What's your favourite bit of Christmas dinner?

[mogs0]

I prefer all the trimmings rather than the turkey and my favourite bit of Christmas dinner is carrot and swede and sausages wrapped in bacon.

I've never cooked a Christmas dinner before, we nearly always go to my mum's but this year I am hosting and wondering which bits everyone likes and which bits people aren't that bothered about.

There was one year that the carrot and swede was accidentally left off the menu and, despite it being 7 years ago, I still shudder at the memory of Christmas dinner without it.

I know there are lots of people who think it's just the same as a Sunday roast but we rarely have a roast on a Sunday so I'm a bit of a novice!

So, what are your must-haves on your Christmas dinner plate and which things would happily do without?

the leftover turkey sandwiches are my favourite. and really the cold meats day that is boxing day.
the brandy butter. i could just spoon that straight in (and onto my thighs)

Bread sauce (must be delia's)
swede
sausages and bacon
sausage meat stuffing
parsnips

jelly and custard and cream at the end for those who dont really like christmas pud.

A large whisky to finish

Bread sauce. I have already made mine

When it's all over, everyone is replete and I'm on the sofa with plenty of muscat de beaumes de venise.

I don't know if I've had bread sauce before. I'm sure I must have but don't remember . Any recommended recipes that can be made ahead and frozen or would that be wrong?

I've never had bread sauce. Is it nice? Does it actually taste of bread?

The roast parsnips are the best bit - definitely (although I am a veggie so many of the other bits are off limits really.)

Another bread sauce fan here, with lots and lots of black peper ground on it, heaven!

Never make my own, just the packet stuff [philistine]

We always fight over the (maple syrup) roasted parsnips - definitely a family favourite! I also love cauliflower cheese, mmm! :)

roast potatoes and the veg yummy

Think I may have to buy cauliflower cheese ready made. Also love pureed celeriac. This is the second thread in a week I have mentioned cauliflower cheese!

I have never eaten bread sauce either - I have cranberry sauce and some horserasdish with my christmas dinner.

Also top place goes to the vat of mulled wine and the amaretto chasers I consume on christmas eve whislt preparing all the veg - and now my daughter joins in which is lovely.

Favourites are roast potatoes, Yorkshires and gravy. I'm not that bothered about the meat, but like a good meaty gravy (the Jamie Oliver make ahead one is fab)

I wouldn't miss parsnips and I hate bread sauce, Christmas pudding, and brandy butter or sauce.

I just like a bit of vanilla ice cream for afters and some crackers and cheese later. Maybe a mince pie or two...

Lol at this thread. Mogs, if you cook everything that someone says is essential, you're going to need a big kitchen.

Me, I like the cold turkey sandwiches later. I could just roast a turkey breast the day before and not bother with all the faff of cooking the dinner. In fact, I could just buy some sliced turkey from the deli counter ...

Dd thinks the best bit would be lasagne, ds1 is hoping for a burger, and ds2 is with me making sandwiches ...

I might actually cook cauliflower cheese this year, cook it on christmas even and reheat it on the day (which is what I already do with the red cabbage and swede anyway).

I have smashed about 20 bowls and dishes throughout the year so need to buy new ones

What is bread sauce?? whats it taste like

Bread sauce is made by putting bits of stale bread into hot milk which has cloves and an onion boiled in it.

I read the Nigella recipe, it hasn't inspired me to try it tbh. I think it is a love or hate thing, like sprouts.

GetOrf that's what I do - reheat in the ping-machine on a fast, high heat then top with grated cheddar & bung in oven/grill for 5 mins. Lushamundo.

My fave bit is a bit of saus in bacon, smooged into a bit of roast potato with a dollop of bread sauce, a smidge of swede and a bit of gravy on the side. Then stuffed into my gob :o

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Getorf, cook the cauliflower, drain it, put it back in the pan and wopp a shed loads of cheese on it and cover. The heat melts the cheese and it is divine.

Mogs, sometimes I will add cranberry or mint sauce to the sandwich, depending on how the mood takes me.

I could do without pudding after my dinner, but the cheeseboard is a must, with home made caramelised onion chutney

The M&S ready-made bread sauce is grand.

Hello pinot lovey

I am definitely doing cauli cheese now. In fact I wnat some RIGHT THIS MINUTE

No No No.

Bread sauce must be made by lovingly symmetrically studding an onion before infusing some milk with it + bay leaves and pepper corns for hours.
Then mix milk with breadcrumbs and butter whilst v slowly bringing to boil until it thickens.
Then put the beautiful clove studded onion back in and leave it a bit longer before warming it back up and beating in more butter and some cream.

It is by far the most important aspect of the dinner.

studding the onion with cloves that is, not studs!