Christmas lunch...whether you like it or not

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Posted at 11:26AM, 15 December 2008 by Caroline Hire - Editor, bbcgoodfood.com

I love Christmas. For me, it starts on December 1st and by the end of the first week excitement has reached fever pitch. The carols, the present buying, the parties, the anticipation of seeing family from far-flung corners of the world...and then of course there's the food.

Now as a lover of food in all its forms (except walnuts) and of cooking too, the Christmas meal should really be the highlight and in many ways it is BUT I do vouch that many of us grin and bear it through at least part of the traditional repast simply because it IS tradition.

There's many a roast that surpasses turkey in my opinion, a succulent sirloin of beef for example has infinitely more flavour. And with all the trimmings that go with it, it can be just as ceremonious.

However, when it comes to Christmas - it's very hard to break with tradition much to the disappointment of taste buds everywhere.

Starters thankfully seem to be open to interpretation so smoked salmon with black pepper and lemon never goes a miss. I do enjoy the turkey but believe it's the bacon, stuffing, chipolatas and gravy that are the true heroes. Sprouts, well they're ok, just ok, I defy anyone to say they're up there among their favourite vegetables. Bread sauce, love it. Cranberry sauce, hate it. And potatoes cooked in goose fat? I don't care what Gordon and Heston say, no way.

Still overall the first two courses of Christmas meal get the thumbs up. The worst part has to be the pud. Sharp, cloying, dense, all the things a pudding shouldn't be. Add brandy butter and that's a double vommy...err, whammy.

This year, of course the traditional spread will trot out, course after course as anticipated by my expectant family. We'll all smile, make appreciative noises and overeat but deep down we'll be grateful we won't being repeating at least parts of the experience for another year.

Are you planning a traditional spread this year? Are there any foods you dare to shun in favour of something tastier? Or should tradition be upheld at all costs? Let us know what'll be on your table this Christmas.

Comments

prune boy

15 December 2008, 12:10PM
prune boy

I particularly love Xmas for its food. Shallow I know....Xmas day lunch I remember so well as a teenager. My favourite part is the main course which at home included roast pork (crackling yum yum !!!) and turkey....a bit greedy I know....with all the trimmings...usually after the 3rd portion I'd have to lie down and miss the dessert, well at least for a few hours.....

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Ann

15 December 2008, 12:52PM
Ann

"Sprouts, well they're ok, just ok, I defy anyone to say they're up there among their favourite vegetables." They are mine and my husband's favourite, as long as they are not boiled to green-grey and still crisp. Steamed then tossed with sautÃ©ed bacon and onions, heavy cream and pepper even better

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Clair

15 December 2008, 2:04PM
Clair

ROASTED Sprouts - I just discovered this delicious method of cooking them. Just chuck them in the oven with a little oil, salt and pepper. And WOW - soft in the miiddle slightly and caramelised on the outside!! Try it - you might find you like it!!

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Caroline

15 December 2008, 2:26PM
Caroline

Oooh - both of those suggestions do sound good, perhaps I'll use one to jazz up this year's sprouts and see if it changes my mind!

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sheppy

15 December 2008, 4:59PM
sheppy

My 3 fav parts of Christmas dinner are gammon, pigs in blankets and sprouts. I love all 3. Gammon is just so tasty, as are sausages wrapped in bacon. And for some reason I've always loved sprouts since a kid for some reason, I could probably eat them reasonably raw.

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jenny

15 December 2008, 8:58PM
jenny

having made a huge batch of Sprout soup which is now in portions in the freezer i think i can claim them to be one of my favs! so much so i also have a habit of snacking on raw ones!!

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Tom secrets!

15 December 2008, 9:15PM
Tom secrets!

As a veggy I s'pose my entire xmas lunch is wrong!! But it still is the best meal of the year to me. In my humble opinion Mums nutroast is sacred and would change the mind of anyone who believes it has to be boring and bland. And the ocean of onion gravy with little islets of brussel sprouts, sage stuffing cut with the tang of cranberry sauce, and roast spuds amongst a nutmeggy bread sauce... How can it not please!!! And all before the pudding, oh my and what a pudding!!!! Wow, I really love your christmas dinners mum...

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Antonia

15 December 2008, 9:26PM
Antonia

I happen to love it all. Especially the pud - my all time favourite that I'd happily eat all year round! Has to be homemade though. And brandy butter is divine too.

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Emily

16 December 2008, 11:03AM
Emily

We usually do Delia's cheese and parsnip roulade as most of the family are veggie - although we may break with tradition this year and try Sarah Cook's layered squash pie. My mum and sister insist on having bread sauce, but I can't stand the stuff - the texture, taste, colour, all so off-putting! We always have a Christmas pudding but can usually only manage about half a spoonful each after the enormous main course!

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Andrea

16 December 2008, 11:36AM
Andrea

You don't like goose fat spuds? What?! We never had clementines or brussel sprouts growing up for Christmas but after a few years here am quite partial to them. Though I don't think we'll be eating them in Oz this year, no I think it'll be more like lots of fresh fish, prawns (on the barbie, naturally), oysters and a big ham cooked on the weber. Lots of salad, and if it looks like being under 40 degrees probably a few slices of hot turkey too...

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poysie

16 December 2008, 2:19PM
poysie

I dont think it really matters what you eat but that it should be something that has had some effort put into it that you dont eat every week and that it should be a FEAST!

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Andy Lynes

16 December 2008, 2:25PM
Andy Lynes

I once served pithivier savoyard (circular portions of gratin potaotes wrapped in parma ham and puff pastry) instead of roast potaotes and made an emulsified sauce in the blender from the cooking juices and fat from the bird (an idea I borrowed from chef Shaun Hill). It was delicious, but went down like a lead balloon with the aged relatives who couldn't quite believe what was in the plate in front of them. Needless to say I haven't done it since. The mother-in-law is cooking this year so it will be a very traditional Xmas day dinner, but I'll be serving up lamb biryani with all the trimmings on Boxing Day.

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Christine

17 December 2008, 12:20PM
Christine

I love the traditional Christmas Day Lunch - turkey and all the usual trimmings. There is only one exception to this - brussels sprouts!! Whilst being a fan of most green vegetables, sprouts fall short of the taste test in my book. To be honest I hate them. Christmas pudding with custard, mince pies and sherry trifle are also winners in our household. We're all enthusiastic diners.

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drusilla

17 December 2008, 12:30PM
drusilla

How can anyone not like goose-fat roasties!!! *imagine a shocked-face smilie here* The crispness, to be bitten through into the soft melting middle... And as for Christmas pud... I usually miss out on a starter, and go straight for the turkey (or goose, as will be this year) plus accompaniments (sp?), followed by a long rest to allow that lot to settle! Christmas pud (yes, there is one) is then tagged on to a light tea later on - perfect end to a perfect meal (And just for the record, I can't stand sprouts, but the hubby loves them... worse luck...)

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rozmorgan

17 December 2008, 5:49PM
rozmorgan

I'm going to have to be another one who loves sprouts. Cocked with bacon and fried they are delicious, as they are smashed up with mash. I like the serve sprouts with roast pork belly, cooked in wine. Yummy, yummy, yummy! Christmas pudding I hate. And fruitcake. Currents are my least favourite thing in the world.

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survivalcook

17 December 2008, 7:20PM
survivalcook

I agree with poysie, the Christmas Meal should be something different from the rest of the year, and a FEAST, but obviously something everyone will look forward to. Interesting, reading down the posts, how many people are saying they DO like sprouts...I do too and have them often, but frozen only I'm afraid, can't be doing with the hassle of fresh. They're good after simmering til cooked and then tossed with butter and sesame seeds.

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Mel B, New York

18 December 2008, 8:16PM
Mel B, New York

Sprouts - can take them or leave them. But will maybe try something a bit more exciting with them this year. Definitely with Caroline on the pudding - really not keen. I'm having my first Christmas over here in New York and am wondering if I'll even find turkey after they were all bought up for Thanksgiving. Struggling to make sausagemeat stuffing with different ingredients, not sure how it will turn out. And I think we'll have to give the sausage and bacon rolls a miss this year as well. I have made my own mincemeat and introduced the nieghbours to mince pies, there are some things I just couldn't do without!

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SUE

19 December 2008, 12:20AM
SUE

My husband doesn't like turkey, so I cook a small breast joint for myself and my sister-in-law, plus a gorgeous pot-roast of beef braised with vinegar and cream; which I got from the Sainsburys magazine. You cook it with celery and carrots, then turn the juices into a sauce to serve with the meat. Beautiful!

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Cook-book

22 December 2008, 9:11PM
Cook-book

For the past four years we have shunned the turkey and opted for goose. I live in Germany and have a goose farm 500 meters from my home. I will pick up the goose on the 24th and know that it is 100% fresh. Love all the trimmings other than anything which has pork in it. Will do two stuffings armanac and prunes and must have the traditional sage and onion. Starter will be salmon with beetroot and vodka, one of my all time favourites and of course Christmas pudding with brandy butter for dessert. All in all about 10 thousand calories but it's Christmas only once a year..

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miniminx

23 December 2008, 1:59PM
miniminx

i'm trying out a winter salad this year - in an effort to cut the stodge! roasted squash, red onion, parsnip and carrot shot through with fresh spinach - i think it's fab! and am trying out the 'christmas bombe' as i'm cooking for 9 this year without a single traditional pud lover among them....and who never has room for ice-cream?!

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