# Christmas dinner thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844 "2013-12-08T19:33:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/21 "2013-12-09T23:58:12Z")
Standing rib roast (Day 2 is French Onion Soup from the Rib Stock) Yorkshire Puddings Marrow to spread on toasts Brussel Sprouts (pancetta, parmesan cheese, etc. style) Other randomness ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/22 "2013-12-09T23:58:37Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Do people really plan what’s on the menu over two weeks before the meal? I know I’m out of the loop on xmas traditions, but the detail provided here surprises me. If I were going to have a special dinner on Christmas, I doubt I’d have much of it planned this far in advance. These dinners sound delicious, and I hope you all enjoy the day. We’re having company, so I like to get an idea of what I’m going to do early on. If it’s just us, it’s not a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/23 "2013-12-09T23:59:54Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > British pigs in a blanket (bangers wrapped in bacon) or American (breakfast links wrapped in pancakes)? :dubious: > > The corn pudding and tangy onions sound yummy. Any chance of getting the recipes? > > My planned menu is > > Oyster stew > > Cold shrimp and crab in mayonnaise sauce > > Oysters Rockefeller > > Escargot baked in garlic butter > > Roast goose > > Roasted potatoes > > Brussels sprouts > > Chestnut dressing > > Oyster dressing > > Pan gravy made with port wine > > Mince tarts > > Real vanilla ice cream > > Athol brose > > Eggnog spiked with brandy > > Irish coffee > > Hot chocolate with whipped cream and candy canes Hot Damn! Are you into middle aged, boring, very average looking white guys? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/24 "2013-12-10T00:00:13Z")
I’ve decided to try a duck this year. It will be the first time I’ve ever roasted a whole one, and it’s got me a bit nervous. There is such a difference between crispy skin, yummy moist meat, and rubbery skin, greasy stringy meat, and even “good” restaurants seem to screw it up sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/25 "2013-12-10T00:06:37Z")
Oysters, Chateaubriand, buche de Noel. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/26 "2013-12-10T00:12:37Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I’ve decided to try a duck this year. It will be the first time I’ve ever roasted a whole one, and it’s got me a bit nervous. There is such a difference between crispy skin, yummy moist meat, and rubbery skin, greasy stringy meat, and even “good” restaurants seem to screw it up sometimes. Break it down, roast the legs then score and pan sear the breasts. You’ll be much happier. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/27 "2013-12-10T00:32:37Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Hot Damn! > Are you into middle aged, boring, very average looking white guys? Uhm … no, sorry. My door is open to hot Polish and Latvian babes (natural blondes and redheads) between the ages of 18 and 30, though…! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/28 "2013-12-10T00:47:49Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Break it down, roast the legs then score and pan sear the breasts. > You’ll be much happier. But a whole crispy duck is so pretty. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/29 "2013-12-10T00:51:04Z")
Probably the old favorite, steak and crab legs. My wife and I moved to California 26 years ago before we were married, and decided our first Christmas that we would grill out in the back yard, _because we could_\*. We’ve mostly done that ever since on Christmas, though Thanksgiving still rates the traditional turkey. \*seriously, if you haven’t lived in a cold weather state, you can’t even imagine how crazy it was to us that we were cooking steaks outside on Christmans. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/30 "2013-12-10T02:19:28Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Oysters… I may make escargots to eat before the roast. If I so much as mention them to the SO, she’ll insist I make some. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/31 "2013-12-10T11:17:23Z")
Christmas Dinner is a pretty fixed affair in the UK, akin to your Thanksgiving, which means: A starter, probably involving prawns or smoked salmon. [Christmas Crackers](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=christmas+paper+hats&espv=210&es_sm=119&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GfimUq6tEoa4hAebyAE&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1392&bih=1194#es_sm=119&espv=210&q=christmas+crackers&tbm=isch), with paper hats, bad jokes and useless toys. A big roast turkey (or goose if you’re feeling all Downton Abbey) Pigs in Blankets (cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon) Chestnut stuffing Roast potatoes Cranberry sauce Sprouts, which nobody likes but feel compelled to have at least one. Roasted veg (parsnips, carrots etc) What ever other veg you fancy [Christmas (aka Plum) Pudding](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=plum+%5Bpudding&espv=210&es_sm=119&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=zPemUo6cN8uShQeIwoDAAw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1392&bih=1194#es_sm=119&espv=210&q=flaming+plum+pudding&tbm=isch), doused in flaming brandy and served with brandy butter, cream, warm custard or ice cream. Then everyone adjourns to watch the Queen’s speech on TV. Still wearing paper hats. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/32 "2013-12-10T14:54:14Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > [Christmas Crackers](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=christmas+paper+hats&espv=210&es_sm=119&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GfimUq6tEoa4hAebyAE&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1392&bih=1194#es_sm=119&espv=210&q=christmas+crackers&tbm=isch), with paper hats, bad jokes and useless toys. Or not so useless. I have a folding comb/brush similar to [this](http://pic01.uxsight.com/photo_new/20121030/g/ux_a12103000ux0423_ux_g03.jpg?249) that I keep in my backpack. It’s lost a few tines from the brush side over the years, but it’s come in handy on occasion. Pretty useful ‘toy’. The crackers I’ve bought from Costco have been nice, too. They’ve been ‘grown up’ things, like a nice little measuring tape/key fob. (There was one thing in particular that is more useful; but strangely, I can’t remember what it is!) I need to go to Costco for the roast (they have good meat there), but I’m sure they’ve been sold out of the crackers for weeks. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/33 "2013-12-10T14:56:35Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Or not so useless. I have a folding comb/brush similar to [this](http://pic01.uxsight.com/photo_new/20121030/g/ux_a12103000ux0423_ux_g03.jpg?249) that I keep in my backpack. It’s lost a few tines from the brush side over the years, but it’s come in handy on occasion. Pretty useful ‘toy’. The crackers I’ve bought from Costco have been nice, too. They’ve been ‘grown up’ things, like a nice little measuring tape/key fob. (There was one thing in particular that is more useful; but strangely, I can’t remember what it is!) I need to go to Costco for the roast (they have good meat there), but I’m sure they’ve been sold out of the crackers for weeks. There’s posh. My mum used to spike her crackers - she’d buy cheap ones and then by decent toys/gifts and push them inside. Sold out of crackers!? Forefend! Couldn’t happen here, every shop is groaning under the weight of them. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/34 "2013-12-10T15:06:06Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Sold out of crackers!? Forefend! Couldn’t happen here, every shop is groaning under the weight of them. They’re not as popular here as they should be. I’m sure I could run over to Rite-Aid and get some, or else there are other places where I’ve noticed them in the past. But they have the sort of toys you used to be able to get out of a box of Cracker Jacks, or like you get in those little plastic capsules out of a gumball machine. The ones at Costco have things that can actually be used by adults. I don’t know the UK equivalent of Costco (or maybe you have them there? They’re spreading like a quasi-wholesale amoeba!) but it seems they stock seasonal things well beforehand, and they don’t order more if they run out. So if you snooze, you lose. I’m sure I’ve… snost and lost? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/35 "2013-12-10T15:29:18Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > [Christmas (aka Plum) Pudding](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=plum+%5Bpudding&espv=210&es_sm=119&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=zPemUo6cN8uShQeIwoDAAw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1392&bih=1194#es_sm=119&espv=210&q=flaming+plum+pudding&tbm=isch), doused in flaming brandy and served with brandy butter, cream, warm custard or ice cream. > > Then everyone adjourns to watch the Queen’s speech on TV. Still wearing paper hats. Our friend who is coming to dinner has brought plum puddings in the past. Lovely things, and very tasty with a hard sauce. I don’t think she’s making one this year, though. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/36 "2013-12-19T18:29:07Z")
I stopped by Costco last night. Got a 5-pound, USDA Prime, three-rib roast with some very attractive marbling. Looks good. (It had better be, for $80!) We’ll have baked potatoes to go with it, and something green. Haven’t decided what green thing yet. Maybe asparagus, just because it would be a nice change from Brussels sprouts. I’ll go to the store this weekend to pick up some snails, and I’ll see what they have. I normally cook the Yorkshire pudding in the roasting pan. I’m thinking maybe this time I’ll use a muffin tin. And not make so much. I always make to much Yorkshire pudding. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/37 "2013-12-19T19:31:35Z")
I’m changing the desert from the Kahlua flan to [this beauty](http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/marcela-valladolid/chocoflan-recipe/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/38 "2013-12-19T21:05:53Z")
Almost always, prime rib (since we have turkey for Thanksgiving). However, this year, we can’t get together on the day (among other things, one of my nephews visiting from Colorado is spending Christmas with my brother’s inlaws), so technically it’s pizza (and it’s on the 28th). As for Christmas Day itself, I’ll probably have what I usually make for myself for reasonably special occasions - slow-cooker tri-tip pot roast with mixed vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/39 "2013-12-19T21:19:15Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Christmas Dinner is a pretty fixed affair in the UK, akin to your Thanksgiving, which means: > > A starter, probably involving prawns or smoked salmon. > > [Christmas Crackers](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=christmas+paper+hats&espv=210&es_sm=119&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GfimUq6tEoa4hAebyAE&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1392&bih=1194#es_sm=119&espv=210&q=christmas+crackers&tbm=isch), with paper hats, bad jokes and useless toys. > > A big roast turkey (or goose if you’re feeling all Downton Abbey) > Pigs in Blankets (cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon) > Chestnut stuffing > Roast potatoes > Cranberry sauce > Sprouts, which nobody likes but feel compelled to have at least one. > Roasted veg (parsnips, carrots etc) > What ever other veg you fancy > > [Christmas (aka Plum) Pudding](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=plum+%5Bpudding&espv=210&es_sm=119&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=zPemUo6cN8uShQeIwoDAAw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1392&bih=1194#es_sm=119&espv=210&q=flaming+plum+pudding&tbm=isch), doused in flaming brandy and served with brandy butter, cream, warm custard or ice cream. > > Then everyone adjourns to watch the Queen’s speech on TV. Still wearing paper hats. Wot? No bread sauce!?! ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844/40 "2013-12-20T02:57:40Z")
wtf is bread sauce? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-dinner-thread/675844.md?page=3)