Boxing Day Menu

[Rhona]

What's everyone doing?

We're having people over for lunch and then a buffet/drinks thing in the evening. I can't decide what to do for lunch. There's someone who doesn't eat meat but will eat fish, and the general vote is not to have another 'roast' type thing so a nice fillet of beef or something is off. Mr R isn't fond of tagine (which otherwise would have been perfect).

I'm doing two dishes - a fish one and a meat one, so people can choose.

So far, my ideas are - Flemish Carbonades (long-cooked beef in beer/mustard thing

and

either lobster thermidor or a smoked fish pie

I'd like to hear any other suggestions, if anyone's got any?

[Rhona]

p.s. The starters and puddings will depend on the mains, so no doubt I'll be posting about those in due course!

[OverWyreGrower]

Ooohhh, a fish pie would be nice

Last year on Boxing day we had curry! Not a turkey curry though, a lovely lamb dhansak, with basmati rice and naan bread. Completely un-festive!

I am hoping that I won't have to cook anything on boxing day this year, and shall just exist on chocolate, wine and maybe cheese on toast

[ginger ninger]

OH's going to the football, I'm out round town with friends for an afternoon of giggles and wine, then when the OH gets back from the match, its all back to ours for Pie & Mushy Peas, mint sauce and a party, which means...more Wine & Beer, its a free for all and so much fun all the neighbours are invited, so we'll have a house full.....Purfic.

But if we hadn't made arrangements with friends we would be having Chilli, it can be made in advance & its so different to all the rich food from the day before, if you don't eat it all you can freeze it.

[moola]

As there is only 2 adults and a 4yr old here on xmas day we've decided to do bangers and mash so that we have more time to play Rellies come over boxing day and I have a lamb shank to bung in.
Rhona - whatever you do make it easy on yourself. There's so much going on you don't want to be tied to the cooker. The slow cooked beef sounds a good idea and if you can make the fish pie in advance then you're onto a winner

[northepaul]

Its become a bit of a tradition to have meatballs and spag....though this year I have a non meat eating guest who eats fish, so may do salmon cold...not sure about the pud?

[HeyWayne]

Things are all a bit "up in the air" at the moment. We're not strong on tradition in either house really.

Like the idea of a chilli, or curry though - but then I could eat them anytime.

I do like a good pie.

[FionaH]

Bubble and squeak here with proper chips

[Nicos]

Fish pie and game stew - you could even prepare the stew a few days earlier- and freeze it to lessen the work load!

[di]

As I've decided on a picnic lunch and stew & dumplings dinner for Christmas Day,I think Andi will enjoy a full Christmas roast at my Mum & Dads' on Boxing Day.

[rustylady]

Boxing Day at ours is usually a buffet, cold meats (leftover turkey, gammon), lots of cheese, biscuits, french bread, pickles, fruits, chocolates, etc, etc. All laid out for people to help themselves. The last thing I want to be doing is having a massive cooking day again after the Christmas Day stress.

[Flummery]

Our Boxing Day menu is usually another roast - different meat. This year though, we're doing baked potatoes, home made coleslaw and cold meats/salmon/prawns/cheeses.

A large side of foil-baked salmon looks good.

[RedThorn]

I don't eat meat of any kind ... yup including fish (never understood why peeps think fish is not meat... it's classified as fauna ain't it?)

As it is me who is the odd one out, I am really happy with the tatties and the trimmings(vegetables, yorkshires etc) and if you want to spoil me, make veggie gravy. Sorted!

[Jeanied]

How about baked white fish (daren't suggest cod but that would be the top choice: monkfish is also fab) with Romesco sauce - (Tamasin Day Lewis had a recipe to die for and it's so good I've copied it below) - and for those who like a bit of meat, wrap some fish in parma ham and bake along with the others.
*yum - wanders off to the freezer, drooling!

Ingredients
30 g whole blanched Almonds
30 g blanched toasted Hazelnuts
6 tbsp Olive oil
2 clove Garlic, finely chopped
1 thick slice stale white bread
350g vine Tomatoes, skinned and seeded
½ red chillies, seeded and very finely chopped
black pepper
2 tsp red wine or sherry vinegar
4 tbsp fino Sherry

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 150°C/gas 2.
2. Place the nuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 20 minutes until golden.
3. Heat 4 tablespoons of the olive oil with the garlic in a frying pan. When hot, remove the garlic from the pan and set aside.
4. Add the bread to the same pan and fry until it turns a nut-brown on both sides. Set aside.
5. Add the rest of the oil to the pan and when hot, stir in the tomatoes, chilli and seasoning. Cook the sauce down until thick and jam-like, stirring from time to time to prevent sticking. Leave to cool.
6. Tip the toasted nuts into a large mortar and pound with a pestle until fine. Add the fried bread and garlic to the nuts and continue grinding to a thick paste.
7. Spoon in the cooled tomato sauce followed by the vinegar and sherry. Stir to mix and serve straight from the mortar.

[jaykay]

We usually have cold leftover turkey/pork, plus trimmings, with cold bread sauce, and whatever veg is left from the day before. I thoroughly enjoy this meal, more so than the proper xmas lunch, because there is so little work involved. But that's usually just myself, DH and DS1, DD1, DS2 and DD2 - no guests so I can totally relax.

I suppose it depends on how much work/prep you want to do. (Jamie Oliver's fish pie -Ministry of Food book - is really easy to prepare and tastes delicious.)

I'm sure you'll all have a great time, whatever you do.