Goose for Christmas...

wibblyjelly · 2014-07-26T20:50:49+00:00

When should we order it in? Don't mind frozen, and will only need a small one, as it will only be for 3 of us.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/07/2014 22:37

Do you have a good local butcher (I know they are few and far between now) but you'll need to work out sizes because goose isn't a generous bird WRT yield.
(I looked on a website - 10lb goose will feed four, 11lb turkey will feed eleven)
But you'll get the goose fat (lots) for your potatoes.

Waitrose.M&S, Sainsbury all have them to pre-order nearer Christmas.

(I don't eat it BTW, vegetarian )

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 27/07/2014 09:34

Thanks 70! There's a butcher about a 10 min drive from us that we've never tried, so Christmas may be the time to do so

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MakeTeaNotWar · 27/07/2014 09:37

Wibbly DH is a butcher and consequently I urge you to support your independent retailers rather than the supermarket giants who are killing the high street. Goose is delicious - check with your butcher but about 4 weeks before Christmas is fine x

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 27/07/2014 09:43

Have you ever cooked goose? Very little meat on a goose - it's delicious, but feeding 3 would be a push IMO unless you're small eaters.

And be prepared to have to deal with loads and loads of fat. You can't pour it down the sink. I mean LOADS. I've only cooked it once - the house stank of goose fat for weeks afterwards, and everything felt greasy to touch. Never again.

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 27/07/2014 13:04

Thanks Tea, will definitely support the local butcher
Middle, I should admit the goose will be served alongside turkey and possibly a ham as well, so won't be the only meat.

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EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 27/07/2014 13:10

We have goose, it is delicious, but expensive. I get mine from Waitrose, which is a "sympathetic" supermarket, ie, treats its farmers fairly, monitors animal welfare and stocks local produce.

Our goose last year fed six of us - it was large and cost almost £100, but I had to have a turkey joint as well (for DP, as he doesn't like goose and enjoys cold turkey for supper with obligatory sausage rolls and pickles)

And I've found you have to cook it on a rack over a large tray, to allow the copious amounts of fat to drain, but if you save the fat, it makes fantastic roast potatoes and lasts for several months.

annabanana19 · 27/07/2014 13:59

Blimey if you lived near me you'd get one for free!! We get given on free every year (4 days before crimbo) and we hate it! Been going on for about 9 years and we don't like goose. I rotate who gets it each year!

annabanana19 · 27/07/2014 14:01

Blimey if you lived near me you'd get one for free!! We get given on free every year (4 days before crimbo) and we hate it! Been going on for about 9 years and we don't like goose. I rotate who gets it each year!

HauntedNoddyCar · 27/07/2014 14:06

I usually phone the butcher about a month beforehand to put in an order. But I could probably leave it later because there isn't the same demand.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 27/07/2014 15:20

Annabanana - I'd pay you for it!! You could have made a small fortune out of me

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 27/07/2014 15:21

You're not in east london, are you Anna?

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annabanana19 · 27/07/2014 16:04

Far from it chick! North Wales!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/07/2014 16:08

We got one from LIDL for £9.99 - taste as good as the ones we have paid £50+ for (usually from Sainsburys - they always have them in the freezers, in the weeks leading up to Christmas) - it was 4kg and fed 5 adults for 2 meals - the roast dinner, and then the meat that was left, shredded and fried in a honey soy marinade.

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 27/07/2014 16:32

Haha, bit far to come then! Thanks anyway

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Original poster

wibblyjelly · 27/07/2014 16:34

STDG the marinade sounds lovely!

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Original poster

wibblyjelly · 27/07/2014 16:35

Sorry, SDTG even!

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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/07/2014 16:45

It was rather nice, if I say so myself. it might have had some grated ginger and a bit of Chinese five spice too.

I was going to do it the day after Boxing Day, but found that ds2 has made himself a delicious sandwich with the leftover goose on Boxing Day. I may have had a bit if a meltdown - if I am honest, I went totally OTT - I think all the stress of Christmas came to a head.

We found the £9.99 goose in Lidl after Christmas, and had it for Easter Sunday lunch, with the sticky marinaded goose the next day.

Original poster

wibblyjelly · 27/07/2014 16:54

We are having pur first Christmas at home, just myself, DH and 2 year old ds. Really hoping it's not too stressful

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 27/07/2014 19:56

Would everyone eat goose though Wibbly
I've never eaten it but I'd imagine it's a really rich meat.
My DC aren't vegetarian (DH and I are) so I buy them Free Range chicken (usually a chicken breast in skin) or if I have family visiting, a whole bird.

DS was very suspicious of turkey and took some convincing

You can make lots of pigs in blankets to supplement it if the goose isn't as generous .

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/07/2014 19:58

It is richer than chicken or turkey, but it isn't really strong tasting, 70isaLimit - it is delicious. It isn't a gamey-tasting meat, which some people might object to.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 28/07/2014 15:54

We had in-laws last Christmas. FIL had been very unwell, and off his food completely, really not eating very much at all, for months. I cooked goose as usual (but did turkey too, as I was a bit worried about his delicate constitution and DP likes his traditional turkey). Well, FIL wolfed it down, and came back for seconds (not the turkey BTW)!!

Goose is not at all gamey, a little bit richer than chicken or turkey, possibly, but then you don't need to eat as much, if you don't want.

You should try it - I'm so pleased we did, we love it. Our teenagers much prefer it to turkey.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 28/07/2014 15:59

I tend to do three sauces with it (overkill, I am sure) - bread sauce, because I love it, and it wouldn't be Christmas without it, gravy for dh and the dses, and spiced apple sauce - I think that cuts through the richness of the goose, especially as I make it quite sharp.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 28/07/2014 16:56

I do bread sauce, gravy (obv) and cranberry with orange.

What spice do you put with your apples SDT? Might try yours this year as well. We always have a glut of bramleys, but I usually only do apple sauce with pork.

Saw a nice recipe for gooseberry sauce to go with duck or goose somewhere (in my torn out, higgledy-piggledy magazine page folder - will have to try and find it)

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 28/07/2014 16:59

I use ground ginger, a bit of mixed spice and some cinnamon. I do this sauce with pork too - and it is nice on its own, cold. How lovely, having your own Bramleys!

NorwaySpruce · 28/07/2014 17:05

Ooh SDT you've just reminded me - we have an Aldi 3 (or maybe 4) bird roast in the freezer!

I was working nights last week and have just remembered my husband saying he'd bought one for the freezer - I was in a sleep deprived haze.

It should still be fine come December

Might try their goose this year, just so I can go all Tiny Tim, and then yell 'your goose is cooked'.