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All the trimmings

(69 Posts)
kittylester Thu 03-Nov-22 09:34:34

On the thread about roast beef, lots of people talk about doing a roast with 'all the trimmings'.

I know what all the trimmings are but why, and when, did people start calling roast potatoes, veg, gravy etc 'trimmings'?

GrammaH Sun 06-Nov-22 15:57:21

"All the trimmings" leaves me cold as a phrase. I slso dislike "pigs in blankets", ,"yorkies" and "roasties". I do like Yorkshire puddings though I'm not as good at making them as my daughter and I absolutely love good roast potatoes. I like to think mine are pretty good after 41 years perfecting them but occasionally they don't go to plan. I do look forward to a Sunday roast and find it a very easy meal to produce - many other weekdays meals which sound so simple take a lot of preparation & faff !!

annifrance Sun 06-Nov-22 15:58:23

From about one year after getting married in 1970 I did 18 Christmas' non stop. I loved doing it, and all the trimmings and more.

I don't do so much now as the French do it differently. I am glad for the break from being the 'go to' person for Christmas but enjoy doing it full on every so often and always help/do the lot when I spend it in England with my children.

Couldn't care less what people call it, seems mean to pour cold water on others' pleasures. Trimmings is fine by me. If I didn't enjoy cooking and presenting the result to nearest and dearest I probably wouldn't do it, but would not cast aspertions on others enjoyment.

Cabbie21 Sun 06-Nov-22 16:16:41

I ever only cook for us two these days. Not sure I could cope with large numbers as my kitchen is tiny.
Today we had roast pork for a change, with stuffing. I parboiled the veg before roasting, until almost cooked, but my husband still said his roast potatoes were underdone.

Rosiebee Sun 06-Nov-22 16:33:27

Unless the family are around, it's two of us but I always do a roast on Sunday. Manage a few exceptions during the summer. Chicken 🐔 today with Delia's Bread sauce. At Christmas I'd be happy to have all the veg and trimmings- Delia's bread sauce and her cranberry sauce, chestnut and cranberry stuffing, dried apricots soaked in sherry or white port, wrapped in bacon and roasted. Delicious cold.

Gundy Sun 06-Nov-22 20:08:07

Makes sense to me - trimmings. Roast Beef takes center stage in the meal… everything else served with the “star of the show” enhance and are the trimmings to the roast. Just like we say “Turkey and all the trimmings.” Can’t wait!
Cheers!
USA Gundy

Gundy Sun 06-Nov-22 20:58:51

annifrance…
Thank you for pointing that out, about the negativity. It’s not easy to enjoy this blog when you read pointless things like that. I’d much rather see some HUMOR instead of the barbs.

Who cares what the food is called, you call it what you want - to each his own. Every family has traditions which is nice.

Maybe the phrase came from the USA… we use it all the time.
Cheers!
USA Gundy

Jaxjacky Sun 06-Nov-22 21:54:57

You can MissA I’d just rather have more sprouts, swede, snips, pigs in blankets and roasties. Perhaps I need a bigger plate🤣

Jaxjacky Sun 06-Nov-22 21:55:38

Oh, turkey and stuffing too, maybe a side late as well..

Prentice Sun 06-Nov-22 21:57:06

kittylester

But, when did they become 'trimmings'? Until recently we had what Ann is talking about as a matter of course without calling it trimmings.

I ca not shake an image of roast beef edged in swans down or frills.

I seem to remember reading a non fiction book by Charles Dickens in America on a visit there, and people talked about the trimmings with food.So it either went from here to the US or is an Americanism perhaps?

Prentice Sun 06-Nov-22 21:58:30

Jaxjacky

You can MissA I’d just rather have more sprouts, swede, snips, pigs in blankets and roasties. Perhaps I need a bigger plate🤣

That is the advantage of a large plate rather than a bowl, you can get more on!

MissAdventure Sun 06-Nov-22 21:58:30

So you have swede with your christmas dinner?

Prentice Sun 06-Nov-22 21:59:10

Oh, just seen your post Gundy.

MrsKen33 Mon 07-Nov-22 04:37:22

My dad loved swede. My mother would mash it with potato, butter and pepper and we knew it as ‘ stunge’

Never had it for Christmas dinner though.

Joy241 Mon 07-Nov-22 08:18:10

Sago

Potatoes, veg and gravy are not trimmings to me.
Trimmings are more, bread sauce, pigs in blankets, stuffing, game chips, Yorkshire puddings etc.

I agree, trimmings are the 'fiddly bits', not the vegetables. They are basics.

LOUISA1523 Mon 07-Nov-22 08:23:30

'Trimmings' are the bits that lots of people can no longer afford....in fact lots of people can't even afford a basic roast dinner these days

Joy241 Mon 07-Nov-22 08:24:24

Jaxjacky

Am I the only person who’s not bothered about Yorkshire puddings? They don’t really taste of much and are so big sometimes (when you eat out) they take up space.

The Yorkshire pudding is my favourite part of the roast dinner. I am disappointed if it is not offered.

Witzend Mon 07-Nov-22 08:28:06

Mollygo

LadyHonoriaDedlock, thanks for that idea.
My SIL can’t or doesn’t like rice and pasta So I served her curry with a jacket potato or mash. I wonder if she’d like it neatly enclosed in a big Yorkshire pudding. I must ask.

M&S do a ready meal consisting of a big Yorkshire pud, containing roast beef, veg and gravy.
Bought them once for me and dh - thoroughly enjoyed them.

Mollygo Mon 07-Nov-22 09:38:43

Witzend, I’ve made toad-in-the-hole and served a beef dinner in a big Yorkshire pud, though I didn’t know M&S did them, and you’re right, it’s yum!