Christmas Menu

[Paranormalbouquet]

Been on already re Christmas desserts!

Have 6 adults and 1 preschooler (ours) for dinner this year. Want some advice regarding menu please!

I have only one oven and a kitchen/dining room which are open plan so no way of hiding mess from the guests! Looking to see if this is possible with such limited oven space!

Main:
Goose (large one ordered) with potato stuffing and some sausage meat stuffing balls. Will take 2-3 hours in oven and can sit happily for up to 2 hours before going cold.
Ham- large one, will cook on Xmas eve and glaze, then just heat up on the day- while goose stands.

Sides- red cabbage (made day before), heated on hob, Brussels sprouts with cream, butter, bacon and Parmesan (fairly quick on the day, will prepare night before). Potatoes par boiled early in the day and then roasted in goose fat (worried about managing this and the ham in the oven at the same time).
Will make goose gravy also.

Dessert: think I’ve settled on trifle. Or an orange and ginger cake with vanilla ice-cream. Either way made day before.

Would an antepasto type starter be reasonable do you think? Some nice meat, figs, olives etc? DH thinks it’s fine but people might prefer a warm starter? Any suggestions for making it more Christmassy?!

Sounds perfect.

Sounds lovely. The ham I would imagine will keep warm for a few hours. Can you definitely not fit both ham and goose in the oven at the same time?

Roast potatoes need a hot oven, and I’d not warm the ham at a high heat if you’ve already glazed it.

Does the ham have to be hot?

I’d not bother with a sit down starter - just nibbles and fizz so people can eat that whilst you prep the main. We usually do fishy nibbles like smoked salmon etc.

Definitely can’t fit a ham and a goose in the oven. Normally I have ham on Xmas eve and have some of the leftovers Xmas day but I’m anxious about feeding 6 people with a single goose so would like to have hot ham on the day!

I have a slow cooker so considered doing ham in that but am worried it would fall apart.

Do you have a microwave? I’m wondering if you can warm up the ham in that, slices?

Do you have a slow cooker? I always cook my ham in the slow cooker then glaze it & put it in the oven for 30 mins or so.

Serve the ham cold. Or at room temperature. No one will notice once it's smothered under the hot veg and sauce!

Prep the veg the day before (peel, chop etc) and keep in water overnight. I usually get a clean bucket, load it all in there and cover it then chuck it out the back door with all the alcohol - our winter fridge!

I like a soup starter, but DH loves prawn cocktail - maybe ask the guests for any preferences?

I do have a microwave which is almost never used. Hence not even having considered it! That would obviously solve a lot of issues!

I've never had a starter on Christmas Day, I don't think there's any need for one at all. You must have pigs in blankets though! Maybe some plain veg too, both yours will be very rich.

I would do the ham in the slow cooker (yes, it falls apart, that's the best thing about it) or slices & reheat in the microwave. You do need pigs in blankets, though. No need for a starter but antipasti sounds delicious.

You could wrap sliced ham in tin foil and put in the oven as you warm plates.
Trifle would be perfect.
I wouldn't bother with a starter. Just something very light like olives etc as you said. Sounds beautiful. I made my cranberry sauce and Jamie's get ahead gravy today.

Pigs in blankets aren’t something I’ve ever associated with Christmas (Not English!). My (also not English) DH has quite taken to them though so perhaps I’ll do some! Have always had a starter though. Yes I’ll do some carrots and parsnips which can be roasted alongside potatoes.

I love ham falling apart too- but makes it hard to glaze and bake them!

With a big dinner coming you don't need a high starter
Where's the Yorkshire puddings??

Definitely no space in oven for them!
And I may need to repeat Not English! (Thought the potato stuffing might be a clue!)

I will admit to taking on the English tradition of red cabbage though as I love it!

I did an antipasto starter last year. Bruschetta made in advance, just needed mozzarella, basil and tomatoes adding. Also did some continental meats, olives, sun dried tomatoes from a jar.
No one was too full from it and not much work on the day.

You could also do soup, made in advance and microwave on the day

We have nipples and fizz like a PP. Usually sausage rolls, smoked salmon blinis and cheese straws.

The potatoes you can par boil before, freeze on a baking tray, then keep in a bag in the freezer. You can cook them from frozen. One less thing to do on Christmas Day (and one less pot to wash) and I find they actually taste better than if you made them fresh!

Serve the ham cold.

We have nipples and fizz

Ooh errr.

^^ Loving the nipples and fizz! Great starter!!

Depends on the company you keep, I suppose. Not sure I'd want nipples with the in laws round for dinner! 😂😂😁

I’ve got an image of the MIL in nipple tassels now

Pass the brain bleach

🙈🙈🙈

We are having a family meal on 29th December.

Usually there is so much food, we barely touch dessert and cheese so I'm cutting the starters and just doing canapés and fizz and going straight to main course.

Thank you all, nipples and fizz it is I think! I’ve always done/had a starter of some description for Xmas dinner so feel I do need to do something. I like soup but worry it may be too heavy before a big meal.

Do pigs in blankets go as nibbles or as a side for dinner? I’m assuming it’s acceptable to buy these ready made rather than making myself?

You can eat pigs in blankets however you like. Generally they're a side though.

And YY to buying in!