Christmas week is finally here and every TV show under the sun is telling us how to cook a fancy-ass Christmas dinner. The plethora of sprout dishes thrown at us is both immense and mind boggling: sprouts in cider; sprouts in 7-Up; sprouts with bacon; sprouts without bacon; sprouts in bacon and cider; sprouts with beansprouts … the list goes on. Fair play to Darina Allen in Irish Examiner who gave a recipe for sprouts with salt and pepper. Just salt and pepper. It coudn’t be easier and it tastes great. Thanks for keeping it real Darina.
The over-fancification of Christmas dinner has reached epidemic proportions, ridiculous TV shows put unnecessary pressure on people on what is already a busy enough day. You’re in the kitchen brining Turkeys and pealing chestnuts when you should be with your family. Its about the people, it’s not the food. It’s not about showing off, make the most simple dinner you can and enjoy sharing it with your family. Here are some top tips for a festive dinner.
- Wild Smoked Salmon on brown bread is one of the easiest starters ever.
- Roast your Turkey in the oven. A covering of olive oil (or butter) and salt is all that it needs.
- Do the ham a day or two before.
- Do your roast spuds in duck fat.
- Keep the veg simple.
- A couple of nice bottles of Wine will make all the difference.
Happy Christmas all! Enjoy your diner whereever you are.
22/12/2008 at 7:52 pm Permalink
We have some similarities! This year for Christmas dinner, I am doing smoked salmon on brown bread, although here in Boston there is no wild irish salmon, just the scottish variety. I am also indeed roasting my spuds in duck fat, rolled in a little flour for added crispness. New Zealand rack of lamb, root vegetables, and for dessert- individual creme caramel custards, and a plum pudding with hard sauce.
Happy Christmas to you also, and please keep the blogs coming- they are great!
23/12/2008 at 2:26 am Permalink
Yum. What time will I call at?
23/12/2008 at 7:17 am Permalink
Hear, hear. Go Darina with the simple and practical sprouts, I’m all for that.
I’m also all for things that can be done in advance of the big day so that there’s time to enjoy cracking open those bottles of nice wine with the 22 other family members that I’m spending Christmas day with (I kid you not!)
23/12/2008 at 7:32 am Permalink
22. Good luck. We’ve got 19 but not in my house!
23/12/2008 at 8:13 am Permalink
To be fair, the 22 are not all coming to my house either (they wouldn’t fit unless you stacked them horizontally!), so my sister is playing primary hostess, but we’ve been quite democratic about divvying up the food-tasks (and the wine-buying) so hopefully enjoyment will win out over stress in the end!