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Original poster

Not having turkey for Christmas dinner

124 replies

MamaFi · 17/12/2009 13:05

and if you're not what are you having?

We're having home-made parsnip soup then big prawns and smoked salmon then 10oz fillet steaks / potato dauphinoise / veg finished off with a massive belgian chocolate yule log and posh ice cream.

Are we bonkers... are we the only ones in the world not having turkey? Turkey meat/cranberry sauce/stuffing etc isn't my idea of a treat... I'm guessing I'm in the minority.??!!

OP posts:
LukaSweetBabyJesus · 17/12/2009 20:30

Goose, ham and rib of beef

monkeysmama · 17/12/2009 20:37

We're having eggs benedict for breakfast and a bottle of vintage champagne we've been saving.

Then for Christmas dinner will start with a few campari cocktails to accompany some nice warm toasted almonds. Starting with a fresh prawn cocktail then having gammon with cloves, rib of beef, roast potatoes (in goose fat), brussels and chestnuts (courtesy of Waitrose), carrot and turnip, my homemade parmigiana (dp's favourite), peas, pigs in blankets and Yorkshires. Dd isn't a big fan of meat so will have her favourite parmigiana and spaghetti and vegi meatballs. Then homemade pannacotta and homemade apple suet for afters. Cheese and biscuits later in the evening from a lovely little local cheese shop. And Benedicts mint collection all to myself. A bit much seeing as it will be me, dp and dd (18mo) but hey .

CMOTdibbler · 17/12/2009 20:42

Last year was the first time I had ever had turkey on christmas day. Growing up, the family tradition was that we had a joint of beef from the Smithfield champion carcass.

Apparently this year we are having goose on christmas eve and pork on christmas day

JInglesBells · 17/12/2009 20:43

for the first year ever we're not hosting Xmas, it'll just be dh and I and the boys, so we're having a really nice piece of pork, with serious crackling, red cabbage, sprouts,chestnuts and all that jazz.
I'm most looking forward to eating it cold though which is good as the joint is massive!

Ripeberry · 17/12/2009 20:48

A few years ago, I invited the in-laws and my DH's sisters for Xmas dinner and we had venison casserole, whilst our kids watched Bambi on the TV.
No kidding....they ate it all, but I don't think they will want to come again
Anyway, decided this year we are having Turkey for a change.

monkeysmama · 17/12/2009 20:52

JIBells share your crackling secrets. Please.

JInglesBells · 17/12/2009 21:14

I can't MM t'is DH who is the crackling master...
hang on I'll ask him

monkeysmama · 17/12/2009 21:17

Thank you. It'll make my Christmas.

JInglesBells · 17/12/2009 21:27

ok, so this is coming from DH ( a food photographer) via his food stylist, so
you have to get a really decent piece of pork.
score the fat
The night before you want to cook it, pour over 2 kettles of boiling water and leave to air dry overnight.
If you can't leave overnight, use a hairdryer on it's lowest setting.
Just before it goes in the oven, rub in your salt, pepper, herbs etc.
Cook for 30 mins at your ovens highest temperature
then lower the heat and cook as normal (however many minutes per pound)

monkeysmama · 17/12/2009 21:39

Thank you!

Ponymum · 17/12/2009 21:42

No turkey - can't stand the dry mealy tasteless stuff. If you have to have a bird have goose, duck, or guinea fowl (depending on the number of guests). This year we are having... lamb cooked on the Weber barbeque! DH's idea, he insisted. So I have a lovely leg of lamb which I have already deboned and preped before putting in the freezer. I'll defrost it next week and stuff with spicy cous cous, tie it up with string, and then DH will roast it in the Weber - hopefully out in the snow so I can get a good photo. We'll serve with roast veg and garlic creme fraiche. Starter is smoked salmon salad and dessert is spicy poached pears and vanilla mascarpone.

This is a nice thread - so lovely to imagine you all sitting down to such well thought out menus filled with jolly MN Christmas cheer!

Plutothatpresentdown · 17/12/2009 23:09

I will be at your house for Christmas dinner Monkeysmama so please remember to lay an extra place at the table.

SofaQueen · 17/12/2009 23:25

No turkey here either. DH hates it, and there are only 3.5 of us. We are having:

Foie gras with sauteed pears and toasted brioche

Steak with bearnaise sauce, mashed potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts with pancetta, thyme roated carrots

Pumpkin creme brulee

lucykate · 17/12/2009 23:38

we had pork last year, and have had duck in the past. am having turkey this year but will be a small one and a joint of beef too. i'm not fussed about turkey, my favorite parts of christmas dinner are the trimmings, stuffing, sausages wrapped in bacon and brussel sprouts.

MrsWillis · 17/12/2009 23:58

I am very jealous at all of you having something other than turkey.

We are going to my Gran's for lunch as I have done since I can remember and she is very traditional so will be turkey and all the trimmings.

Not looking forward to Boxing day at the Mil's though. Gammon which is alright, smash , that mixed frozen veg that comes in little cubes and then Mr. Kipling cakes with custard that's so thick it doesn't pour out of the jug. Yum!

thereistheball · 18/12/2009 07:13

Beef here too. But in a moment of madness I decided that there wouldn't be enough leftovers unless I ordered a piece for 8 people instead of 4. So I expect we will be eating it til new year. Ah well

monkeysmama · 18/12/2009 08:07

I'll make you a doggy bag Pluto

MilkNoBrandyForSanta · 18/12/2009 08:34

We've never had turkey...as a whold bird iygwim... as my nan didn't like it but last year after she passed away we had it...twas not my favourite!!

This year we're having fillet steak, mushroom or black pepper sauce, mashed potatoes, chips, thosse squared potatoes (!),vvarious veggies, sprouts and chesnuts

For dessert home made mince pies, homemade ice cream, homemade xmas cake...and waitrose banoffee pie (for meee) nigella's Guiness cake may also be floating around

christiana · 18/12/2009 08:43

Message withdrawn

SantaClausImWorthIt · 18/12/2009 08:48

Beef Wellington here, too. I can't decide whether to do it as one big piece or as individual portions.

If I do it as one big one there will have to be a compromise as to how rare I'm allowed to cook it - we all like it rare, but my dad and DB/SIL don't.

That's as far as I've got!

I have to plan the menu soon so I can do the shopping and get it all up to my dad's where I will be cooking in his bloody awful kitchen.

We won't be having Christmas pudding as none of us like it/we never have any room for it - I might buy some Haagen Daaz, or make a lemon posset.

PrincessToadstool · 18/12/2009 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LizzyLordsALeaping · 18/12/2009 08:55

We're having Capon, we do most years. Far nicer than Turkey. Having it with a ham, pigs in blankets, chestnut stuffing, gratin dauphinois, veg (to be decided, definitely sprouts though) then homemade Christmas pudding and Choc Torte. Cheese (have got some from a Farmers market, need to get some more) and biscuits.
Vegetarian SIL is having a mushroon wellington.
CHristmas eve is Venison pie.

upahill · 18/12/2009 08:57

I am on vegetable and cashew nut loaf... Can you tell I am a veggie!!

I think DH and kids having beef.

Skegness · 18/12/2009 09:01

All these menus sound delicious. We never have turkey. Having rib of beef this year. yum.

alypaly · 18/12/2009 09:07

we are having homemade leek and celery soup sprinkled with crumbles stilton. traditional turkey with loads of homemade stuffings,pigs in blankets(the children always want turkey on xmas day) and then a leon and ginger cheesecake or xmas pud with cointreau cream.
We alaways have a honey and mustard glazed ham on the bone which is gorgeous for sarnies in the evenings.
Traditionally we have homemade sausage rolls,spicy pickled onions,mustard and a glass of champers on xmas morning.

On boxing day a have bough a whole fillet of beef and intentend to do a beef wellington stuffed coated with mushrooms and pate,pastry