What is actually in a Christmas dinner?

[Judelawissohandsome]

I can’t remember and need to make this year, what are the basics please?

@CheesesandWines

Well...I have! www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/bread-sauce-

I may not have described it brilliantly but that's the essence of it!

What are your methods for making bread sauce, out of interest?

Yes. DH and I were just watching incredulously at the roasted grape and spring onion massive Yorkshire pudding? 🫣

I always buy a fresh turkey with giblets so I can make stock with them, and yes, that is the smell of Christmas morning for me!

How to make bread sauce:
Warm through some creamy milk with an onion studded with cloves, a bayleaf, salt, pepper and grated nutmeg. Leave to infuse for a couple of hours. Make breadcrumbs from some fresh bread, white for preference. Stir into the milk with some butter and warm through. Before serving, remove the onion and bayleaf and stir in some cream, beating the whole thing gently so it is fairly smooth. Serve warm. Gorgeous. (Delia Smith's recipe.)

The idea of sprinkling crumbs all over my beautiful turkey fills me with horror. Also not taken with the Brussels sprout dish.

We have:

Goose
Roast potatoes
Honey roast carrots and parsnips
Mange tout covered in butter
Red cabbage
Cherry sauce and apple sauce (both homemade)

I love bread sauce but never had that at Christmas, I make it with roast chicken on Sundays.

Boxing day is usually pork belly or a rib of beef.

Another cook doing fried bacon with the sprouts - how much pig do you need on a plate!?

You're not alone with this excess HSWTF, but I don't tinker with my sprouts personally.

It's great to hear that you're now enjoying the warmth of lovely family Christmases though, so you go for it!

The only stuffing worthy of the Christmas dinner table is chestnut. Very laborious to make but so worth it.

Also, Yorkshire puddings do NOT belong at Christmas.

Indeed. I'm so confused.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

That's actually what I do, more or less. I think my description was clumsy hence confusing PPs. (Eg saying 'sauté' 🤦🏻‍♀️)

In fact, I have used Delia's recipe in recent years, from her lovely Christmas recipe book.

You could buy the ready-peeled vacuum packed chestnuts. Merchant Gourmet, I think.

My entire Christmas comes from that book! It's all spotted and stained as a good cookbook should be.

Yes agree.

Bread sauce is made with infused milk and breadcrumbs. The steeped milk is the key, flavoured with a whole onion studded with cloves, whole peppercorns, bay leaves and nutmeg. I use Nigella's recipe. SO DELICIOUS!!

Ah, gotcha. Sorry, I thought you didn't know! And you clearly know your way around a Christmas dinner!

Turkey, ham, 2 types of stuffing, croquettes, mash, garlic potatoes, roasties, roast carrots and parsnip, cauliflower cheese, red cabbage choice of bread sauce or gravy, also need Branston pickle or mustard 😋

Mine is:
Starter, this year is smoked salmon terrine
Main, turkey, roast potatoes, mash (DS doesn't like roasties), 2 different stuffings, pigs in blankets, sprouts, honey glazed parsnips, Carrots broccoli, cauliflower cheese, braised red cabbage, cranberry sauce, bread sauce, gravy (Jamie Oliver get ahead gravy).
Pudding Chrismas Pudding, alternative for DC.

Bread sauce, cranberry sauce,

Stuffing

Mmmmm

Entirely your choice, but most people have:

Turkey or beef or goose
Some have ham
Roast potatoes
Gravy
Stuffing
Bread sauce (optional)
Chipolatas wrapped in bacon
sprouts
carrots
swede (optional)
parsnips
braised red cabbage (optional)
cranberry sauce
cauliflower cheese (optional)
yorkshire puddings (if having beef)

maybe prawn cocktail or smoked salmon and brown bread and butter for starter, then Christmas pudding or mince pies and brandy butter for pudding.

Reading this thread I’ve realised my Christmas dinner may be a bit OTT.

Gammon
turkey
veggie protein (usually quorn roast)
some form of steak, usually fillet
roasties
garlic mash
dauphinoise
Roasted carrots and parsnips
carrot and swede mash
sprouts with pancetta
greens like cabbage and leeks
red cabbage
cauliflower cheese
stuffing
pigs in blankets

Jamie’s gravy
cranberry sauce
Cumberland sauce

I know people who have steak and chips and others who have simple turkey carrots and potatoes. Cool whatever you enjoy and don’t put too much pressure on yourself OP

Turkey
Stuffing (bread sauce)
Mashed potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast parsnips
Roast sweet potatoes
Mashed turnip and carrot
Gravy
Peas
Brussels sprouts
Pickled red cabbage
More Gravy

Trifle/Mince pies/Christmas pudding
Custard
Chocolate

Why is bread sauce so-named? It's nothing like a sauce!

You've missed the Yorkshire puds 😲