becks Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 where are you all going to get your Christmas Turkey from - I'm thinking I want a lovely organice free range one. Also for those clever cooks out there I am hosting Xmas for the first time this year so how big a turkey would I need to feed about 6-8 adults - I'd like to have plenty left for sandwiches the next day - mmm my mouth is watering and my tummy is rumbling at the thought of it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 We get ours from the local butcher in Prestbury ... yum. . Graham is a bit of a turkey fiend, so I would get a 12lb one normally, for us and 2 kids. My Mum used to get a 18-20lb for 6-8 of us, and have spares for sarnies, curry (generally brown meat) and a carcass for soup. We never had to skimp on portions ... and still don't, so when I order the MIL's I always add a bit extra. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 We'll have another goose from Seldom Seen Farm (if we can find it!!). Totally delicious last year and we even saved some in the freezer for Michaelmas a couple of weeks ago - delish!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I usually have 8 for lunch - sorry 7 because I'm vegetarian - and buy an 18 - 20 pound one. This leaves plenty for another meal the next day, salad the day after and sandwiches after that. I sometimes have enough left to freeze for late January when people feel they might want to eat it again. I'm afraid I get mine frozen from Tesco in late November/early December when they sell them half-price. So I get a lot of meals for about £12. I guess I'm not too fussy as I don't eat it myself. I also love the fact that I don't have to cook very much in the days after Christmas because it's already there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Sorry, I can't help here as we don't eat turkey, I don't like it much myself, nor does hubby, so our poor children get deprived of a traditional christmas lunch most years, although we get turkey if we spend christmas with family of course. These days though as ROM & MIL are getting older they prefer to come to us, which probably suits us all better. We generally have a really nice joint of beef, or last year we had sea-bass. Lovely. Not yet decided about this year, actually hubby's muttering about a restaurant- I have mixed feelings about that idea though. No washing up, but maybe no atmosphere with everyone having to behave well for a change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Or worse, some drunken loud and rowdy crowd on the table next to you that you'd rather not share your Christmas with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 We're having 'grow your own chicken' We had Goose last year as recommended by Rick Stein and HFW but I've forgotten the name I made a lovely gooseberry and lime sauce for the goose so I might make that to go with the chickens. PS The goose was from Goodmans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 As there is only the 4 of us again this year, we will again get on of Marks & Spencers amazing Turkey breast Joints. Plenty for our Christmas meal, cold cuts & a curry too When there were a crowd of us I used to get a Kelly Bronze, which was the best tasting turkey I have ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I used to get a Bronze or Norfolk Black turkey - free range of course - and they were delicious. I cooked them on a rack in a big tin with boiling water in the tin but not touching the turkey. I then wrapped foil round the whole turkey and tin so it was all sealed up. It then went into a preheated fan oven at 160 centigrade for 16 minutes per pound. You get great stock for the gravy, wonderful moist meat cooked to perfection with no greasy basting and a very easy way of doing it. However, 2 years ago I tried goose for the first time and we are now converted. If feeding a lot I have a rib of beef joint as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 We tend to have duck or pheasant - only the two of us (although Charlie is still trying to convince us that he would like a full Christmas dinner too.....) I do hope that you have all had your sprouts on since April, otherwise they will never be done in time...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 oh, except Mother-in-Law has just invited herself for Christmas (shes coming / she's not coming / she's coming / she's got a better offer / she's coming / she doesnt want to be a burden ) so I'm not sure what we might have (except I may have to down 7 or 8 gins just to cope..........) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Mel - have you thought of "Ooops, word censored!"nic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Slight legallity problem there Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 None of us like turkey at all, so we usually go for either a big roast chicken or roast beef. Just tried to ask my mother what is happening at Christmas (i.e. who is going where) - talk about trying to nail jelly to the wall! As usual, my sister is holding everyone up by not having a clue about what she is doing. She did a Christmas lunch a couple of years ago (brave for someone who doesn't cook) and we all ended up with a warm buffet from Waitrose! Just not the same Rosie is always with her dad on Boxing Day, so might escape to the outlaws for the day - great people, live on a lovely farm and put on a real spread.... Mmmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 That is so cruel Just the 4 of us at Christmas as usual but not sure yet what sort of bird to have. All my family live 500 miles away and I would love to have them here for Christmas. My mum is not well and it would be too far for her to travel. Hubbies family is slightly closer not much though and his mum is in Glasgow but she will not visit - reason - "it is too cold here". Her loss if she never sees her grandchildren. Hubby usually working Christmas eve late into the evening so no chance of us travelling down south either. I would love a big family Christmas meal even if it meant putting up with MIL and step MIL and all the other annoying members of family, after all it is just one day, one meal, it would mean so much to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 OMG My last post sounded sooo depressing. Sorry!! On a lighter note friends are visiting us from South Africa for the new year YIPPEEE Big celebrations then Can't wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 No Ali, not depressing - just normal families I am hoping to get away with Christmas on my own this year if I manage it then I will eat chicken curry washed down with an expensive bottle of wine all to myself and get to watch what I want on the telly I can't be bothered with the idea you have to eat a certain thing when you really like something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Hey Ali You can always have my brother and his wife and my mother in law - you'd have a great time (and so would I!!!) Probably sounds a bit mean about families at Christmas but we both work so hard and dont actually get to see much of each other that we kind of like spending quality time on our own - I dont have to worry about cooking / cleaning / getting out of my jim jams if we're on our own Oh well. It could be worse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Mel - have you thought of "Ooops, word censored!"nic? To avoid the legal problem I guess I could just lace her tea with something alcoholic to keep her quiet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Cracking idea Mel same outcome but without you clapped in irons for the new year Sounds like a very baldrick style cunning plan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 So cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 I love that saying! If we go to my parents, then they get up early and deal with rosie's 5am Christmas Morning Hysteria, and stop her from bothering me until a decent time. Mind you, I love Christmas morning in my own house, stove roaring with fire, roast in the oven, kettle boiling on top of the stove and the Christmas tree twinkling.. MMMmm, can feel it now.. 1, 2, 3.... Away in a ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Hope you've got your sprouts on...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom and Barbara Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 We're going for a quiet just us xmas this year....just jim-jams and open fire......not sure whether to go turkey or goose (I did a gammon last year)I've never had goose before so might try that....does anyone in the Bristol/South Wales area know where would be good to get free-range birds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom and Barbara Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 ....and I started the sprouts back in March Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
