To ask what you think of this xmas dinner

[Shereturnsforonemore]

Ok here goes
microwave pulled pork
frozen Brussels
frozen roast potatoes
frozen yorkshire pudding
ah bisto

Christmas pudding ( ready made) with tin custard.

drinks were a selection of beer vodka rose wine cider and soft drinks and fruit shoots

What would your reaction be ?

yanbu sounds nice
yabu yuk

I’d probably have made some different gravy as Bisto can be a bit bland, but I used to buy Auntie Bessie’s roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings because they were a perfectly adequate substitute, even if the potatoes weren’t quite as good as lovingly prepared homemade ones. I also like frozen sprouts as they tend to be less bitter than fresh ones.

I’d probably have bought cranberry and bread sauces to make it more Christmassy. Not the best Christmas dinner ever, but it honestly sounds perfectly adequate to me and I wouldn’t complain if someone else made it for me.

As I’ve often said arthritis has killed my ability to chop peel fresh veg so I have to buy prepared I’m on my own now so frozen is best no waste. I suppose I’m considered lazy now. But I can still put brought diced meat veg in slow cooker and freeze dumplings and beef stew for tea and I can’t wait.

@MotherOfPuffling

Any recipes welcome thanks.

What's wrong with frozen Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding? Absolutely nothing at all. The pulled pork is the stranger here. I certainly wouldn't have put them together, but tbh, it's all perfectly edible, if a bit weird. Someone has at least gone to some trouble t o provide a Christmas dinner.

What's wrong with frozen Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding?

They're objectively horrible. That's not some kind of niche opinion.

Frozen sprouts are horrible they are very unforgiving , one veg in my opinion that should always be cooked from fresh .

I would have expanded the range of vegetables - and to be fair, I would have bought from the fresh prepared veg rather than frozen as it can be a bit mushy. Same for yorkies - the big ones in the fresh section are nicer. I don't eat pork so can't comment there. Gravy - the pouches of ready made gravy are nicer than bisto - bisto is OK if you mix with meat juices. Prefer homemade roast potatoes but understand not everyone is fussed or can do them well. Frozen aunt Bessie's parsnips are nice - would have got those. Don't understand tinned custard when so many good alternatives at Xmas. Drinks - wouldn't serve vodka or any spirit with lunch but that's just me - that would be for evening.

What's wrong with frozen Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding?

They really just don’t taste great, that’s what’s wrong. Pre-prepared food, fine, there are some great options out there nowadays. Frozen roast potatoes and Yorkshires are bland and aren’t textures which lend themselves that well to re-cooking. I’m not a particular food snob: I’m currently mid flight across the Atlantic, quite enjoyed the weird airline microwaved beef stew ready meal I was just served, and at some point if I get peckish later on I’ll eat the now very cold and somewhat squashed Taco Bell bean burrito I brought with me which was bought two days ago in Chicago; so my standards are def not up there with the Saudi Princes. But I still wouldn’t serve it to guests at Christmas.

The more I think about it, the more I can't understand why you would ever buy microwave meat. Cooking a joint of meat is not at all labour intensive or difficult. You can buy them all ready trussed up or wrapped in bacon or herbs. Even if you bought a plain joint of meat, all you really have to do is put it in the oven. It's no hassle at all. As for potatoes, buy small new potatoes...put in baking tray, add oil and roast, don't even need to peel.

What's wrong with frozen Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding?
The Brussel sprouts have a different and no very nice texture compared to fresh ones.
The roast potatoes are usually much harder inside than homemade ones and never seem to get that really good crunch on the outside.
The Yorkshire puddings are small, thin and quite cardboardy, nothing like a proper one.

I certainly wouldn't say yuk. But for a Christmas dinner this sounds a bit basic and cheap.
Fair enough, if someone cooked this for me, and invited me over as a guest, I'd say thank you very much. I certainly wouldn't act disappointed.

Oh don’t be ridiculous! Food doesn’t have to be complicated to taste good. I did say the timing can be tricky but, if you work it out in advance then it shouldn’t cause issues on the day. I actually have two ovens but, even if I didn’t, the turkey needs to rest for an hour before serving so you should manage to cook your veg and trimmings in that time (perhaps a little longer for roast potatoes). Herbs and seasoning are easy to add as well and there are so many recipes available to help people who aren’t sure what and how much to use (the Taming Twins website, for example, has a whole section devoted to fuss free but delicious Christmas food). It definitely requires some thought and planning but I wouldn’t say you need any particular skill.

We had family over for Boxing Day and had gammon, egg and chips. No doubt that would be frowned upon!

Depends, did you microwave the gammon and buy ready made fried eggs?

No it doesnt need to be complicated but it does need to be actually prepared and cooked. Its nonsense to suggest, as you did, that the "oven does all the work". Obviously it does not

No, but we bought Aunt Bessie's oven chips!

Fair enough. The oven does most of the work. The prep is simple and doesn’t take that long.

I love the fact that your biggest ‘compliment’ was that you didn’t put any effort in so they didn’t have to eat your food. 😂
Personally I wouldn’t have minded the frozen veg and bisto gravy, can’t comment on the microwaved pulled pork as I’ve never tried it but frozen roasties are an abomination and I’d have had to smother them in ketchup in order to make them the tiniest bit appetising. If, like you, I was short on time but not money I’d have ordered in an Indian or Chinese for everyone. Much tastier and much less washing up!