller numbers. Also don't mind leftovers - for sandwiches - and turn the rest into a really nice curry and freeze.

stuffed turkey crown from M&S. Moist, tasty, easy to cook and carve no waste.

I did roughly 60 pigs and 30 stuffing balls (sausage meat, cranberry and chestnut), loads of spuds and veg to make up for the small amount of meat.
I'd only bought for three, turkey crown for 4 and beef for 3 people but it still got left.

I'd get a complex about my cooking if I really thought about it.

I nearly gave up on Turkey this year as I was fed up with a huge bird which lasted for ever and ended up in the freezer. At the last minute I ordered a rolled turkey breast , and a separate leg as DH loves the dark meat. It was a revelation. It was moist and tasty and did not take too long to cook either. The reason Ichanged by mind is that I was feeling a bit glum about missing the sides- pigs in blankets, sausage meat, home made stuffing and cranberry sauce.
We have enough left for one cold meat meal. Hurrah - no frozen turkey meals to eat up during the year- it does not improve

Best bit of the dinner is the sausage

Make curry and freeze it in portions for when you can't be arsed to cook?

Cook less side dishes so more of the meat gets eaten iyswim. 60 pigs in blankets is a lot for 4/5 people & that's probably why your meat was left over.

YANBU. Turkey is boring. We had fillet steak with bearnaise sauce today. So much nicer!

You were only expecting three guests and bought a turkey crown and a beef joint?

Then ten arrived so you added 60 pigs in blankets

That's 6 sausages each plus meat plus veg?

No wonder you end up with leftovers

We've had a turkey breast roll the past few years which has been lovely. However my youngest decided to become vegetarian so ended up with Quorn & my eldest admitted she doesn't really like Christmas dinner much. They didn't eat a lot.

We've already decided next year we'll get steak for DH & I & the kids will have their favourite meal.

I had ten in total. Was only supposed to be 3 including me.

Did the extra pigs and stuffing when they all turned up.

I was hoping for leftover pigs/stuffing/veg. Instead I have left over meat, dull.
Damn me for being hospitable.

DH and I purposely cooked too much today so we can enjoy cold meat with bubble and squeak tomorrow

Same here. I love bubble and squeak with salad cream. 👌