Who's doing the cooking? Christmas Day?

[Kate!]

Who's doing the Christmas Day cooking in your household or are you eating out/elsewhere?

I'm cooking with a little assistance from Karl's mum.

How bout you all?

[Crimson Dynamo]

It will be a combo of me and middle girl CD. Aim to eat after the Kings Speech. I will be making an early 8 am breakfast of crispy bacon and French Toast.

[Kate!]

It will be a combo of me and middle girl CD. Aim to eat after the Kings Speech. I will be making an early 8 am breakfast of crispy bacon and French Toast.

Sounds great Crimson.

[Vanessa]

I'll be on my own, so might just have a pizza :laugh:

[rusticgal]

Moi...

[UserSince2005]

the wifey

[Jessica.]

I'm the only vegan so I'll be making my own meal, as usual. My partners mother, aunt and sisters will be making pretty much everything else.

[Niamh.]

Gav does the starter, I do the main course and Luke does Dessert, I also make the Mulled wine. Gav does fall in with serving the main course though because there's a lot going on

[Ammi]

I'm the only vegan so I'll be making my own meal, as usual. My partners mother, aunt and sisters will be making pretty much everything else.

…same, same…I don’t eat meat so I’ll do my own…(…which I have no idea this year…)…and then stay out of the kitchen and let the magic happen with the cooking elves…

[Jessica.]

…same, same…I don’t eat meat so I’ll do my own…(…which I have no idea this year…)…and then stay out of the kitchen and let the magic happen with the cooking elves…

Yeah, I don't know what to do this year either, I usually make something elaborate like a nut roast or a wellington but with a little one around I don't think I'll have time. I've been saving up the last of my gravy granules from August in case I do a roast. :joker:

[Crimson Dynamo]

Specially Selected Roasted Vegetable Snowflake from Aldi

https://aldprdproductimages.azureedge.net/media/resized/$Aldi_GB/CHRISTMAS%202024/4061459339536_0_XL.jpg

[AnnieK]

I will be doing the cooking....and the washing up...

[Niamh.]

I will be doing the cooking....and the washing up...

:nono: no help from your son?

[Kate!]

Specially Selected Roasted Vegetable Snowflake from Aldi

https://aldprdproductimages.azureedge.net/media/resized/$Aldi_GB/CHRISTMAS%202024/4061459339536_0_XL.jpg


Looks really nice

[Crimson Dynamo]

:nono: no help from your son?

:nono: he will be down the boozer

[Niamh.]

:nono: he will be down the boozer

I should hope not at his age :nono: I still find it odd that Pubs open over there on Christmas day :laugh:

[AnnieK]

:nono: no help from your son?

Hes making a prawn cocktail starter and is in charge of setting the table and getting all the plates etc out. I prefer to do the pots myself....I know everything is properly clean then :laugh:

[Niamh.]

Hes making a prawn cocktail starter and is in charge of setting the table and getting all the plates etc out. I prefer to do the pots myself....I know everything is properly clean then :laugh:

Fair enough :laugh: Will you have many for dinner?

[Crimson Dynamo]

I should hope not at his age :nono: I still find it odd that Pubs open over there on Christmas day :laugh:

when I first lived in London I could not believe that men went to the pub on Christmas day

I was genuinely shocked as there is no way in hell a Scottish wife would allow their husband to do that :shocked:

[Niamh.]

when I first lived in London I could not believe that men went to the pub on Christmas day

I was genuinely shocked as there is no way in hell a Scottish wife would allow their husband to do that :shocked:

and rightly so!

[AnnieK]

Fair enough :laugh: Will you have many for dinner?

Nope, not this year :sad: It's actually just us....my Dad is going down to my brothers so we having dinner just us and then off to friends in the evening. Will still do full xmas dinner though...seems wrong not to.

[Niamh.]

Nope, not this year :sad: It's actually just us....my Dad is going down to my brothers so we having dinner just us and then off to friends in the evening. Will still do full xmas dinner though...seems wrong not to.

That's nice too though, just the 2 of you, you should both stay in your PJs all day until you have to go out :love:

[Cherie]

and rightly so!

I used to go with Mr C ...pre kids....slam the turkey in the oven on low, give it a baste on return....job done


I will be cooking, everything will be prepped Christmas eve, dinner will be on the table at 1pm all done and dusted by 2.30, like to get it done and dusted,and slump in front of the telly though this year we have Tilly so we will have to go out

[Niamh.]

I used to go with Mr C ...pre kids....slam the turkey in the oven on low, give it a baste on return....job done


I will be cooking, everything will be prepped Christmas eve, dinner will be on the table at 1pm all done and dusted by 2.30, like to get it done and dusted,and slump in front of the telly though this year we have Tilly so we will have to go out

We're the opposite, we usually have an hour between the courses otherwise I'd be full after the starter :laugh: We stay around the table for the afternoon eating, drinking and playing Christmas cracker games etc

[MTVN]

The pub is my favourite part of Christmas day :flutter: it's usually only open 12-2 and everyone is in such good spirits

Suspect it'll be down to me Mum to do the bulk of the cooking but she enjoys that (honest!). My brother fancies himself as a cook so I'm sure he'll chip in. I might do the roasties as I've had some success at producing pretty beautiful ones recently

Hopefully a champagne brekkie will be on the cards too

[Ammi]

Yeah, I don't know what to do this year either, I usually make something elaborate like a nut roast or a wellington but with a little one around I don't think I'll have time. I've been saving up the last of my gravy granules from August in case I do a roast. :joker:

…you must be so excited for baby’s first Christmas, Jess…such a special time for you…so many lovely firsts…:love:…

[Niamh.]

The pub is my favourite part of Christmas day :flutter: it's usually only open 12-2 and everyone is in such good spirits

Suspect it'll be down to me Mum to do the bulk of the cooking but she enjoys that (honest!). My brother fancies himself as a cook so I'm sure he'll chip in. I might do the roasties as I've had some success at producing pretty beautiful ones recently

Hopefully a champagne brekkie will be on the cards too

What's your method? I'm very particular about a good roastie :laugh:

[MTVN]

What's your method? I'm very particular about a good roastie :laugh:

I boil them for a good 15 mins, fluff them up in a sieve, season them big time with salt and thyme then whack them in a scolding hot dish that has been in the oven with goose fat and garlic. Might drizzle with some olive oil too

I am always open to improving my method though with any tips

[Niamh.]

I boil them for a good 15 mins, fluff them up in a sieve, season them big time with salt and thyme then whack them in a scolding hot dish that has been in the oven with goose fat and garlic. Might drizzle with some olive oil too

I am always open to improving my method though with any tips

I like to use Rosemary rather than thyme, not a huge fan of thyme but that's personal taste, other than I do them in a very similar way to you, probably boil them for a little bit less time but I also like smaller roasties so that probably balances itself out

[MTVN]

I like to use Rosemary rather than thyme, not a huge fan of thyme but that's personal taste, other than I do them in a very similar way to you, probably boil them for a little bit less time but I also like smaller roasties so that probably balances itself out

Interesting, I used to just boil them for a few minutes until someone advised me to boil them longer. I'm not sure if it made much difference but it became a habit

[Niamh.]

Interesting, I used to just boil them for a few minutes until someone advised me to boil them longer. I'm not sure if it made much difference but it became a habit

I usually do 5/10mins, don't want them falling away to nothing either

[Crimson Dynamo]

I find thyme is a great healer

[Zizu]

I find thyme is a great healer


Clever !

[Cherie]

We're the opposite, we usually have an hour between the courses otherwise I'd be full after the starter :laugh: We stay around the table for the afternoon eating, drinking and playing Christmas cracker games etc

ah we just have dinner, no starter, and pudding is usually our tea at 5pm

[Cherie]

Interesting, I used to just boil them for a few minutes until someone advised me to boil them longer. I'm not sure if it made much difference but it became a habit

you need to boil for about 10 minutes, then drain and shake them in the saucepan with the lid on, so it roughs up the outside or score them with a fork, this makes them super crispy

oh never mind me you already said

[Redway]

A couple of us.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Aunt Bessie is doing my roasties

https://cdn.nomadfoodscdn.com/-/media/project/bluesteel/auntbessies-uk/products/packshots/roasties-renovation-800g-2/720g-roasties_470x300.png?h=300&iar=0&w=470&hash=CF9BA1DE5D7B642F9E534F89EB8A3F8A

[Cherie]

Aunt Bessie is doing my roasties

https://cdn.nomadfoodscdn.com/-/media/project/bluesteel/auntbessies-uk/products/packshots/roasties-renovation-800g-2/720g-roasties_470x300.png?h=300&iar=0&w=470&hash=CF9BA1DE5D7B642F9E534F89EB8A3F8A

sacriledge

[Crimson Dynamo]

sacriledge

No, in the oven

[Cherie]

No, in the oven

:laugh:laziness, peel a few spuds and get some goose fat :nono:

[Crimson Dynamo]

:laugh:laziness, peel a few spuds and get some goose fat :nono:

Too much going on

and I never peel potatoes

:nono:

[Benjamin]

Aunt Bessie is doing my roasties

https://cdn.nomadfoodscdn.com/-/media/project/bluesteel/auntbessies-uk/products/packshots/roasties-renovation-800g-2/720g-roasties_470x300.png?h=300&iar=0&w=470&hash=CF9BA1DE5D7B642F9E534F89EB8A3F8A

:oh:

[Niamh.]

Frozen roasties are awful

[Crimson Dynamo]

Frozen roasties are awful

Incorrect

Taste just as good as faffing about thinking you are Fanny Craddock:dance:

[Niamh.]

Incorrect



Taste just as good as faffing about thinking you are Fanny Craddock:dance:They're absolutely not anywhere close to as good

[Crimson Dynamo]

They're absolutely not anywhere close to as good

:oh:

[MTVN]

Frozen roasties are awful

Louder for the people at the back!

[bots]

the reason you boil them first is to get rid of the starch which makes them crispier on the outside. Boiling is also what results in a fluffy centre :smug:

[Ammi]

the reason you boil them first is to get rid of the starch which makes them crispier on the outside. Boiling is also what results in a fluffy centre :smug:

…it’s not just the boiling, it’s the shaking that makes all of the fluffy bits happen that go crisp…just to add to all of the other boil times, I’m an exactly 8 minute gal…not a second more, not a second less…utter bliss as Arista would say…

[Niamh.]

…it’s not just the boiling, it’s the shaking that makes all of the fluffy bits happen that go crisp…just to add to all of the other boil times, I’m an exactly 8 minute gal…not a second more, not a second less…utter bliss as Arista would say…Yeah 8 minutes is a pretty perfect time

[Jessica.]

…you must be so excited for baby’s first Christmas, Jess…such a special time for you…so many lovely firsts…:love:…

Yes, I'm very excited, I think he's going to love it! We were very mindful about his gifts, going for quality rather than quantity and I think it's going to pay off!

[Mystic Mock]

If my family wants a house left in tact then it's best to keep me away from the cooking.:laugh:

[Ammi]

Yes, I'm very excited, I think he's going to love it! We were very mindful about his gifts, going for quality rather than quantity and I think it's going to pay off!

…I think..(know..)… that he will love it as well because I know how special you’ll make it for him …:love:…and yeah, they race from one stage to the next so quickly in this time of their lives so quality is definitely the way to go…and because it gives those special things the opportunity to become very much loved…:lovedup:…

[Cherie]

i need to return to the roast potato issue, I am so shocked that anyone would use frozen on this special day, you can par boil the potatos the day before, then just chuck them in hot fat on 200 for about 40 minutes give them a turn half way through

Next Crimson will be telling us he uses frozen sprouts :oh:

[Crimson Dynamo]

i need to return to the roast potato issue, I am so shocked that anyone would use frozen on this special day, you can par boil the potatos the day before, then just chuck them in hot fat on 200 for about 40 minutes give them a turn half way through

Next Crimson will be telling us he uses frozen sprouts :oh:

:nono:

No fresh sprouts, carrots and snarpips. The Aunt Bessies are vegan and suitable for the girls

[Cherie]

:nono:

No fresh sprouts, carrots and snarpips. The Aunt Bessies are vegan and suitable for the girls

Not the vegans ruining Christmas :fist: