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?

I'm with GetOrf for the bubble and squeak. But I also love bread sauce and my cranberry and red onion marmalade!

I'm not a fan of bread sauce. We never had it growing up. I'm not sure, but think maybe it's a specifically British thing (parents are Irish).

We didn't grow up having yorkies with our Christmas Dinner, either, but I have added them in recent years. We are a greedy family .

There must be at least two types of stuffing and I like mash as well as roasties. Carbs galore!

I have never added yorkshire puds...but am very tempted.

If Yorkshire Puds weren't on the menu my DS would boycott the table !

We usually have Yorkshire puddings because ds and I love them so much but, as it's all going to be cooked in my kitchen, I don't think there'll be room this year . I have thought about buying readymade ones but not sure how well that'll go down with the older generation . maybe if I hide the evidence no one will know!

It's interesting to see which bits are favourites and which aren't. I'm definitely going to have to add bread sauce to the list.

Now, do I fancify (made-up word of the day) the veg I'm planning to serve or just steam it and serve as it is? I fear I'm going to over-complicate things when I don't really need to.

I find the easiest way to cope with veg (especially if hob space is tight) is to cook ahead of time and then reheat either in the microwave or on the hob (with maybe a little bit of butter and, any time other than Christmas, some garlic).

Serve and steam is fine. Everyone will be grateful for such a wonderful dinner that it wouldn't occur to them to have expected anything else.

I steam the brussels in the morning and set aside. Stir-fry with butter, onions and chestnuts just before meal is served. I also do peas, broccolli and cauliflower last minute in the steamer. Roast the carrots in halves in with the parsnips. Lovely jubbly.

Stuffing, buttery garlicky stuffing, and the leftovers of the stuffing cold the next day in a mayonnaise sandwich

Stuffing and wine

bread sauce
bacon roll ups
stuffing

in that order. I can take or leave the meat and veg but I do live the trimmings.

The champagne before hand
The wine
Oh you meant the food
OK - another vote for bread sauce - homemade only though

and agree with santasenormasnob - lets start early -

DD1 cooking it

Better than cream or custard with the pud is to put double cream in a saucepan and heat gently - don't let it boil - then add Advocaat straight from the bottle until you finish up with the shade of yellow you like. Serve and smile!

I can't really taste any of it, TBH, for 2 reasons:

1. I've been cooking it for farking hours and the pervading smell and taste testing thats gone on negate any mmmmm when I tuck in
2. I've normally had 3/4 of a bottle of Prosecco by then which er dulls the taste buds a tad.

I'm told its delicious, though.

Oh and I'd never had bread suace until I met DH. I made it the other year, with onions, loves and all that jazz, finished with cream and black pepper.

It was spectaularly meh. I buy it from Waitrose now, for DH.

Cloves, even

Giant yorkshire pudding made by my mum. Loaded with turkey, beef, stuffing, squished roast potatoes and a couple of mini sausages wrapped in bacon then folded over and eaten like a sandwich. Yes i'm savage and no, I don't care.

From the main course I probably like the sprouts and bread sauce best (but actually the whole thing )

For pudding I can give or take Christmas pudding, but my mum always makes trifle as well and I'll have thirds please.

The stuffing made with sausagemeat and cranberries and what not. and pigs in blankets and the gravy.

I just buy the bread sauce from Marks, and get the Port and Cranberry sauce there, too.

I'm starving now!

My family wouldn't contemplate Christmas dinner without bread sauce - I think they'd rather do without the turkey! If you haven't tried it, you're missing out.
It's great in turkey and stuffing sandwiches on Boxing day too.

No, we only make bread sauce for my mum, no one else likes it at all, I don't even like making it, such is my aversion to it. Cloves are not my thing at all, and I don't like the texture, reminds me of baby food.

dh says we need the turkey. hey ho.

My mum makes a stuffing with whole chipolatas, which is scrummy and there's always a fight over the sausages.

I love Christmas pudding but DP's family don't like it so always have a mince pie with cream for dessert which just doesn't cut it for me!

I love all the leftovers too, turkey and stuffing butties, turkey and chips, curry etc etc