# Traditional Christmas Dinner **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604 "2012-11-30T19:47:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kasper1014](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c89c15/32.png) [@Kasper1014](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kasper1014)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/1 "2012-11-30T19:47:04Z")
This year, my kids want to do a traditional English dinner. I would like to do just that. I have read prime rib roast is traditional and I have read turkey is also traditional. What would be some traditional side items I can make to go along with the prime rib and/or turkey? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/2 "2012-11-30T20:07:09Z")
Yorkshire pudding with the beef roast. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/3 "2012-11-30T20:41:23Z")
Gotta do some creamed spinach with the rib roast. Oh, and don’t forget the horseradish cream too. Green bean casserole with the turkey. My father-in-law makes a green bean casserole where he makes his own cream of mushroom soup, fries his own onions, and uses fresh green beans. It is to die for. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/4 "2012-11-30T21:05:53Z")
According to Charles Dickens it would be a Roast Goose. Don’t forget the Yorkshire pudding, brussels sprouts, and of course Christmas Pud. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/5 "2012-11-30T22:19:04Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > According to Charles Dickens it would be a Roast Goose. Yep. Turkey supplanted goose in Britain relatively recently, due to improved breeding and falling costs. In the early 19th century, turkey was a rich man’s treat, even though it was nothing like today’s plump domesticated bird; that’s why in _A Christmas Carol_, Scrooge orders a turkey to be sent to Bob Cratchit’s house. We had turkey with cornbread stuffing and Cornish game hens stuffed with wild rice for Thanksgiving; for Christmas, I plan on making goose with oyster stuffing and duck stuffed with apples. Roast chestnuts or chestnut puree can take the place of potatoes. Spiced apples would be another good side dish. I also like red cabbage with goose and duck, but I suspect that’s more German or Austro-Hungarian than English. (Victoria and Albert would probably have liked it.) ---
**Author:** ![Kasper1014](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c89c15/32.png) [@Kasper1014](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kasper1014)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/6 "2012-11-30T22:20:07Z")
Thanks all!!! Looking up recipes on Yorkshire pudding. Goose, I don’t think I can do. But turkey and prime rib, most definitely. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/7 "2012-11-30T22:48:34Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > According to Charles Dickens it would be a Roast Goose. Goose! Oh, how I love roast goose! Unfortunately they’re too big for just the two of us, and the SO doesn’t care for aquatic birds much. > [@Kasper1014](#): > > Thanks all!!! Looking up recipes on Yorkshire pudding. You find milk And I’ll find flour And we’ll have pudding In half an hour ---
**Author:** ![Kasper1014](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c89c15/32.png) [@Kasper1014](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kasper1014)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/8 "2012-11-30T23:55:15Z")
Sounds good to me! ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/9 "2012-12-02T17:20:22Z")
Sprouts. If you’re having a traditional British meal, you have to have Brussels sprouts. I usually do ours with chestnuts and bacon when I’m in charge. Wanted to add: green bean casserole?! We don’t do any such thing here, certainly not as part of a “traditional” Christmas meal and for most of us never. I didn’t know what it even was until I got some American relatives. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/10 "2012-12-02T17:24:56Z")
> [@Kasper1014](#): > > Thanks all!!! Looking up recipes on Yorkshire pudding. In New England, we make the same thing, but in smaller cups and call them Popovers. When eaten right out of the oven, they are a little bit of heaven. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/11 "2012-12-02T17:27:10Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > According to Charles Dickens it would be a Roast Goose. Don’t forget the Yorkshire pudding, brussels sprouts, and of course Christmas Pud. yes. we did a goose last year. only thing is, make sure you have it in a _deep_ pan, 'cos there is a _lot_ of fat to render off. ---
**Author:** ![Kasper1014](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c89c15/32.png) [@Kasper1014](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kasper1014)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/12 "2012-12-02T18:38:00Z")
I’m thinking of roasting the Brussel sprouts…how does that sound? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/13 "2012-12-02T18:57:34Z")
I’m an American who did an English Christmas dinner a few years ago, just for fun. I watched a lot of Jamie Oliver and Hairy Bikers in preparation. I strongly recommend giving the Yorkshire Puddings a trial run, and research it… technique is VERY important. Let the batter rest, get the pan and oil hot, all that. It’s a science not an art. FWIW the menu as I remember was prime rib, Yorkshire puddings, gravy, horseradish sauce, twice-cooked potatoes (boil, shake to fluff, roast in fat), roasted brussels sprouts, and mashed squash. I was able to buy small Christmas puddings in tins at my local grocery store rather than learn how to do that from scratch. I did make hard sauce to have with them. Bubble and squeak for late supper that evening, made with leftover potatoes and sprouts. ---
**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 2, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/14 "2012-12-02T19:25:30Z")
I don’t know if it’s traditional, but prime rib without _au jus_ is just plain criminal. [This](http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Prime-Rib-with-Cabernet-Jus-971)is an outstanding recipe. Yorkshire puddings are dead simple. We use ramekins, preheated in the oven. A little fat/drippings, and some batter, and Robert is your mother’s brother. ---
**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 2, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/15 "2012-12-02T20:07:24Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I don’t know if it’s traditional, but prime rib without _au jus_ is just plain criminal. Wouldn’t that be prime rib _sans jus_? ---
**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 2, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/16 "2012-12-02T21:39:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Wouldn’t that be prime rib _sans jus_? Well crafted, sir. ---
**Author:** ![Bilbo1967](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bilbo1967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bilbo1967)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/17 "2012-12-02T21:46:55Z")
You have to have pigs in blankets too, surely? ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/18 "2012-12-02T22:15:06Z")
> [@Kasper1014](#): > > This year, my kids want to do a traditional English dinner. I would like to do just that. > > I have read prime rib roast is traditional and I have read turkey is also traditional. What would be some traditional side items I can make to go along with the prime rib and/or turkey? If you’re having turkey you must have stuffing. Either sage and onion or pork. Beef isn’t complete without horseradish sauce. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/19 "2012-12-02T22:47:47Z")
…and bread sauce with the turkey. ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604/20 "2012-12-02T23:41:40Z")
Roast beef is the traditional Sunday lunch but not traditional for Christmas Day. Christmas lunch is roast turkey and roast gammon served with roast potatoes, roast parsnips, brussel sprouts with chestnuts, bread sauce, sausages wrapped in bacon, and two types of stuffing (sage and onion and sausage meat). Desert should be Christmas pudding, mince pies and brandy butter, cream and maybe custard. At least it is in our house 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-christmas-dinner/642604.md?page=2)