Christmas menus please

[Geckos48]

We have a fairly normal Christmas dinner and I want something special this year so wondering what is on the menu at other homes.

Also, how do you make a nice, baked cauliflower cheese

We are fairly traditional regarding Christmas day menu too.
Cauli cheese wise, use a bit of the water you cook your cauli in to make the cheese sauce. Also add a teaspoonful of English mustard to the roux of your sauce.u

We are fairly traditional regarding Christmas day menu too.
Cauli cheese wise, use a bit of the water you cook your cauli in to make the cheese sauce. Also add a teaspoonful of English mustard to the roux of your sauce.

I tried making a cauliflower cheese like this earlier

Made a roux with flour and milk

Poured in milk

Added cheese

Poured over cooked cauliflower

Put in oven

It came out separated :( and weird. We couldn't eat it.

Make sure cauliflower is well drained, I leave mine in a colander for at least half an hour so there's no water to mix into sauce and make it watery

Ah okay that might have been something to do with it

Would second the addition of English mustard too. Really does add something.

Mummy okay, will make it this week and report back

Lay the cooked cauliflower out on a tea towel and allow it to completely steam-dry. Use mustard powder as patt of the roux to make the sauce and use tasty Lancashire cheese, A few finely chopped salted peanuts mixed in with the 'cheese-on-top' is a very good thing, too, as long as you aren't catering for any nut-allergy peeps

Add some broccoli to cauliflower cheese too - adds some colour, flavour and texture.

I make my sauce with a little less milk so it is a bit thicker than coating consistency - it thins a little in the oven.

We are fairly traditional the rest of the way, if you wanted some variety:

You could steam your sprouts and then finish them off in a frying pan with pancetta cubes and Marsala wine?

Carrots and parsnips glazed in maple syrup and roasted?

Celeriac mash, roast fennel, roast butternut squash or sweet potato?

Potato Gratin, Dauphinois?

Stuffing balls?

We stir fry shredded uncooked sprouts in bacon fat - Yummmmmmmmy - much nicer than cabbagey sprouts..

Thanks for the cauli tips, I thought it would thicken in the oven rather than thin... That explains a lot!

Goose with juniper sauce, served with roast potatoes cooked in goose fat, Parmesan parsnips from Delia's Christmas book, red cabbage (also Delia's), sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, roasted carrots with maple syrup, Savoy cabbage with butter and almonds and a pork and apricot stuffing. Gravy is optional, but will be Bisto.

This is what I would be serving if we were hosting Christmas...