Christmas eve meal

To all those who cook gammon - what cooking guidelines/recipes do you use? And do you soak it before cooking?

Chicken, roast veg and layered potatoes/onions. Roast pork with all the trimmings for Xmas day as none of us are particularly fond of turkey

Red cabbage, lovely. Freezes so well, and thanks, it’s reminded me to get some out of the freezer for my dd.
Think we have jacket pots tonight. What’s not to like?

I put my gammon in the slow cooker at 3am this morning in cola and have just got it out

Lewie, I cook it in orange juice (Mary Berry recipe) and the family carnivores say it's really good.

(no soaking)

Whatever is lurking in the fridge - haven’t thought about it yet

Gammon slow cooked in cola all day, smells of spiced cinnamon and star anise
all day, yum!

Today it will be a bowl of soup, don't finish work until 5pm, up to daughter's to drop some things off that she needed and that I got at the supermarket on my way into work at 8am. Unfortunately she tested positive for Covid on Wednesday so Christmas plans have changed. I was due to go there this evening whilst she was working and stay overnight.

2 done, next 2 on the go.

I used to, long gone, work on xmas eve and on one occasion when having finished work together with workmates went to a nearby wine bar after sending a message to DH 'expect me when you see me'.
Needless to say by the time I arrived home was not in a fit state to cook our evening meal, so started on the cold cuts I was keeping for my usual xmas day buffet. Miss those days.

That’s disappointing dancing gran. Hope you have a happy Christmas anyway and your dd isn’t feeling too ill. Here’s to the new year.

I remember quite a bit of anxiety surrounding mums decision to get a capon for the first time!

Josieann

2 done, next 2 on the go.

Mmm, they look good Josieann!

I wondered where that comment had gone.
Wrong thread!

We usually have either a takeaway, generally a Chinese or we cook a normal tea and have lovely nibbles at 9ish. Sadly, now I am outnumbered by the menfolk I have been outbid, so no takeaway or nibbles...feeling quite tearful and not at all festive ?

Christmas was terrible when I was a kid and I try to make sure ours are different and enjoyable, but since my daughter moved out I am constantly outvoted on fun stuff

Picky tea mostly party food and cheese and biscuits all laid out nice ready for our night in front of the telly!

We usually have a big gammon joint but we plan to go out this year if our small grandchildren are up to it!

Whatever we want, sometimes takeaway but if theres loads of extra food in to be had by certain dates ill cook.

Treetops- make the menfolk cook then, or you order yourself a takeaway, and let them make their own meal!?

Where we live in the frozen North, Christmas Eve is celebrated instead of Christmas Day, they begin with all sorts of herrings, then meatballs and cocktail sausages potatoes, then a cold rice pudding with cream in it and small slices of mandarines, this is my favourite part.To this its Christmas beer or wine and mulled wine.
On Christmas Day we have a real Christmas Dinner with Turkey, the works. Christmas crackers etc ( which they dont have here) Christmas Pudding and home made trifle of course,its much beter then Christmas Eve, excuse me I must tuck into the pickled herrings!

A half rack of venison roasted with Parmentier potatoes and red cabbage plus a red fruit trifle and bottle of Rhone red wine. Mixed nibbles beforehand.

My DH and I are having fish cakes scampi asparagus and hollandaise sauce ! With chips of course
Like a lighter meal considering having big xmas dinner next day ?

Grantanow that is similar to maws. It’s the red cabbage that does it fir me. Goes so well with venison.

Cheese fondue with forfeits if anyone drops a piece of bread into the fondue.