Slept fairly well last night for the first time in weeks so now I feel like I have a hangover. Can't win.
Star Wars proved to be good but almost more entertaining is that the cinema is a modern multi cinema built in a town with a population as old as Worthing and they have included "love seats" in several rows. Possum refused to sit in one because of what she assured me are not ice cream stains.
Quiet day for me, just finishing off a few bits and piece. OH and Possum have gone shopping. I might get ahead for tomorrow and start the red wine sauce off but that's all the prep needed.
Have a lovely time everyone, whether you're travelling, welcoming family, going to church or just snuggling down. Merry Christmas/Yule to all Forkers and their loved ones.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I'm ahead of myself ... four dozen sausage rolls and two dozen mince pies have been made ... well, there were four dozen sausage rolls .............. but a girl's got to have some lunch ...
And the jacket potatoes have been rubbed with salt and butter and have metal skewers through their middles ... so that's the prep for supper done ... I'm all ready for Christmas .... bring it on ....
My son has just texted to say he's just starting his Christmas shopping .............. well, don't blame my side of the family ......
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I’m shattered from baking and Aunty-duties but just taken ham out of oven so will have with sauté potatoes and pickles for supper with my Dad. PJs, rubbish tele then bed for me then.
Daughter's arrived, prosecco's been opened so all is well. The only item I know I forgot is the cucumber but in the grand scheme of things, that's a minor detail (and I don't eat it so I'm not bothered....) Happy Christmas everyone - see you all on the other side!
Have a good one , one & all. Sprout wrangling finished, turkey giblets on to boil for stock. Just finished doing battle with a monster Turkey. In the recent past we have bought a Turkey crown as they cook so much quicker and we can fit it in the oven more easily but they are very expensive. Now me & OH are both over 27 & retired I said (stupidly) "lets get a whole bird I can take the legs & wings off a make a crown. We can cook the legs Christmas eve & do the rest on the day"thank goodness for on line video instruction. Never again
I forgot cucumber too @Lizzie27! It was for duck in pancakes one evening. Maybe I’ll nip somewhere on way back from work end of the week.
Ah turkey-wars! Only hosted a big Xmas dinner once with a whole turkey - never again.
Right all visitors are gone, I’m full of ham and cheesecake so having a small glass of red now and putting my feet up. Have a comfortable and pleasant Christmas Eve all.
One year we had friends from Oz and others from France stay between Xmas and NY so I decided to cook an organic turkey following Gary Rhodes recipe. It does involve removing the legs to get a crown but that's not that hard and it is the one and only time I've eaten moist, tasty turkey.
Gary Rhodes Xmas Turkey
1 turkey, legs and backbone
removed 60g butter ??g diced belly pork – same weight
as thigh flesh 150g smoked bacon 75g raisins soaked in 100ml sherry 1 onion, finely chopped 175g chicken livers, soaked in milk
then drained 100g breadcrumbs 1tsp mixed spice 1tsp mixed herbs 2tbsp fresh parsley 75ml whisky 1 egg 24 rashers streaky bacon, rolled thin between cling
film
20cm cake tin
Soften the onion
in the sherry drained from the raisins.
Cool.
Separate the
thigh flesh from the skin and bones.
Mince in a processor with the belly pork, bacon then add the chicken
livers and onions. Finally, add the
raisins and seasonings with the egg and breadcrumbs and mix with a wooden
spoon. Fry a little and taste to check
for seasoning. Adjust if necessary.
Use the bacon
rashers to line the cake tin, fill with the mixture then fold over the strips
of bacon. Cover this with a disc of
greaseproof paper than cover the whole with foil.
Push half the
butter under the breast skin, tie wings to keep the shape and brush the rest of
the butter over the skin. Place in an
oiled baking tray and roast at 220C for 1hr 30 to 1hr 40mins with the
stuffing/paté.
Allow the turkey
to rest. Turn the paté out onto a
serving plate and grill the top to brown it.
Cranberry sauce
450g cranberries 150g sugar 2tbs shallots 75ml port juice 2 oranges
Simmer for 10 to
15 minutes then add 1 tbs redcurrant jelly and cook another minute. Serve hot or cold.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
I didn't fall asleep until almost 3.30.
Now waiting for a nice young man to come to look at our underfloor heating.
Star Wars proved to be good but almost more entertaining is that the cinema is a modern multi cinema built in a town with a population as old as Worthing and they have included "love seats" in several rows. Possum refused to sit in one because of what she assured me are not ice cream stains.
Quiet day for me, just finishing off a few bits and piece. OH and Possum have gone shopping. I might get ahead for tomorrow and start the red wine sauce off but that's all the prep needed.
Have a lovely time everyone, whether you're travelling, welcoming family, going to church or just snuggling down. Merry Christmas/Yule to all Forkers and their loved ones.
And the jacket potatoes have been rubbed with salt and butter and have metal skewers through their middles ... so that's the prep for supper done ... I'm all ready for Christmas
My son has just texted to say he's just starting his Christmas shopping ..............
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Been packing bedding and preparing food for going to daughter tomorrow.
@Obelixx - yuk!
I hope everyone has a good day tomorrow.
Love that.
I’m shattered from baking and Aunty-duties but just taken ham out of oven so will have with sauté potatoes and pickles for supper with my Dad. PJs, rubbish tele then bed for me then.
Happy Christmas everyone - see you all on the other side!
Ah turkey-wars! Only hosted a big Xmas dinner once with a whole turkey - never again.
Right all visitors are gone, I’m full of ham and cheesecake so having a small glass of red now and putting my feet up. Have a comfortable and pleasant Christmas Eve all.
Gary Rhodes Xmas Turkey
1 turkey, legs and backbone removed
60g butter
??g diced belly pork – same weight as thigh flesh
150g smoked bacon
75g raisins soaked in 100ml sherry
1 onion, finely chopped
175g chicken livers, soaked in milk then drained
100g breadcrumbs
1tsp mixed spice
1tsp mixed herbs
2tbsp fresh parsley
75ml whisky
1 egg
24 rashers streaky bacon, rolled thin between cling film
20cm cake tin
Soften the onion in the sherry drained from the raisins. Cool.
Separate the thigh flesh from the skin and bones. Mince in a processor with the belly pork, bacon then add the chicken livers and onions. Finally, add the raisins and seasonings with the egg and breadcrumbs and mix with a wooden spoon. Fry a little and taste to check for seasoning. Adjust if necessary.
Use the bacon rashers to line the cake tin, fill with the mixture then fold over the strips of bacon. Cover this with a disc of greaseproof paper than cover the whole with foil.
Push half the butter under the breast skin, tie wings to keep the shape and brush the rest of the butter over the skin. Place in an oiled baking tray and roast at 220C for 1hr 30 to 1hr 40mins with the stuffing/paté.
Allow the turkey to rest. Turn the paté out onto a serving plate and grill the top to brown it.
Cranberry sauce
450g cranberries
150g sugar
2tbs shallots
75ml port
juice 2 oranges
Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes then add 1 tbs redcurrant jelly and cook another minute. Serve hot or cold.