I’ve been vetoed- family insist on chicken not turkey

[CoolShoeshine]

I like turkey for Christmas lunch, basically because it’s traditional and I don’t have it any other day of the year. However my cooking can be a bit hit or miss and sometimes it can be a bit dry.
My son is a fussy eater but this year has started to like chicken. Also my daughter prefers chicken. I was originally loathe to consider chicken as we have it most weeks but with both kids asking for it, it makes sense to have chicken, plus I’m not a great cook but you can’t go far wrong with a chicken. Any tips for how to make chicken more special? Should I get one from a farm shop rather than supermarket? Is it possible to get a big one with lots of leftovers for the following days (the supermarket ones tend to be pretty tichy). Thanks 😊

[FatGirlShrinking]

Just cheat and get an Asda extra tasty roast in the bag chicken. Comes pre seasoned, cooking in the bag keeps in the moisture then you give it 20 minutes at the end out of the bag to crisp up.

I love a Xmas day feast but refuse to spend my whole day cooking and washing up, so everything is bought ready to cook. Asda and M&S generally have all their Xmas lunch stuff set up to cook at the same temperature too so just bung everything in the oven when it's time.

Bake in the bag chicken, bag of nice ready made gravy, tray of honey glazed carrots and parsnips, tray of roast potatoes in goose fat, sausage meat stuffing balls, pigs in blankets and ready made Yorkies.

Then we'll have some kind of mega chocolate cold dessert.

There's only me, DH and DD so with all of that we'll have leftovers for Xmas day tea and Boxing Day.

[Jouleigh]

We always get a chicken as DS doesn't like turkey.
I'm vegetarian so not fussed, just haven everything except meat. We usually have 8+ vegetables.
The other three who like meat also choose something they like. Either turkey crown, pork, beef etc.
It might be unusual but it works for us.
Also we don't get special meat, it's the same as everyone likes all the time

[gamerchick]

[quote Shadowboy]@Gatekeeper I thought caponisation was illegal in the UK?[/quote]
It is but there are still places that sell it but don't cut it's knackers off and let it fatten up slowly. Expensive though.

[gamerchick]

www.bigbarn.co.uk/product/free-range-cockerel-capon-4kg/21708/

[Jouleigh]

Also I used to do the whole pretending that turkey is chicken and red meat is the same it stopped when he could read and now he checks in case we are lying!

[Tfoot75]

You can get a capon, though I believe they are chickens bred to be very large rather than the traditional method. Officially called a Christmas chicken I believe! We order one from our local butcher every year. Hate Turkey, think its disgusting.

[Lalanbaba]

For a very festive chicken you can debone it and stuff it.
It's great for slicing as with no bones you can literally make slices. It's more difficult to dry out iif you use, sausage/bacon in the stuffing. Lots of leftovers

[CoolShoeshine]

@Ragwort

Why do your DC dictate what you cook for Christmas lunch? . They can choose in the future when they are hosting the meal.

That’s like saying they can have presents when they’re adults and buy them themselves .
Doesn’t everyone want to make their family happy at Christmas? Plus it’s a bit disheartening to spend loads of money buying a turkey plus lots of effort trying to cook only to have half the people at the table hate it.

[herecomesthsun]

We are having a big chicken and lots of pigs in blankets at the request of the kids, We will also have 2 partridges stuffed with pear from Waitrose and we can have a bit of both.

[safariboot]

I think the size of a turkey is a big factor in dryness. So a pair of regular chickens is probably better than a single big one. Maybe two different styles if you want some variety, eg one regular and one spiced or something.

Agree with a PP that it's the full works sides that make a Christmas dinner special.

[Jackparlabane]

A good free range chicken can be 4kg, nearly as big as a small turkey. Plenty of leftovers if it's just you and 2 kids. When I was growing up my parents and I would have chicken or duck.

A boned rolled turkey roast is very easy to cook - and likely to be on special offer after Christmas. Treat yourself for New Year? Turkey meat freezes very well, too.

[Nikori]

We’re also having chicken this year. I think a turkey would just be too big for us. I’ll serve it on a tray surrounded by all different veg and sausages, etc. Then loads of different deserts.

[Gatekeeper]

Caponising IS
illegal in UK...its just the word that remains not the practice. Its a chicken, or young cockeral( not castrated) allowed a longer maturity and without growth/hormones being routinely given

[ritzbiscuits]

I've ordered two high quality chickens from our butcher. Plan to cook both so we have leftovers for sandwiches the next day.

DH hates turkey, he said it if was that good we'd all eat it throughout the year! I tend to agree with him, you can't beat a lovely roast chicken.

[Clarabellawilliamson]

We had a cockerel from the farm shop last year and it was great! Felt a bit more special than a normal chicken (and bigger) but kept everyone happy

[JustBumblingAlong]

If you dislike turkey and find it dry I can really recommend brining it, the process honestly transforms it. It’s part of our prep tradition now. I loosely follow Nigella’s recipe.

[Ninkanink]

I always have to add a counterpoint to that, I’m afraid - we all hated the brined turkey (also following Nigella’s recipe). So I’d recommend doing a taste run before Christmas. We were so glad we’d decided to try it ahead of time.

Goose is much, much nicer than turkey, easy to cook and almost impossible to dry out. Plus you will get lots and lots of delicious goose fat to use over winter. So maybe that’s an option? There wouldn’t be much, of anything, left over, though (although I did once stretch ours to a goose sandwich for 4).

[Ninkanink]

Not one sandwich to share between 4, I hasten to add! a sandwich each.

[12in21]

@CoolShoeshine

I like turkey for Christmas lunch, basically because it’s traditional and I don’t have it any other day of the year. However my cooking can be a bit hit or miss and sometimes it can be a bit dry.
My son is a fussy eater but this year has started to like chicken. Also my daughter prefers chicken. I was originally loathe to consider chicken as we have it most weeks but with both kids asking for it, it makes sense to have chicken, plus I’m not a great cook but you can’t go far wrong with a chicken. Any tips for how to make chicken more special? Should I get one from a farm shop rather than supermarket? Is it possible to get a big one with lots of leftovers for the following days (the supermarket ones tend to be pretty tichy). Thanks 😊

If they are cooking it then they can have chicken.

You’re the chef. You decide. Have turkey.

[movingonup20]

If you aren't a great cook buy a ready stuffed cook in the bag one, make your life easier! (And buy lots of other prepared stuff too, why not enjoy the day rather than cook!)

[Rangoon]

Why not roast lamb? Doing a plug for NZ's lamb! Given Brexit you might be grateful for it and increase the amount we can send you.

[AnnaMagnani]

Turkey is awful. We usually have duck but one year decided to have turkey as 'it's traditional'.

Bought expensive turkey from the butcher. It was not dry but it was dull. Even the leftovers were dull.

It was not repeated the following year.

[bodgeitandscarper]

We always have two chickens, but this year as a panic buy I've pre ordered a turkey crown. The family all did this . Regretting it now.

[Ninkanink]

Turkey crown is great for sandwiches. So you could always have it as a supplement to another roast.

It’s also easier to cook a crown well as the cooking time is straightforward and less chance of drying out.

[Ninkanink]

I’m so sad that I might not get to have goose this year.

But it’s DH’s turn to have the final say and I think he wants turkey this year. Luckily I do like turkey and we do cook it well.