BS: Alternative Christmas Fare

Subject: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: GUEST,Spot the Dog
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 04:59 PM

Just chattin' to my big sister and we talked about how we both gave up the traditional (British) fare of Turkey, Sage and onion stuffing, Chestnut stuffing, Roast Potato, Mash Potato, bleedin' brussel sprouts, chipolata sausage and bacon etc Followed by Christams Pudding with a brandy sauce.
Sis and her Hubby have lobser thermidor, jersey Royals and salad. We have moved onto (for some five years or more) Crispy peking duck with a side order of Chow mein noodles and beanspouts, chinese pork ribs,filo pancake, hoscin sauce and follow of sticky toffee pudding with double cream.(helped by a bottle of "La Chabisiene" Chablis)
   
Suits us. Does anyone else have "different" Christmas fare then?

Spot (the rather fat) Dog

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: Emma B
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 06:15 PM

this year.....
Green lipped mussels with a crusty herb crust and bruschetti.
Spiced salt beef with parsnips roasted with maple syrup and red cabbage cooked with apples in red wine.
A cold dessert with ricotta, ginger and almonds.

with a Montagny Premier Cru and a St Emilion

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 06:23 PM

Even if you have the fare , if the tranport isnt running , you're like the turkey ! STUFFED !!

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 06:23 PM

We have in past years substituted a ham for the turkey, and actually planned to do so this year; but daughter inlaw apparently heard us conniving and brought home a turkey.

I've found that a large "baking hen" probably is more suitable for our small family gatherings, and have done that, as well as goose (domestic) on occasion.

Lobster sounds great, but at $28+/pound here (frozen) last week it probably won't happen at my house anytime soon.

A few friends in the past have indicated they often have lamb - more traditional at Easter, but fine for Xmas too (IMO).

Salmon is a fairly frequent "alternate," or sometimes just "supplement," for some friends in the Seattle area, although less so since the *^#%$@ Injun sold his fishin' boat (and quit sending us samples for Xmas).

John

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 06:46 PM

Rice and beans.

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: mack/misophist
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 08:55 PM

No. This year dinner is going to be cauliflower, onions, and fried turkey lunch meat. And maybe some Tullimore Dew.

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: JennyO
Date: 24 Dec 06 - 10:46 PM

Coming from the land down under, our Christmas is usually hot, so we gave away traditional Christmas fare a few years ago, for lunch round the barbie. Smoked salmon with lemon juice from the lemons on our tree and/or prawns, usually with seafood cocktail sauce and crusty bread for starters, as well as cheeses and dips and crackers, then we cook anything we like on the barbie. This year I have little steaks, flavoured sausages, little pieces of chicken in different marinades, home made potato salad which includes mint from the garden, and a green salad with cherry tomatoes from the garden, with a balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey and mustard dressing that John makes.

We are working up to it slowly today (Christmas Day) but tomorrow will be the family day and the big gift giving day. One of the starters tomorrow will be brie and pieces of crusty baguette, washed down with a gorgeous French aperitif - Pineau de Charentes. MMMMM!

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: Bert
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 02:32 PM

We have Turkey AND Ham AND Beef.

Originally we planned for eight people for dinner - Now there's eighteen - they heard that Tree was cooking.

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 06:15 PM

Sounds like my house, Bert!!! I didn't cook much. Made a green chile and cheddar quiche with sausage and some sausage rolls for breakfast, then went to son's in laws for lunch. The Standard, but no sprouts.

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: Scoville
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 10:09 PM

Scallops in bacon.

Chili and corn bread.

Egg rolls.

(Potluck dinner at a friend's. I love potluck--you never know what will show up.)

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 11:46 AM

But if we had something other than turkey it would just be the same as every other day.

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: Becca72
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 11:52 AM

We have the traditional meal every year but with turkey and ham. There is usually a decent sized group (about a dozen) of immediate family. I have to agree with Mrs Duck on this one. Since we only have that meal twice a year (turkey day being the other) it doesn't get boring to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 12:43 PM

The only reason I ever do turkey is for all of the goodies afterwards like Turkey Pie, Turkey and noodles, and my personal favorite, Kentucky Hot Brown.   Non of those are weight conscious dishes!! My kids don't give a damn about all the side dishes but Karen and I love dressings of all sorts, and all of the other things. MEANING......We get fat eating turkey and the kids opt for a PBJ!!!

So this year we're having 4 days of seafood which started with a dose of Oyster stew, moved on to shrimp and mussels (in white wine with garlic,scallions, and tarragon) and then to a calssic Surf and Turf with Lobster and Rib-Eyes, and ending with a mass of monstrous scallops in brown butter.

While all this might not be completely dietary, it beats the snot out of previous years. I NEED to lose about 30 pounds which are a real health problem and Karen has lost 120 pounds sinces last January's gastric by-pass....so this makes sense to us!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 01:13 PM

Lobster and Digby Scallops..dipped in clarified butter. Homemade rolls, white wine, and treacle biscuts for duff. We do the turkey thing on boxing day for family and friends.

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: oggie
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 01:23 PM

During my wholefood phase I once made a Christmas dinner of soup and bread -

Starter - Tomato & Corriander with Soda Bread
Main course - Spicy Tomato, Potato & Bean with multigrain bread
Dessert - Apple and parsnip with carraway breads

All the breads home made. Was surprisingly well received and folks were disappointed when I went traditional the next year.

All the best

oggie

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: Bert
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 05:33 PM

I heard yesterday of someone who had lasagne for Christmans Dinner.

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 10:34 AM

lamb, with roast potatoes and all the trimmings.

Subject: RE: BS: Alternative Christmas Fare
From: Cats
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 09:47 AM

We had fresh crab pate, followed by Wild Boar stuffed with apples soaked in Calvados, [yes we sang it in], raspberries with clotted cream then cheese from the village cheese makers. With the exception of the wine, everything in our dinner came from within 15 miles of the house.
Many years ago I had a wonderful Chritsmas lunch - nothing. I did a 36 hour fast for famine relief from 9pm Christmas Eve to 9am Boxing day morning. Most people thought I was mad but it raised far more than doing the same at any other time of year