What do you do with your Christmas Dinner? Trying to impress!

[Babymad4num3]

I've offered to do Christmas dinner for the in-laws at my house, I know mad! I want to get it just right, there will be 10 people and I want to impress! . I just want to get as much information about all them extra special bits you can do!

moondog, lol at you having to de-grease the oven....that will teach you to be Crachach (sp?)

What would you sugesst if you don't want turkey or a 'Roast'. I do them every sunday and I never feal they are special enough for xmas day. I've cooked a turkey every year and we have all confessed that we don't really like it.

Ideas please?

I've cooked for 11 with a one shelf oven and 4 gas rings b4 - and did it well (everything hot at same time).

Whatever you decide to cook remember preparation is the key. Prepare as much as you can the day b4 (or week b4 if poss ), even down to cutting up veg - some you can put in water in fridge so don't dry out or anything.

MAkes you less stressed so less likely to burn/make a mess of anything

Oh and get loads of posh snacky bits - like blinis etc, then if you're running late no one will notice/care

martianbishop, fillet of beef Prince Albert!

Big piece of fillet, browned, spread foie gras pate over with finely chopped truffles, wrap in pancetta and oven cook. if you're interested I'll try and find a recipe

I cooked Christmas dinner for 10 with a dodgy grill, a small "turbo cooker" (glass bowl thing with a fan heater in the lid) and a hob, including yorkshire puddings and homemade mince pies and I will NEVER be doing it again.

It was awful MB.MN quite enjoyed the saga,and the dethroning of a foodie queen.

How about poussins,or pheasant,or roast pork or roast beef?

Don't want to do a roast, since I do them so often. Have doen phesent in the past and wasn't that wild about them

Well,will you countenance something hot at least??

MB - how about a whole salmon with hollondaise sauce, some lovely "tarted up" veg and follow with a sharp lemon tart ??

Did that a few years back - everyone loved it - but my "sainted" mum and aunt whittered for the whole of January and February that " it just didn't seem like Christmas did it Sheila, without the Turkey and all the trimmings?" .... then they started again the next November " Don't put yourself to all that hard work like last year dear - just do a turkey " ... Grrrrrr

Don't forget the sausagemeat stuffing (sausagemeat, onions, bread and herbs). A bit decadent, but it's great on turkey sandwiches the next day.
Broccoli with flaked, toasted almonds is tasty too.

THank you for the offer anniediv, I have lots of cookery books, so will try one from them this year.

MB i'd say salmon too.

I'd live on bread sauce quite happily as long as it has plenty of onion.

my fave christmas dinner is DUCK (best ever was a Nigel Slater one I think, duck with marmalade and soy glaze, but unfortunately i've lost the recipe). But for 10 people that's no good, you'd have to have about 5 ducks.

I'd say don't bother with a starter, but have lots of nice nibbly things with the champagne. And sparkling elderflower (Majestic do it, i'm sure loads of others) for non-drinkers as it's a bit special.

Christmas pudding, obv, and we used to have raspberry jelly as an alternative which i love and which is very light.

then DESSERT - nuts, chocs, fruit, cheese, biscuits until you all fall over.

get some skewers and thread stuffing balls and pigs in blankets alternatley seperate with bay leaves , 2 stuffing and 3 pigs for each person this looks really nice on the plate around your turkey.
Also if you have any traditionalists dont tell them if you are doing something different, a few years ago i told my gran i was doing goose then a week later i told her i had changed my mind and was going to do turkey. She was so relieved apparently she had not slept for week !!!

Another good Nigella tip - don't worry about getting everything hot at the same time. Just make sure the gravy is piping hot and there's lots of it.

MB.

Don't buy a huge turkey (will only be dry), get medium size one and perhaps a gammon or a joint of beef which can be cooked the day before.

Make or buy a pudding for those who don't like christmas pudding but something that also be done the day before.

I would also ask about likes/dislikes now so you can start planning now.

Don't do large amount of veg unless you know it's going to be eaten other the roast pots blanch what veg or are doing either the day before or in the morning the reheat just before serving. (please don't do what my mil does with sprouts cooks for about 30mins then don't laugh she reheats them in the microwave so when you go anywhere near them with a fork they just fall to peices)

And reminber it's your christmas to so try not to spend all morning in the kitchen.

It isn't the cooking I don't fancy. It is just that I do a raost almost every Sunday, so a Turkey is nothing special IYSWIM.

I didn't what to do Christmas last year as my dad died and it's also his Birthday on the 27th Dec, if it wasn't for my DH 25th wouldn't of been Christmas! Deck's didn't go up till the night before but we did Christmas and it was okay, this year I want a big doo! So I said to the in-laws (and i have a 10 setter table and chair set that i want to show off ) that I'll do Christmas dinner and then brought a v.big pork joint as I love pork and it's my Christmas too, !

Thanks for all your help and advice!
I've always wanted to try that honey roast carrot thing what do you do, never tryed anything like that before?

mazzystar = any chance you could post those stuffing recipes? I have searched angela hartley without any joy.
Also, have you tried Hugh FW's apricot and sausage meat stuffing? it is heavenly!

lastly , has anyone secretly used those ready made roast potatoes? Mine are always so bad I am thinking of using the aunt bessie ones this year, secretly of course. I couldn't bear the shame!

And the leftover veg makes wonderful bubble & squeak on Boxing Day. Yum. I think that's actually my favourite meal!

its september

I do a mixture of Nigella stuff (for the pudding/cake/cranberry sauce and Turkey) All in Domestic goddess and FEAST. I did the turkey in brine which was really easy - loads of ingreadiants, but simple IYKWIM.

I use a mix of Delia and a very old (1999) Good food magazine for everything else.

Starter last time was mango and prawn salad (ASDA mag recipe) but lost the recipe sp can't help. But a kitsch prawn cocktail would be my choice. Turkey with stuff, sasagaes and bacon etc. Parmesan parsnips (basically pre parsnips, par boil and then cpat in paresan/flour mix and rost. Carrots with butter, broccoli/cauliflower cheese, sprouts and chestnuts, veggie roast (for me) and loads of potatoes

Donnie

yes i use aunt bessie roasted potatoes if dh wants a roast dinner during the week when i don't have time to fresh.

We always have guinea fowl as it's DH's favourite. Also always make honey roast parsnips (slice lengthwise, then warm some butter and some honey in the microwave, tip over parsnips in oven dish, put in oven till they're all brown and caramelised and yummy).

If you don't fancy turkey, our other treaty Christmas time thing is venison stew on New Years Day. Yum.

Am starting to get excited about Christmas now. Might get out the Lakeland Christmas catalogue and indulge myself.