Traditional Sunday Roast

[Ozziegirly]

So, we're having some friends over next Sunday for lunch - couple and 2 small children (one will have the meal, one will probably have bits).

So I was thinking of doing roast chicken, roast potatoes, carrots, peas, brussels, parsnips, yorkshire pud, pigs in blankets and stuffing. Then followed by cheesecake.

Then everyone can just serve themselves with what they fancy.

My questions are;

1. Would you think this was a bit boring?
2. Are there any other nice roasty bits that you would include?
3. Does anyone have a good sage and onion stuffing recipe?

When we went round there we had delicious beef and barley stew, home made bread and home made chocolate tart. It was lovely so I feel I have standards to keep!

As long as there's good gravy as well, and the roast is done well, I don't think you can go wrong.

Australians don't seem to do roast that much. We often do a roast for friends, and get reactions like we've done something amazing. Especially the Yorkshires. So I think it's a great idea in this weather.

Well thank you tortoise, I thought it seemed nice and wintery too.

And one of the guests is American, married to an Irish Ozzie who lived in the UK for a number of years, so I thought it might be nice.

I love doing gravy too, it's a semi speciality.

Hasn't it got suddenly cold!? We had the fire lit last night and it still wasn't that warm. We may have to invest in a second heat source for the house.

OK, so you are in Australia, aren't you? It's blazing sunshine where I am right now

If you're having chicken, how about bread sauce? Although tbh I think you've got plenty already.

FWIW I find beef more forgiving than chicken - I find it easier to make sure that the timings are OK. If it's a bit rare, great. If it's a little well done, then it isn't a disaster.

As for stuffing, to my shame I am rather partial to Paxo

Oh - roast parsnips!

I use this recipe for sage and onion stuffing.
this is a great recipe too for stuffing. I made it at Christmas with pheasant, though I left out the green pepper as I don't like it, and instead of using bacon in the recipe, I wrapped the stuffing rolls in stretched rashers of it.

A good roast is hard to beat imo.

I'm now singing # 'a good roast these days is hard to find...a good roast, the lasting kind'# to the tune of 'a good heart' by fergal sharkey.

Thank you one and all.

I like beef too, but I thought chicken might be a bit more child friendly - plus there is a place near us that does lovely Barossa chickens that are very tasty and delicious.

The boy I also LOVE paxo stuffing, but you have to go to a special shop to buy it here, it's one of the few things I haven't been able to find in the normal supermarket. One of my english clients gave me a pack for Christmas and it was probably my best present.

googie I am now also singing that song.

mugglewump did you see the PGL thread, here?
(sorry Ozzi - bit of a thread hijack here)

Ozzie funny that you like Paxo, too! I think it reminds me of being a child. There was no shame in packet anything then, little pressure to homemake everything.

Do you think it would be legal to send it through the post? Or would it get intercepted?

I don't know! They are so funny about sending food things through the post here, otherwise I would be asking my mum to send some every month!

God I love leftover chicken and stuffing sandwiches.

its too hot for a roast

Sounds lovely. If its cold in Australia, why not do a hot pudding? Maybe a fruit crumble with custard? Dead easy.

Whats nice with roast chicken is if you can get your fingers between the skin and the flesh, and stuff in some room temp butter mixed with seasoning and herbs of your choice ( tarragon is good or thyme ). It flavours it as it cooks as well as keeping it moist.

As for a second heat source, I can thoroughly recommend a cat. They keep your lap very warm.

I'd probably jazz up the veg a bit - so I'd do the carrots in honey and thyme and the brussels with bacon and reisling.

Mmmm, sounds nice re butter under the skin...

I would like a cat (as heat source, not food).

I might do a hot pudding but was thinking I could do cheesecake in advance so I'm not in kitchen too much - plus have a new recipe I want to try...