Put your Christmas cookery questions to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and talk to him about ten years at River Cottage HQ and his new book River Cottage A to Z, Thursday 15 December, 1-2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Is making your own stuffing worth the effort? What's a tasty alternative to turkey? Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will be joining us on Thursday 15th December to solve all your Christmas cookery conundrums and talk about his new book River Cottage A-Z: Our favourite ingredients and how to cook them. Find out Hugh's top tips for cooking with your favourite winter vegetables, fruits, herbs, fish, fungi, foraged foods, pulses, grains, dairy, oils and vinegars.

Come and chat to Hugh on 15th December between 1 and 2pm or post up your Qs in advance on this thread.

Hi Hugh, I like your foraging and am also a bit of a hedgerow grazer. But my question is nothing to do with foraging I once heard a TV chef say that the best way to carve a turkey was to remove the wishbone first. That, apparently would make it easier to carve the breast and get the maximum meat off it. But they did not say how to remove the wishbone, nor whether to remove it before or after roasting. Any ideas?

Hi Hugh, we're cooking a turkey crown this year. What is your best tip to make it really succulent and to stop it being dry? Thanks!

Hi Hugh: love your work .

I'd just like to know your absolute BEST turkey leftover recipe, please.

My mother in law is a cross between Mary Berry and Alan Titchmarsh and coming to mine for my first ever Christmas dinner.

Hers are legendary - what can I cook that will even slightly compare let alone compete?

Hi Hugh.
I'm cooking turkey and all the trimmings for Christmas, but won't be eating any of the meaty bits myself. I was planning to make a vegan stuffing, chestnut and something, to serve with the vegetables. Do you have any suggestions to make it special?

Hello Hugh, my question is what can I cook for my vegetarian daughter that's a bit special? I usually do a nut roast or something involving filo pastry and butternut squash but it's getting a bit boring. Any ideas gratefully received!

Hello Hugh,
My question is do you have a recipe for a make-ahead turkey gravy? I'd like to keep things simple on Christmas Day so I can spend as much time as possible with my young children playing with their new toys but would prefer not to resort to salty, shop bought gravy.

Hi Hugh, DH would like to know: what's the best way to cook a leg of lamb?

Hi Hugh, really love your food and old Christmas programmes.

Could you please give me your best Christmassy trifle recipe. Fancy making this as we're not big Christmas pudding lovers in our house

Do I win the prize for mentioning Christmas three times in one post?

We would love a vegetarian suggestion, we are getting a bit stuck in a rut and would love to try something new (but no mushrooms please!)

Yes! A gravy recipe would be fab thank you!

Hi Hugh, we're cooking for a crowd so I wanted to make a ham as well as a goose... but I'm not sure how to fit everything into our normal double oven. As well as the meat, there will be roast potatoes, roast root veg, stuffing, pigs in blankets, and then yorkshire puddings at the end.

Can I cook the ham overnight on Christmas Eve instead of taking up space on the day, and what's the best way to do that? Would you try to keep it warm somehow? Any other tips on how to turn an oven into a tardis - or just improve on the logistics?

Yorkshire puddings put into the oven at the end of the cooking time - not some strange alternative to Christmas pudding

How many vegetables do you do? I've gone for quantity but worry I've gone overboard? (7 different vegetables)

If you prepare the vegetables on Christmas Eve, won't they lose their vitamins and look a bid sad, or would they be OK in water?

Hi Hugh best meal for 2 over Christmas when you're very short on time please!
Thank you x

What's your recommendation for something interesting (and vegetarian) to do with sprouts? I'd like to avoid just steamed no or boiling and maybe add some more flavour. I've read that doing them with bacon is lovely, but I have several vegetarians for dinner this year.

Thanks!

Hi Hugh, love your work. The Ricer Cottage Handbooks are my bibles! Question - with so many options, what, in your opinion, is the ultimate mince pie? Filling simple or fancy (recipe?), shortcrust, puff pastry or both?

Hi Hugh. We're having game pie for Boxing Day (pre-bought by my mum). What sides would go well - and how can I joosh up the gravy when I won't have meat juices? Thanks!

We always have a slow cooked leg of lamb.
I need shop bought Yorkshire puddings and a really good stuffing. But both of those, shop bought are truly awful. Suggestions please?

Hi Hugh. We are going to my sister in law's for Christmas, so we won't have any turkey leftovers. I am, however, planning on roasting a ham on Christmas Eve.

My parents are coming on 27th, so there will be 6 of us for lunch and supper. Any suggestions other than the usual ham and salad?

Hi Hugh, what sort of wine would you serve with turkey and all the traditional trimmings? BTW I love your books and approach to food and you inspired me to get an allotment.

Hi Hugh, I am making pies for Boxing day. One will be game (and one chicken ham and leek, ). I want them both to be traditional 'hot' plate pies..
I have never made a game pie before.. I will have Venison, Pigeon Partridge, bacon and ( hopefully rabbit) to put in my pie.

What else should go in? Celery? Onion? And what herbs and spices do you recommend? Will making the gravy with bay and wine (red or white?) overpower the flavour?

Also can I make the filling beforehand and freeze?

So many questions!! but Thanks!