We are getting so much closer to Christmas that I can almost smell the Christmas dinner cooking! And, today that is what this post is all about…Christmas Dinner!
When I was a kid I remember Mum spending so long preparing and cooking the main course of our dinner, the turkey taking the longest, being roasted and basted and roasted some more until it was perfect. The smells in the house were amazing and my brothers and I would eagerly await the meal.
I still stick to a fairly traditional Christmas dinner and have roast parsnips, carrots and potatoes, mashed potato, peas, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower cheese, broccoli, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. The only thing I switch is the meat, I’m pescatarian (I eat fish but most of my food is around 75% vegetarian with a very slow switch over to vegan) and in years past I have cooked a Quorn Vegetarian Roast which has been a big hit with family and friends.
This year I am cooking Christmas dinner with my friend and then having a dinner cooked by my Mum on Boxing Day which will be shared with my brothers, sister in law and my niece and nephew as well as my Mum and Dad. I have no idea what Mum will be cooking but I know that it will be tasty whatever we have. I do know that it will be along the lines of a traditional dinner though, just meat-free for me. The meal that my friend and I will be preparing and cooking will be fairly traditional too though I have been looking at vegan options for the main course and I can’t wait.
Brussel sprouts, peas and broccoli are my favourite veg and I’d be happy with that and vegetable gravy! I like to just steam those and then serve. The roast root vegetables (parsnips and carrots) always get part roasted in oil with a tiny bit of salt before I remove from the oven and drizzle with maple syrup before they go back into the oven to finish off. I find that the maple syrup adds to the sweetness of the vegetables and gives them a sticky, almost chewy consistency which is lovely.
Most of my energy goes into the preparation of the vegetables – so much peeling and chopping before cooking but, having some music on and a nice glass of gin and tonic help the time to pass quickly! I am really looking forward to all the preparation and cooking of dinner this year!
What are your favourite things to serve for the main meal on Christmas day? I’d love to hear about what you have so let me know in the comments!
My Colourful Life 
Our family has settled into a fairly easy routine for Christmas Day: I make breakfast because I’m always up at the crack of stupid full of excitement like I was 5 years old. It’s usually an egg dish. Then lunch is shrimp cocktails and Asian appetizers (spring rolls, little bite sized things with dipping sauce) again usually organized by me (my brother and I buy breakfast/lunch things to share in the day) and then my parents do the full dinner: small turkey (or chicken) mashed potatoes, turnip, stuffing, gravy, dinner rolls. Pie for anyone who still has room in their stomach and the will to eat 😅
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That sounds like a really lovely day! I lobe scrambled egg and smoked salmon on toast for breakfast on Christmas Day or, if I’m at my parents, my dad does his amazing porridge! Xxx
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One of our sons is vegetarian, so we always do two dishes, this year though we are doing three, a turkey crown, a three roast bird and a nut roast Wellington. Roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots, broccoli and cauliflower cheese, Brussels Sprouts, peas , stuffing and pigs in blankets.💜
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Mmm! Yum!!! Sounds amazing! Xxx
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I hope so 💜
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Traditionally, when the big family gets together, we do a turkey with all the trimmings. And it’s all delicious, of course. But throughout my life, my favorite Christmases were the ones where my grandmother decided that we were doing breakfast for dinner. I think it’s only happened once or twice a decade, but it’s a great change of pace, since we just did the whole turkey thing last month for Thanksgiving.
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That sounds brilliant! Sometimes there are so many leftovers it feels like Christmas dinner lasts for weeks! Lol! Did you have a good time? Xxx
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I did have a good time! I ate too much… and then I got invited over to help polish off the leftovers later in the week. I ate too much again.
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Mmm, leftovers are one of my favorite types of food! Cold roast potatoes and parsnips are especially yum! xxxx
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